Quilt Fabric Yardage Calculator
Work out how much fabric to buy for a set of quilt pieces — how many fit across the fabric width and how many yards you need.
How it works
Pieces per row = floor(fabric width ÷ piece width) · Rows = ceil(pieces ÷ per row) · Length = rows × piece height · Yards = length ÷ 36 (round up to 1/8 yd)
Quilt cutting is limited by the fabric width, so the real question is how many pieces fit side by side across the bolt. Whatever is left over still needs a whole extra row, which is why the row count is always rounded up. Length in inches is then just the number of rows times the piece height, and shops sell in eighths of a yard, so the final figure rounds up to the next 1/8 yard.
Worked example
For 100 pieces cut 5" × 5" from 42"-wide fabric: 42 ÷ 5 = 8 pieces per row; 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5 → 13 rows; 13 × 5 = 65"; 65 ÷ 36 = 1.81 yd, rounded up to 1 7/8 yd.
Frequently asked questions
Does this include seam allowance?
Enter the cut size, which already includes seam allowance. A 5" cut square finishes at 4.5" after 1/4" seams on each side, so cut to the size on your pattern, not the finished size.
Why use 42" instead of 44"?
Quilting cotton is sold at about 44" wide, but the selvages are unusable and fabric shrinks slightly, leaving roughly 40–42" of usable width. Using 42" leaves a small safety margin; drop to 40" to be conservative.
Should I buy extra?
Yes — buying a little more than the calculation covers cutting mistakes, squaring up, and matching directional prints. A quarter to half yard of insurance is common for a full quilt.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.