What Is the Fabric Calculator?
The Fabric Calculator estimates how many yards of fabric you need for a sewing, quilting, or upholstery project. By dividing the total surface area you must cover by the usable width of the fabric bolt, it produces the linear length of fabric required and converts it to yards.
How to Use It
Enter the total area you need to cover in square inches and the usable fabric width in inches. The usable width is the bolt width minus the selvage edges you cannot use. Click calculate to get the yards needed plus the equivalent linear inches.
The Formula Explained
The calculation is straightforward: $$\text{Yards} = \frac{\text{Total Area (sq in)}}{\text{Width (in)} \times 36}$$ Dividing total area by width gives the length in inches that, at the full fabric width, equals your required area. Dividing that length by 36 converts inches to yards (since 1 yard = 36 inches).
Worked Example
Suppose you need to cover 10,000 square inches and your fabric has a usable width of 44 inches. First, \(10{,}000 \div 44 = 227.27\) linear inches. Then \(227.27 \div 36 = 6.31\) yards. So you should buy about 6.5 yards to allow for cutting and waste.
FAQ
Should I add extra fabric? Yes — add 10–15% for pattern matching, shrinkage, seam allowances, and cutting errors.
How do I find usable width? Measure the printable/usable area between the selvages, which is typically 1–2 inches narrower than the listed bolt width.
What if my measurements are in feet? Convert everything to inches first (1 foot = 12 inches) for consistent results.
