Fabric Yardage Calculator for Sewing
Estimate how many yards of fabric to buy for common sewing projects.
Enter garment type, size, and fabric width to get the yards needed plus a cutting buffer.
Buying too little fabric is one of those beginner mistakes that is nearly impossible to fix — most stores do not guarantee dye lot consistency between bolts, and even the same colorway can vary enough to show in finished seams.
The yardage figures here are baseline estimates for the most common versions of each garment in standard fabric at 44-inch width (the most common bolt width for quilting and apparel fabric).
Wider fabric (54 or 60 inches) covers more garment area per yard, so you need less of it — the calculator adjusts for this.
Fabric type matters too, even if it is not an input here.
Striped or plaid fabric with a repeat pattern requires extra yardage to match at seams — typically 15-25% more depending on the repeat length.
Pile fabrics (velvet, corduroy) must be cut in one direction, which affects how efficiently you can lay out your pattern pieces — add 20% for directional fabrics.
Always buy 10-15% more than the estimate, which this calculator adds automatically.
The extra yardage covers:
- Cutting errors and mis-cuts
- Pre-wash shrinkage (cotton can shrink 3-5%)
- Seam allowances if you add more than standard
- A spare piece to test stitch settings on before touching your main fabric
For garments with facings, linings, or interfacing, you will need additional fabric beyond what this calculator shows — typically another half yard to one yard depending on how much you are lining.
If your pattern envelope lists a specific yardage, use that and add 10% for the above reasons.
This calculator is a planning tool for when you are fabric shopping without a pattern in hand.