Anyone who sews knows the feeling: you're standing at the cutting counter, pattern in hand, trying to work out in your head whether 3 yards is enough or if you need 4. Get it wrong and you're either driving back to the store (hoping they haven't sold out of your fabric) or stuffing leftover material into an already overflowing stash bin.
This fabric calculator does that math for you. Enter your fabric width, the size of the pieces you need, and how many you're cutting. You'll instantly see the total length of fabric to buy and a clear cutting layout showing how your pieces fit across the bolt, row by row.
Whether you're cutting quilt blocks, panels for curtains, pieces for a garment, or material for an upholstery project, you'll know exactly how much to ask for at the counter. No mental math, no second-guessing, no wasted fabric.
How Fabric Calculations Work
Every fabric purchase comes down to one question: how much length do I need off the bolt? The width is fixed (it's however wide the bolt is), so you're really figuring out how far down the fabric you need to go to fit all your pieces.
The logic is simple once you see it:
First, figure out how many pieces fit across. Divide your fabric width by the width of one piece. If your fabric is 44 inches wide and you're cutting 5-inch squares, you fit 8 across (with 4 inches of waste on the side). Always round down here, since a partial piece isn't usable.
Pieces per Row = Fabric Width / Piece Width (rounded down)
Next, figure out how many rows you need. Divide the total pieces by the number that fit in each row. Making 48 squares that fit 8 per row? That's 6 rows. Round up, because even a partial row uses a full length of fabric.
Number of Rows = Total Pieces / Pieces per Row (rounded up)
Finally, multiply rows by piece length. Six rows of 5-inch-long pieces means you need 30 inches of fabric. That's your number at the cutting counter.
Total Fabric Length = Number of Rows x Piece Length
The beauty of this approach is that it also tells you your cutting layout. You know exactly how to arrange your pieces on the fabric before you even pick up your scissors or rotary cutter.
How to Use This Calculator
It takes about 30 seconds:
- Enter your fabric width. This is the full width of the bolt, selvage to selvage. Quilting cotton is typically 44-45 inches; upholstery and home decor fabrics run 54-60 inches. Choose your preferred unit from the dropdown.
- Enter your piece width and length. These are the dimensions of each piece you need to cut. If your pattern calls for 6.5-inch squares including seam allowance, enter 6.5 for both. Select the matching unit.
- Enter how many pieces you need. This is the total count of identical pieces. If your quilt pattern needs 48 squares from this fabric, enter 48.
- Read your results. The calculator instantly shows your total fabric length, how many rows you'll cut, and how many pieces fit in each row.
Quick tip: if you're cutting rectangular pieces (not squares), try swapping the width and length to see which orientation uses less fabric. A piece that's 6 inches wide and 10 inches long might waste less material if you rotate it to 10 wide and 6 long, depending on your fabric width.
Understanding Your Results
You'll see three numbers in the results:
Total Length Needed is the headline number: how much fabric to buy. It's rounded up to the nearest 0.1 units so you're not left short. When you're at the store, round up a little more. Ask for the next 1/8 or 1/4 yard increment. Fabric is cheaper than the frustration of being an inch short.
Pieces per Row tells you how many pieces fit side by side across the fabric width. This is your cutting layout: line up this many pieces in a row, then start the next row below. If this number seems surprisingly low, rotate your piece dimensions and re-run the calculator.
Number of Rows is how many rows of cuts you'll make going down the length of the fabric. Multiply this by the piece length in your head and you should get roughly your total length. It's a useful sanity check.
Practical Examples
Quilting: 48 Patchwork Squares
You've picked out a gorgeous quilting cotton for a lap quilt. Your pattern calls for 48 squares at 6.5 inches each (that's 6 inches finished plus 1/4-inch seam allowance on each side). Standard quilting cotton is 44 inches wide.
- Pieces per row: 44 / 6.5 = 6 squares across (with about 5 inches of leftover width)
- Rows needed: 48 / 6 = 8 rows
- Total length: 8 x 6.5 = 52 inches, or about 1.5 yards
Ask for 1.5 yards at the counter. That leftover 5-inch strip along the side? Perfect for binding strips or a scrappy project later.
Curtains: 4 Panels for a Living Room
You're making 4 curtain panels. Each finished panel is 22 inches wide and 82 inches long, so after adding 2 inches for side hems and 8 inches for top/bottom hems, your cut size is 24 by 90 inches. Your home decor fabric is 54 inches wide.
- Pieces per row: 54 / 24 = 2 panels per row
- Rows needed: 4 / 2 = 2 rows
- Total length: 2 x 90 = 180 inches, or 5 yards
Buy 5.25 yards to give yourself room to straighten the grain before cutting. If your fabric has a large pattern repeat (say, 12 inches), add one extra repeat per row: that bumps you to about 5.75 yards.
Dining Chair Cushions: 6 Seat Covers
You're recovering 6 dining chair seats. Each cushion top is 18 x 18 inches, and your upholstery fabric is 54 inches wide.
- Pieces per row: 54 / 18 = 3 pieces across
- Rows needed: 6 / 3 = 2 rows
- Total length: 2 x 18 = 36 inches, or 1 yard
That's 1 yard for the tops. But cushion covers need a bottom piece too, so you'll actually need 12 pieces. Run the calculator again with 12, and you get 4 rows at 72 inches, or 2 yards. If the fabric has a bold pattern you want to center on each cushion, add an extra half yard.
Small Business: 30 Tote Bags
You're producing 30 canvas tote bags. Each bag needs two body panels at 15 x 16 inches, so that's 60 pieces total. Your canvas is 60 inches wide.
- Pieces per row: 60 / 15 = 4 panels across
- Rows needed: 60 / 4 = 15 rows
- Total length: 15 x 16 = 240 inches, or about 6.7 yards
Order 7 yards. At this quantity, you'll also want to factor in straps and pockets, so plan those calculations separately. The good news with 60-inch canvas is that you get a very efficient layout with almost no waste on the width.
Baby Quilt: Quick Weekend Project
You're making a simple baby quilt with 30 charm squares at 5 inches each from 44-inch quilting cotton.
- Pieces per row: 44 / 5 = 8 squares across
- Rows needed: 30 / 8 = 4 rows (3 full rows of 8 + one row of 6)
- Total length: 4 x 5 = 20 inches, or just over half a yard
A fat quarter (18 x 22 inches) wouldn't quite work here since you need the full 44-inch width. But a 3/4-yard cut gives you plenty with room for a mistake or two.
Quick Reference: Common Project Yardage
Use this table as a starting estimate before you run the calculator with your exact measurements:
Project | Typical Fabric Width | Estimated Yardage |
|---|---|---|
Throw pillow cover (18" x 18") | 54" | 0.5 - 0.75 yard per pillow |
Table runner | 44-54" | 1 - 1.5 yards |
Lap quilt (50" x 65") | 44" | 3 - 4 yards (top only) |
Twin quilt (70" x 90") | 44" | 6 - 7 yards (top only) |
Pair of curtain panels (84" long) | 54" | 5 - 6 yards |
Simple A-line skirt | 44-60" | 1.5 - 2.5 yards |
Basic dress | 44-60" | 3 - 5 yards |
Dining chair seat cover (set of 6) | 54" | 2 - 2.5 yards |
Tote bag | 44-60" | 0.75 - 1 yard per bag |
These are ballpark figures. Your specific dimensions will give you a more precise number, which is exactly what the calculator is for.
Common Fabric Widths
If you're not sure what to enter for fabric width, here's what you'll typically find at the store:
Fabric Type | Typical Width | What It's Used For |
|---|---|---|
Quilting Cotton | 44-45" (112-114 cm) | Quilts, garments, craft projects |
Apparel Fabric | 44-60" (112-152 cm) | Clothing, linings, lightweight projects |
Home Decor | 54" (137 cm) | Curtains, throw pillows, light upholstery |
Upholstery | 54-60" (137-152 cm) | Furniture, cushions, heavy-duty use |
Fleece & Minky | 58-60" (147-152 cm) | Blankets, baby items, outerwear |
Tulle & Netting | 54-108" (137-274 cm) | Bridal, costumes, decorations |
Canvas & Duck | 54-60" (137-152 cm) | Bags, outdoor projects, upholstery |
Muslin | 36-108" (91-274 cm) | Mock-ups, backings, pattern testing |
You'll find the width printed on the bolt end label at the store. If you're ordering online, the product listing should include it. When in doubt, 44 inches is a safe assumption for quilting cotton and 54 inches for home decor and upholstery.
Tips from the Cutting Table
A calculator gives you accurate numbers, but a few things from real-world cutting experience will make your results even more reliable:
Build in seam allowances before you calculate. The calculator works with cutting dimensions, not finished dimensions. If your finished quilt square is 5 inches, you're actually cutting at 5.5 inches (with a standard 1/4-inch seam allowance on each side). For garments, add 5/8 inch per seam. Enter the cutting size, not the finished size.
Pre-wash changes everything. Cotton shrinks 3-5% on the first wash. Linen can shrink even more. If you pre-wash before cutting (which you should for any garment or item you'll launder), add about 5% to the total length the calculator gives you. On 3 yards, that's roughly 5 extra inches.
Selvage edges aren't usable fabric. Those tightly woven edges running along both sides of the bolt? They're about 1/2 inch each and they don't behave like the rest of the fabric. Your actual usable width is about an inch less than the stated bolt width. Keep this in mind if the calculator shows your pieces fitting exactly across the width with zero waste.
Directional prints lock your orientation. If your fabric has a one-way print (flowers all facing up, animals running in one direction), you can't rotate your pieces to optimize the layout. Run the calculator with your pieces in a fixed orientation and accept that you may need more fabric.
Pattern repeats add up fast. Matching a repeating pattern across panels (like for curtains or upholstery) means each row might need an extra repeat's worth of fabric to line up correctly. Measure the repeat length from the bolt and add one repeat per row to your total. A 12-inch repeat across 4 rows adds an extra yard.
Swap your dimensions and compare. This is the single easiest way to save fabric. A 6 x 10 inch piece on 44-inch fabric fits 7 per row one way but only 4 per row the other. The difference in total length can be dramatic. Always run the calculator both ways for rectangular pieces.
Round up at the counter, always. Fabric store employees cut in 1/8 or 1/4 yard increments. If the calculator says 2.3 yards, ask for 2.5. That small buffer has saved many projects from a pattern piece that doesn't quite fit.