Fabric Calculator — Yardage for Sewing & Quilting
Enter your finished piece dimensions, seam allowance, number of pieces, fabric bolt width and a waste percentage. The calculator works out how many pieces fit per row, how many rows you need, and the total yardage (or metres) to buy — so you never run short or overbuy.
Unit system
in
in
in
%
in
Total fabric to buy including seam allowance and waste
- 1
Cut length (+ seam allowance)
24 + 2 × 0.5 = 25 - 2
Cut width (+ seam allowance)
18 + 2 × 0.5 = 19 - 3
Pieces per row
⌊44 ÷ 19⌋ = 2 - 4
Rows needed
⌈6 ÷ 2⌉ = 3 - 5
Raw fabric length
3 × 25 = 75 - 6
Fabric to buy (yd)
75 × 1.1 ÷ 36 = 2.29Raw length × waste factor, then converted to yards or metres.
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Cut size = finished size + 2 × seam allowance per dimension. Pieces per row = ⌊bolt width ÷ cut width⌋; rows needed = ⌈total pieces ÷ pieces per row⌉. Total fabric = rows × cut length × (1 + waste%). For 6 pieces of 24×18 in with 0.5 in seam allowance on 44 in fabric: 2 rows × 25 in × 1.10 ≈ 1.53 yards.
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How this is calculated
Every sewn piece needs extra fabric around its edges for the seam allowance — the strip of fabric between the cut edge and the stitch line. This calculator adds the seam allowance to all four sides (two seam widths per dimension) to get the cut size. It then works out how many cut pieces can fit across the fabric bolt in a single row (fabric width ÷ cut piece width, rounded down), and how many rows are needed to cut all the pieces (total pieces ÷ pieces per row, rounded up). Multiplying rows by cut piece length gives the raw length to cut from the bolt.
The waste percentage accounts for real-world losses: imperfect cuts, matching directional or plaid prints across cuts, selvedge that cannot be used, and pieces that are cut across the grain. A 10% allowance is standard for plain fabrics; add 15–25% for large repeating patterns or diagonal layouts. The total figure is what you should take to the fabric store.
This calculator assumes all pieces have the same dimensions, are cut on the straight grain, and are laid out in simple rows — it does not optimise for irregular shapes or bias-cut pieces. For complex garments with many different pattern pieces, repeat the calculation for each unique piece and add the results.
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Garment sewing typically uses 5/8 in (1.5 cm); quilting commonly uses 1/4 in (0.6 cm). Always check your pattern — it specifies the intended seam allowance, and using the wrong one will change the finished size of the piece.
For fabrics with a repeating print, add one full repeat length per row of cuts. A 10 in repeat with 4 rows of cuts means at least 40 in (≈ 1.1 yd) of extra fabric. Plaids and stripes that must match at seams can require even more — erring on the side of an extra half yard is common practice.
Yes. Fabric comes in standard widths — 44/45 in for quilting cotton, 60 in for many apparel fabrics, 150 cm for European home fabrics. A wider bolt means more pieces fit per row, which can cut the total metreage needed substantially. Always check the bolt width when comparing fabrics.
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TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Fabric Calculator — Yardage for Sewing & Quilting [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/ga/calculator/fabric-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Fabric Calculator — Yardage for Sewing & Quilting." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/ga/calculator/fabric-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Fabric Calculator — Yardage for Sewing & Quilting," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/ga/calculator/fabric-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_fabric_calculator, title = {Fabric Calculator — Yardage for Sewing & Quilting}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/ga/calculator/fabric-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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