This fabric yardage calculator helps estimate how much fabric you need for sewing, quilting, or craft projects. Enter the project dimensions and the width of the fabric to calculate the estimated yardage required.
How to use calculator
Enter the width and length of your finished project in inches. Then enter the width of the fabric you plan to use. The calculator estimates the number of yards of fabric required to complete the project.
Explanation
Fabric is typically sold by the yard, while projects are measured in inches. To estimate yardage, the calculator determines the total fabric area required and converts it into yards based on the width of the fabric.
Most quilting cotton fabrics are between 42 and 44 inches wide, but specialty fabrics may be wider or narrower.
Example math
If a project measures 60 × 72 inches and the fabric is 42 inches wide, the yardage estimate would be:
(60 × 72) ÷ 42 ÷ 36
Which equals approximately:
2.86 yards
Since fabric is usually purchased in whole or partial yards, most makers would round up to 3 yards.