Fabric Yardage Estimator
Yards and metres of fabric for pieces sized in inches or cm: how many fit across 36, 45, 54 or 60 in fabric, with seams, repeat and shrinkage, to 1/8 yd. How it works
Use the Fabric Yardage Estimator
About the Fabric Yardage Estimator
A garment piece 36 in long and 20 in wide with a 1/2 in seam allowance needs 1.125 yards (1 1/8) of 45 in fabric: it is cut 21 × 37 in, and 37 in rounds up to the next 1/8 yard. The fabric yardage estimator lays pieces side by side across the fabric width, counts the rows down its length, and adds any pattern repeat and shrinkage.
Yards of fabric by fabric width
| Pieces | 36 in | 45 in | 54 in | 60 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 quilt squares, 6 × 6 in, 1/4 in seam | 0.75 yd | 0.75 yd | 0.625 yd | 0.625 yd |
| 2 garment pieces, 36 × 20 in, 1/2 in seam | 2.125 yd | 1.125 yd | 1.125 yd | 1.125 yd |
| 4 craft squares, 20 × 20 in, 1/2 in seam | 2.375 yd | 1.25 yd | 1.25 yd | 1.25 yd |
Rounded up to 1/8 yard, no pattern repeat or shrinkage, the whole width usable. Piece sizes are before seam allowance.
Frequently asked questions
- How much fabric do I need for 20 quilt squares?
- 20 squares of 6 in with 1/4 in seams are cut at 6.5 in. On 45 in fabric 6 fit across, so 4 rows of 6.5 in make 26 in, bought as 0.75 yard. On 54 or 60 in fabric 3 rows are enough: 0.625 yard.
- How does a pattern repeat change the yardage?
- Each row is rounded up to a whole number of repeats, so every row starts at the same point of the pattern. The 36 × 20 in piece, cut at 37 in, takes 48 in with a 12 in repeat: 1.375 yards instead of 1.125.
- How much extra fabric should I allow for shrinkage?
- Enter the pre-wash shrinkage percent and the length is multiplied by (1 + % ÷ 100). At 5% the 37 in cut becomes 38.9 in, which still rounds to 1.125 yards.
- Why are garment pieces not turned to fit?
- Garment pattern pieces have a grainline, so the calculator keeps the piece width across the fabric. Quilt and craft rectangles may be turned 90 degrees, and it uses whichever layout takes less fabric. That rule is the calculator’s own modelling choice, not a sewing standard.
- Can it work out the fabric cost?
- Yes. Enter a price per yard and it multiplies the rounded yardage: 1.125 yards at $12.99 a yard is $14.61.
- Can I measure in centimetres and get metres?
- Yes. Set Measure in to Centimetres and type the piece, seam and repeat sizes in cm. The yardage is still rounded up to 1/8 yard, and the metres stat shows the same length: 1.125 yd is about 1.03 m. Two pieces of 90 × 50 cm with 1.5 cm seams on 114 cm (45 in) fabric come to 1.125 yd. Fabric is still chosen from the four widths, 36, 45, 54 or 60 in.
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