Use this calculator to determine the total fabric yardage you'll need for your sewing or crafting project. Accurate measurements help prevent waste and ensure you have enough material.
Results:
Enter your project details and click "Calculate" to see the fabric required.
Understanding Fabric Yardage
Calculating the correct fabric yardage is a crucial step in any sewing, quilting, or upholstery project. Buying too little fabric can halt your progress and lead to frustration if the exact dye lot or pattern is no longer available. Buying too much, on the other hand, can be a costly waste of resources.
How to Use This Calculator:
Finished Project Length & Width: These are the final dimensions of your item once it's completed, without any seam allowances. For example, if you're making a tablecloth that will be 72 inches long and 54 inches wide, enter those values.
Seam/Hem Allowance: This is the extra fabric you add around the edges for seams, hems, or finishing. It's typically added to all four sides of a rectangular piece. If your pattern calls for a 1-inch seam allowance, enter '1'. The calculator will add twice this amount to both the length and width (e.g., 1 inch on each side for a total of 2 inches added to the dimension).
Fabric Width: This is the width of the fabric as it comes off the bolt. Common widths include 44/45 inches (quilting cotton), 54 inches (home decor fabrics), and 60 inches (apparel knits). Always check the specific fabric you plan to use.
Pattern Repeat Length: If your fabric has a repeating pattern (like florals, stripes, or geometric designs) that needs to be matched across seams or panels, you'll need extra fabric. Enter the length of one full pattern repeat in inches. If your fabric is solid, non-directional, or doesn't require matching, enter '0'. The calculator will adjust the required length to ensure full pattern repeats are available.
Waste/Buffer Percentage: It's always a good idea to add a little extra fabric for cutting errors, squaring up edges, or future repairs. A 10-15% buffer is common. Enter '10' for 10%, '15' for 15%, etc.
Why Accurate Measurement Matters:
Cost Savings: Avoid overspending on excess fabric.
Time Savings: Prevent delays caused by needing to reorder or search for more fabric.
Project Success: Ensure you have enough material for all components, especially when working with directional prints or limited-edition fabrics.
Sustainability: Reduce fabric waste by planning precisely.
This calculator assumes you will be cutting your project pieces from the length of the fabric, and if your project width (including seam allowances) exceeds the fabric width, it will calculate the yardage needed for multiple panels. Always double-check your pattern instructions and consider making a small mock-up if you're unsure about complex cuts or pattern matching.
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function calculateFabricYardage() {
var projectLengthInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('projectLengthInches').value);
var projectWidthInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('projectWidthInches').value);
var seamAllowanceInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('seamAllowanceInches').value);
var fabricWidthInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fabricWidthInches').value);
var patternRepeatInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('patternRepeatInches').value);
var wasteBufferPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wasteBufferPercent').value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(projectLengthInches) || projectLengthInches <= 0 ||
isNaN(projectWidthInches) || projectWidthInches <= 0 ||
isNaN(seamAllowanceInches) || seamAllowanceInches < 0 ||
isNaN(fabricWidthInches) || fabricWidthInches <= 0 ||
isNaN(patternRepeatInches) || patternRepeatInches < 0 ||
isNaN(wasteBufferPercent) || wasteBufferPercent 0) {
var numRepeats = Math.ceil(effectiveLength / patternRepeatInches);
lengthAfterRepeat = numRepeats * patternRepeatInches;
}
// Step 3: Determine number of panels needed across the fabric width
// This assumes the project is cut into panels along its length.
var numPanels = Math.ceil(effectiveWidth / fabricWidthInches);
// If the project width is less than or equal to fabric width, it's 1 panel.
// If effectiveWidth is 0, numPanels would be 0, but we validate for positive width.
// If effectiveWidth is very small, it's still 1 panel.
if (effectiveWidth <= fabricWidthInches) {
numPanels = 1;
} else {
// If project is wider than fabric, we need multiple panels.
// Example: project 56", fabric 44". numPanels = ceil(56/44) = 2.
// This means we need two lengths of fabric, each 44" wide (or less for the last panel).
// The calculation below assumes we need 'numPanels' full lengths of 'lengthAfterRepeat'.
numPanels = Math.ceil(effectiveWidth / fabricWidthInches);
}
// Step 4: Calculate total linear inches required before buffer
var totalLinearInches = numPanels * lengthAfterRepeat;
// Step 5: Add buffer percentage
var totalLinearInchesWithBuffer = totalLinearInches * (1 + (wasteBufferPercent / 100));
// Step 6: Convert to Yards
var totalFabricYards = totalLinearInchesWithBuffer / 36;
// Display results
var resultHtml = '
Fabric Required:
';
resultHtml += 'Total Fabric Needed: ' + totalFabricYards.toFixed(2) + ' yards';
resultHtml += '(Approximately ' + totalLinearInchesWithBuffer.toFixed(2) + ' inches)';
if (numPanels > 1) {
resultHtml += 'Note: Your project width requires ' + numPanels + ' panels to be cut from the fabric width.';
}
document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = resultHtml;
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