Fabric Yardage Calculator
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Calculate quilt backing fabric needed including overhang and seam allowance. Size backing for longarm, domestic machine, or hand quilting projects.
Calculate seam allowance adjustments for pattern alterations and garment fitting. Add or subtract ease when resizing or modifying sewing patterns.
Calculate continuous bias tape length from a square of fabric. Find strip width, yardage, and join count for quilt binding and garment finishing.
Sum required lengths of pattern pieces laid on grain, accounting for selvage and fold layouts on folded fabric.
Yardage = total layout length (in) / 36Standard apparel assumes 45" or 60" width. Narrower fabric needs more length; wider fabric may fit pieces side-by-side.
Compare piece width + grain to fabric width − selvage allowanceOne-way prints and napped fabrics require extra length to match patterns at seams. Add one full repeat per major seam when matching.
Adjusted length = piece length + (repeats × repeat distance)Updated: July 2026
Front and back panels on fold plus waistband often fit in 1.5–2 yards for misses sizes — calculator confirms before shopping.
24-inch repeat on bodice seams may add 24–48 inches beyond basic yardage to align flowers at center front.
Quilt tops use square yards differently than garment layouts — specify project type for accurate panel math.
Envelope charts assume specific widths (often 45" or 60"). If your bolt differs, recalculate layout — do not guess.
All pieces must run same nap direction, often doubling length needs versus flat layouts shown on non-nap diagrams.
Buying too little fabric stalls a project; too much wastes money. Enter pattern pieces, fabric width, nap or one-way print requirements, and repeat size to estimate total yardage with layout efficiency in mind.