Maker and DIY Calculators

Fabric yardage.

List each piece as across x along x how many, tell it the width of your fabric, and it lays the pieces out in rows and tells you how much to buy.

Yardage = total length of the rows your pieces fill across the fabric width, plus a margin. Two 20 x 30 in pieces and one 12 x 40 in piece on 42 in wide fabric fill 70 in. With 10% extra, buy 81 in, which is 2 1/4 yards.

Pieces and fabric

Units

Usable fabric width 44 or 45 in (112 cm) bolts give about 42 to 43 in (107 to 109 cm) after selvages and shrinkage. 60 in (150 cm) gives about 58 in.

Pieces: across x along x quantity One piece per line. Across runs selvage to selvage, along runs down the fabric. Quantity is optional. Curved pieces: use their bounding rectangle.

Seam allowance to add per side Leave at 0 if your piece sizes already include seam allowance.

Extra for mistakes and shrinkage

10% is common. Add more for pattern matching and directional prints.

Pieces can be turned 90 degrees (no print direction or nap)

Fabric to buy

Fill the form and press Calculate.

Worked example

Fabric is 42 in usable width. Pieces: two of 20 x 30 in and one of 12 x 40 in. Row 1 holds the 12 in piece and one 20 in piece (32 in wide, 40 in long, the longest piece sets the row). The second 20 in piece does not fit beside them (52 in > 42 in), so row 2 holds it alone (30 in long). Total 40 + 30 = 70 in. Adding 10% gives 77 in, rounded up to the next eighth of a yard is 81 in = 2 1/4 yards (2.06 m).

How it works

Pieces are sorted longest first and placed left to right across the width; when the next piece does not fit, a new row starts. Each row is as long as its longest piece. The rows add up to the length to cut. With rotation allowed, the tool also tries the layout with every piece turned to its shorter side along the fabric and keeps whichever uses less length. The total is increased by your extra percentage and rounded up to the next 1/8 yard (4.5 in) or 10 cm, the way fabric is typically cut. One yard is 36 in, which is 0.9144 m.

When to buy more. This is an estimate for rectangles laid in rows, not an optimised marker. Real layouts mix shapes, and one-way prints, stripes and plaids that must match need extra. If the fabric will be washed, pre-wash allowance (typically a few per cent) is covered by the extra percentage. For quilting and garments, check the pattern envelope, which is calculated for the exact shapes.

Sources and basis (checked 2026-10-05): row (shelf) packing arithmetic; 1 yard = 0.9144 m, defined by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement; standard bolt widths of 44 to 45 in and 58 to 60 in.

FAQ

How many yards of fabric do I need?

List every piece with its width and length, enter your fabric width, and the calculator adds up the rows. Add 10% or more for mistakes and shrinkage.

What is the usable width of 44 inch fabric?

About 42 to 43 inches once you trim the selvages. Quilting cotton sold as 44 or 45 in typically has 42 in of good width. Use 42 to be safe.

Does the pattern direction matter?

Yes. Prints with a direction, nap or velvet must all face one way, so turn rotation off. For plain fabrics you can turn pieces to save length.

How do I convert yards to metres of fabric?

Multiply yards by 0.9144. Two and a quarter yards is 2.06 metres. The calculator shows both.

Why is my pattern envelope yardage different?

Pattern makers lay out the real cut shapes, nest them and know the best arrangement. This tool treats each piece as a rectangle, so it is usually a little higher.

Disclaimer

Estimate for rectangles laid out in rows. Always check the yardage on a sewing pattern for the exact shapes, and buy extra for matching prints, nap and shrinkage.