Fabric Yardage Calculator
Calculate fabric yardage for curtains, quilts, clothing, and upholstery from project dimensions.
Returns yards with 10% waste and pattern repeat allowance.
Fabric yardage calculation for sewing projects requires measuring all the pattern pieces, accounting for fabric width, seam allowances, pattern matching (for prints), and material shrinkage before purchase.
Basic yardage formula: Yards Needed = (Total Pattern Length ÷ 36) × Layout Efficiency Factor
Where:
- Total Pattern Length: sum of all pattern piece heights when laid end-to-end on the fabric width
- 36: inches per yard
- Layout Efficiency Factor: accounts for how efficiently pieces nest together (typically 1.05–1.15)
Fabric width consideration: Most quilting cotton: 44–45 inches wide Apparel fabric: 54–60 inches wide Home décor fabric: 54–60 inches wide Knits: 60 inches wide Narrower fabric requires more yardage (pieces don’t fit as many across)
Pattern matching adjustment: Extra Yardage = Pattern Repeat × Number of Seams
Fabrics with repeating prints require extra fabric to align the pattern at seams.
- Small repeat (under 3 inches): add 0.25 yard
- Medium repeat (3–12 inches): add 0.5–1.0 yard
- Large repeat (12+ inches): add 1.5–2.0 yards
Shrinkage allowance: Pre-washing cotton shrinks 3–5%. Add 5–8% to your calculated yardage before pre-washing.
What each variable means:
- Grain line: pieces must be cut along the fabric’s grain; off-grain cutting wastes material and distorts garment shape
- Selvage: the finished woven edge; pattern pieces cannot be placed on the selvage
- Seam allowance: included in commercial patterns (usually 5/8 inch); add to self-drafted patterns
Reference yardage for common garments (60-inch fabric):
- T-shirt (S/M): 1.5–2.0 yards
- Pair of trousers: 2.0–2.5 yards
- A-line skirt: 1.5–2.0 yards
- Dress (knee length): 2.5–3.5 yards
- Quilt (throw, 60×80): 4.5–6.0 yards total (multiple fabrics)
Worked example: Simple skirt. Waistband: 6 in × 40 in. Front/back panels: 24 in × 36 in each (×2). Total pattern length = 6 + 24 + 24 = 54 inches (3 pieces fit in one column on 60-inch fabric) Yards = 54 ÷ 36 = 1.5 yards + 10% shrinkage allowance = 1.65 yards — purchase 1.75 yards to be safe.