Garment Fabric Yardage Calculator
Estimate how much fabric to buy for a garment by nesting the pattern pieces across the bolt width — with a waste allowance for matching and hems.
How it works
Pieces per row = ⌊fabric width ÷ piece width⌋ · Rows = ⌈pieces ÷ per row⌉ · Length = rows × piece length × (1 + waste%) · Yards = length ÷ 36
Fabric is sold by length off a fixed-width bolt, so the real question is how many pattern pieces you can lay side by side across that width, then how many rows of them you need. Wider bolts fit more pieces per row and cut the length you must buy. The waste allowance covers seam allowances, hems, and the extra length needed to match plaids, stripes or a directional nap.
Worked example
Four pieces 22 in wide on a 44 in bolt fit two across, so you need two rows. Each piece is 30 in long, giving 60 in; add a 15% allowance and you reach 69 in, or about 2 yd (rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard the store will cut).
Frequently asked questions
Why round up to the nearest eighth of a yard?
Most fabric stores cut to the nearest 1/8 yard (4.5 in), so buying the exact decimal is not possible. Rounding up also gives a small cushion for squaring the fabric and straightening the cut edge.
Does this account for one-way prints or nap?
Not automatically — it assumes pieces can be rotated to nest tightly. For a directional print, velvet or corduroy, every piece must point the same way, so raise the waste allowance to 20–30% or lay pieces in a single direction.
What about small pieces like cuffs and facings?
Small pieces usually tuck into the gaps left around the main pieces and rarely add length. If you have many of them, add a few extra inches or bump the waste allowance up a step.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.