Tablecloth Fabric Calculator
Rectangle or round, casual drop or floor length — enter your table and get the cloth size and exact yardage, including whether you can cut it in one piece or need a seam.
Calculate your tablecloth fabric
All math runs in your browser. Results update as you change inputs.
How the tablecloth calculator works
A tablecloth is the table size plus drop on every side plus hem. The only real question is whether the cloth fits across the fabric width:
Quick reference — common table sizes
| Table | Drop | Cloth size | Yardage @ 60 in fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 in round | 12 in | 73 in sq | 4 yd (2 pieces) |
| 60 in round | 15 in | 91 in sq | 5 yd (2 pieces) |
| 36 × 36 card table | 10 in | 57 in sq | 1.6 yd (1 piece) |
| 60 × 40 seats 6 | 12 in | 86 × 66 in | 4.8 yd (2 pieces) |
| 72 × 42 seats 8 | 12 in | 98 × 68 in | 5.5 yd (2 pieces) |
| 8 ft banquet (96 × 30) | 29 in floor | 156 × 90 in | 8.7 yd (2 pieces) |
Wedding and banquet suppliers also sell these standard sizes finished — compare your yardage plus sewing time against buying before you commit to floor-length runs.
Worked example — 60 × 40 in table, 12 in drop
With a 1/2-inch double hem (1 inch total per side) and 60-inch wide fabric:
Same table in 72-inch wide fabric: the 66-inch cloth width fits, so one 86-inch piece — just 2.4 yards, half the fabric. Fabric width is the whole game on tablecloths.
Tips for cutting tablecloths
Hide the seams. When seaming two widths, don't cut two equal halves. Cut one full fabric width for the center and add the remaining inches as side panels — the seams land off-center where place settings sit, and they are barely visible.
Round cloths from wide fabric. A 60-inch round table with a short 8-inch drop fits one width of 72+ inch fabric. For bigger rounds, seam two widths first, then cut the circle — never piece inside the circle itself.
Directional prints read sideways. On a rectangle cloth, a one-way print runs along the fabric length. With two seamed widths the print direction must match on both pieces, which can add a pattern repeat per width.
Prewash everything. Tablecloths get washed constantly. Wash and dry the fabric before cutting, or add a 10% buffer — a cloth that shrinks 3% after the first wash will no longer reach your planned drop.
Frequently asked questions
How much fabric do I need for a tablecloth?
For a 60 x 40 inch table with a 12-inch drop you need an 86 x 66 inch cloth. In 60-inch fabric that is two 86-inch pieces (about 4.8 yards, seamed) or one piece of 5.4 yards in 66+ inch wide fabric. The calculator does both layouts for you.
How do I calculate fabric for a round tablecloth?
Add twice the drop to the table diameter, plus hem allowance, then check the fabric width: a 48-inch table with a 12-inch drop needs a 73-inch square. If your fabric is 72 inches wide you must seam two widths; if it is 73+ inches wide one piece is enough.
What drop length should a tablecloth have?
Casual dining: 6–10 inches. Formal dining: 12–15 inches. Floor length: 28–30 inches (standard table height is 29–30 inches). Floor length is used for weddings and trade-show tables.
How do I avoid a seam down the middle of my tablecloth?
When the cloth is wider than your fabric you need two widths — but instead of two equal halves, cut one full width plus two side panels so the seams sit off-center. The calculator's yardage is the same; the tip just hides the joins.
How much extra fabric for hemming a tablecloth?
A double 1/2-inch hem takes 1 inch per edge, so add 2 inches to each finished dimension (4 inches total around). For floor-length cloths that get washed often, a 2-inch double hem is sturdier — add 4 inches per dimension.