Fabric Calculator
Calculate yards or meters of fabric for shirts, dresses, skirts, and pants.
Enter garment type, size, and fabric width to get yardage with seam allowance.
Fabric Needed
Fabric yardage estimation depends on the garment type, the wearer’s size, the fabric’s width, and whether the fabric has a directional pattern that requires alignment.
Standard fabric widths:
| Width | Common Use |
|---|---|
| 36" (90 cm) | Quilting cotton, some linens |
| 44"–45" (112–115 cm) | Most apparel fabrics, the “standard” width |
| 54"–60" (137–152 cm) | Upholstery, wool, some knits |
When fabric is wider, you need fewer yards — patterns give yardage for both 44" and 60" widths.
Approximate yardage guide (44"–45" wide fabric):
| Garment | XS–S | M–L | XL–2X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple skirt (knee) | 1.5 yd | 2.0 yd | 2.5 yd |
| Full skirt (maxi) | 3.0 yd | 3.5 yd | 4.5 yd |
| Pants / trousers | 2.5 yd | 3.0 yd | 3.5 yd |
| Simple blouse | 1.75 yd | 2.25 yd | 2.75 yd |
| Dress (knee-length) | 2.5 yd | 3.0 yd | 3.75 yd |
| Dress (floor-length) | 4.0 yd | 4.75 yd | 5.5 yd |
| Jacket (hip-length) | 2.0 yd | 2.5 yd | 3.0 yd |
| Blazer (structured) | 2.5 yd | 3.0 yd | 3.5 yd |
| Winter coat | 3.5 yd | 4.25 yd | 5.0 yd |
| Men’s dress shirt | 2.5 yd | 3.0 yd | 3.5 yd |
Unit conversions:
- 1 yard = 0.9144 meters
- 1 meter = 1.094 yards
- 1 yard of 45" fabric = 45 × 36 inches of material
Worked example: Making a knee-length dress (size M–L) in a 60" wide fabric:
- Standard allowance for 44" fabric: 3.0 yards
- At 60" width, you can often reduce by 20–25%: approximately 2.25–2.5 yards
- Add 10% for pattern matching (striped or plaid fabric): 2.5–2.75 yards
- Round up to the nearest half-yard when purchasing: buy 3 yards for safety
Special considerations that increase yardage:
| Situation | Extra Amount |
|---|---|
| Pattern repeat (stripes, plaids, florals) | 1 repeat per main pattern piece |
| Nap / directional fabric (velvet, corduroy) | 15–25% more |
| Pre-washing (cotton shrinks ~3–5%) | Buy 5–10% more |
| Beginner sewer (more margin for mistakes) | Buy 15–25% more |
Fabric cost formula:
Total Fabric Cost = Yards Needed × Price per Yard