Quilt Fabric Yardage Calculator
Calculate how many yards of fabric you need to make a quilt based on finished quilt size, block size, and seam allowance.
How to Calculate Quilt Fabric Yardage A quilt is made up of blocks sewn together with seam allowances. To find the total fabric needed, you calculate how many blocks fit in the quilt, the cut size of each block (with seams), and the total area — then divide by color.
The Formulas Unfinished block size = Finished block size + (2 × Seam allowance) Blocks across = Floor(Quilt width ÷ Finished block size) Blocks down = Floor(Quilt length ÷ Finished block size) Total blocks = Blocks across × Blocks down Total fabric area = Total blocks × Unfinished block size² × (1 + Waste %) Fabric per color = Total area ÷ Number of colors ÷ (44 in fabric width × 36 in per yard) Round up to nearest ¼ yard
Standard Seam Allowances Most quilters use ¼" seam allowance. Some patterns use ⅜" or ½" — check your pattern before entering values.
Fabric Width Assumption This calculator assumes standard quilting cotton, which is 44 inches wide after washing. Pre-cut yardage is typically sold in 44-inch-wide fabric. If your fabric is wider, you will need slightly less.
Waste and Shrinkage A 10% waste factor accounts for: cutting errors, pre-washing shrinkage (around 3–5%), and fabric grain matching. Add more for complex patterns that require fussy cutting.