Fabric Yardage Calculator
Fabric comes in a fixed width, so the first thing to settle is how many pieces fit across it. A 40 cm piece on 110 cm fabric fits twice and the leftover 30 cm is waste, so six pieces need three rows and the length is 3 × 50 = 150 cm. Fit three across and the same six pieces cost only 100 cm.
Your numbers
Fabric needed
150cm
Per row
2
Formula
Per row = ⌊Fabric width needed ÷ Piece width⌋, Fabric needed = ⌈Pieces needed ÷ Per row⌉ × Piece length
If a piece is wider than the fabric this assumes one piece per row; in practice you would have to seam it or turn the layout. Directional prints cannot be turned, so they need more than this figure.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Piece width (cm)One piece across, as cut — seam allowance included. | 40 | 1 and up |
| Piece length (cm)One piece along, as cut — seam allowance included. | 50 | 1 and up |
| Pieces neededHow many pieces you need at that size. | 6 | 1 and up |
| Fabric width (cm)The fabric width; if it is sold folded, enter the opened width. | 110 | 1 and up |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Piece width (cm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Piece width (cm) | Fabric needed (cm) | Per row |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 100 | 5 |
| 30 | 100 | 3 |
| 40 | 150 | 2 |
| 60 | 300 | 1 |
| 80 | 300 | 1 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Fabric needed (cm)Fabric length to buy, along the grain rather than across. | 150 |
| Per rowPieces that sit side by side across the width. | 2 |
Common mistakes
If a piece is wider than the fabric this assumes one piece per row; in practice you would have to seam it or turn the layout. Directional prints cannot be turned, so they need more than this figure.
Glossary
- Piece width
- One piece across, as cut — seam allowance included.
- Piece length
- One piece along, as cut — seam allowance included.
- Pieces needed
- How many pieces you need at that size.
- Fabric width
- The fabric width; if it is sold folded, enter the opened width.
- Fabric needed
- Fabric length to buy, along the grain rather than across.
- Per row
- Pieces that sit side by side across the width.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Fabric Yardage Calculator calculated?
Per row = ⌊Fabric width needed ÷ Piece width⌋, Fabric needed = ⌈Pieces needed ÷ Per row⌉ × Piece length — Fabric comes in a fixed width, so the first thing to settle is how many pieces fit across it. A 40 cm piece on 110 cm fabric fits twice and the leftover 30 cm is waste, so six pieces need three rows and the length is 3 × 50 = 150 cm. Fit three across and the same six pieces cost only 100 cm.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Piece width 40cm, Piece length 50cm, Pieces needed 6, Fabric width 110cm, the answer is Fabric needed 150cm.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Piece width, Piece length, Pieces needed, Fabric width. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Piece width (cm) moves the answer to Piece width (cm) 20 → Fabric needed (cm) 100 and Piece width (cm) 80 → Fabric needed (cm) 300. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
If a piece is wider than the fabric this assumes one piece per row; in practice you would have to seam it or turn the layout. Directional prints cannot be turned, so they need more than this figure.
Related calculators
Materials differ in density and absorption. If your label states a figure, use it — the defaults here are only common values.