Fabric Yardage Calculator
Calculate the exact amount of fabric you need for your sewing, quilting, and home decor projects.
Recommended: 10% for seams, pattern matching, and shrinkage
Yardage Results
Required Fabric:
With Extra Allowance:
Total Area Needed:
About Our Fabric Yardage Calculator
Our Fabric Yardage Calculator is an essential tool for sewers, quilters, and DIY enthusiasts who want to accurately determine how much fabric they need for their projects. By calculating precise yardage requirements, you can save money, reduce waste, and ensure you have enough material to complete your project successfully.
How Our Yardage Calculator Works
The calculator determines how many yards (or meters) of fabric you need based on your project dimensions and the width of your fabric. It takes into account extra allowance for seams, pattern matching, and potential shrinkage, providing you with accurate measurements for your fabric purchases.
Understanding Fabric Yardage
Fabric yardage refers to the length of fabric measured in yards (or meters in metric regions). Most fabrics are sold in standard widths, typically 45", 54", or 60" wide in the US. The calculator helps you determine the optimal length needed based on the width of fabric available.
Key Features:
- Calculate fabric needs for any sized project
- Support for both imperial (inches, yards) and metric (cm, meters) measurements
- Customizable extra allowance percentage for seams and shrinkage
- Works with standard fabric widths (36", 45", 54", 60") or custom widths
- Instant results with precise measurements
How to Use:
- Enter the width of your fabric (typically 45" or 60" for most fabrics)
- Select your preferred measurement unit (inches, feet, cm, or meters)
- Enter your project dimensions (length and width)
- Set your extra allowance percentage (10% is recommended for most projects)
- Click "Calculate Yardage" to see your results
Common Applications:
Quilting: Calculate fabric requirements for quilt tops, backings, and bindings.
Clothing: Determine yardage needs for garments of all sizes.
Home Decor: Measure fabric requirements for curtains, tablecloths, cushions, and upholstery projects.
Crafting: Plan material needs for bags, accessories, and other craft projects.
Commercial Projects: Estimate fabric quantities for bulk production or business needs.
Tips for Accurate Fabric Calculations
- Pattern Matching: For patterned fabrics, add 15-20% extra to account for pattern matching.
- Directional Prints: For fabrics with one-way designs, you may need more fabric as pieces can only be cut in one direction.
- Pre-washing: If you plan to pre-wash your fabric, add 5-10% extra to account for shrinkage.
- Multiple Pieces: For projects with many pieces, our calculator helps ensure efficient fabric layout.
Whether you're a professional seamstress or a hobbyist, our Fabric Yardage Calculator takes the guesswork out of fabric purchasing. Save time, money, and reduce waste by calculating your exact fabric needs before you shop!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between fabric width and selvage width?
Fabric width refers to the usable width of fabric from selvage to selvage (the finished edges of the fabric). The selvage is typically not used in sewing projects as it has a different texture and may contain printing. When measuring fabric width for our calculator, measure the usable width between the selvages, not including them.
Why should I add extra allowance to my fabric calculations?
Extra allowance serves several purposes: it accounts for seam allowances (typically 1/2" to 5/8" per seam), pattern matching for printed fabrics, shrinkage from pre-washing, and provides a safety margin for cutting errors. The standard recommendation is 10%, but for patterned or directional fabrics, you might want to increase this to 15-20%.
How do I calculate yardage for irregularly shaped patterns?
For irregular shapes, calculate the area of the largest rectangle that would contain your pattern piece, then use those dimensions in our calculator. Alternatively, lay out your pattern pieces on paper, measure the total rectangular area needed, and enter those values. Remember to account for pattern direction and efficient layout when possible.
Does the calculator account for pattern direction (nap)?
Our calculator provides basic yardage requirements based on dimensions. For fabrics with a nap (like velvet, corduroy, or directional prints), you'll need to ensure all pattern pieces are cut in the same direction. This typically requires more fabric than our basic calculation. Increase your extra allowance percentage to 15-20% for these fabrics.