Quilt Inches to Yards Calculator: Inches to Yards to Buy
Convert inches to yards before you buy. Enter length in inches, and see exact yardage, yardage to buy, and the same length in feet, centimetres and metres, with the formula in steps.
Convert inches to yards
This calculator converts inches to yards only. It does not add extra for mistakes. If you want extra, add it to inches before converting, or use the Yardage Calculator, which has an extra percent field.
This calculator is for total length you already worked out, from another calculator or from your pattern. It does not calculate piece counts or backing size. For piece counts, use the Fabric Calculator. For backing size, use the Backing Calculator.
This calculator converts inches to yards only. It does not work out piece counts, backing size, or batting size. Use the Fabric Calculator for piece counts, and the Fabric Conversion Calculator for other units and fabric widths.
Enter your measurements, then calculate.
| Exact yardage | |
| Yardage to buy | |
| Exact yardage, as yards and inches | |
| Yardage to buy, as yards and inches | |
| Same length in feet | |
| Same length in centimetres | |
| Same length in metres |
How the calculator works
Step 1: Exact yardage
Exact yardage equals length in inches divided by 36, because one yard equals 36 inches. For length 100 inches, exact yardage equals 100 divided by 36, equals 2.78 yards, rounded at two decimal places.
Step 2: Yardage to buy
Yardage to buy is exact yardage rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard, because fabric shops cut in eighth yard increments, and rounding down would give you less fabric than you need. For exact yardage 2.78 yards, yardage to buy equals 2.88 yards, because 2.875 rounds to 2.88 at two decimal places.
Step 3: Yards and inches breakdown
Exact yardage as yards and inches means whole yards, plus the leftover fraction times 36 inches. For exact yardage 2.78 yards, whole yards are 2, leftover fraction is 0.78, and leftover inches are 0.78 times 36, equals 28 inches, so exact yardage is 2 yards and 28 inches. Yardage to buy as yards and inches means whole yards from yardage to buy, plus leftover fraction times 36 inches. For yardage to buy 2.88 yards, whole yards are 2, leftover fraction is 0.875, and leftover inches are 0.875 times 36, equals 31.5 inches, so yardage to buy is 2 yards and 31.5 inches.
Step 4: Feet, centimetres and metres, for comparison
Same length in feet equals length in inches divided by 12. Same length in centimetres equals length in inches times 2.54. Same length in metres equals length in inches times 0.0254. For 100 inches, same length is 8.33 feet, 254 centimetres, and 2.54 metres.
Assumptions, shown next to the result
Input is inches only. No extra is added for mistakes or shrinkage, beyond rounding yardage up. If you want extra, add it to inches before converting, or use the Yardage Calculator, which has an extra percent field.
Inches to yards chart
This chart uses the same formula as the calculator: exact yardage equals inches divided by 36, yardage to buy is exact yardage rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard.
| Inches | Exact yardage | Yardage to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 36 in | 1.00 yards | 1.00 yards |
| 45 in | 1.25 yards | 1.25 yards |
| 54 in | 1.50 yards | 1.50 yards |
| 72 in | 2.00 yards | 2.00 yards |
| 90 in | 2.50 yards | 2.50 yards |
| 108 in | 3.00 yards | 3.00 yards |
| 144 in | 4.00 yards | 4.00 yards |
| 180 in | 5.00 yards | 5.00 yards |
Chart values are a guide for the lengths shown. Your exact length in inches may give a different result. Use the calculator above for your own measurements.
Worked example, checked against the calculator
Length 100 inches.
Exact yardage: 100 divided by 36 equals 2.78 yards.
Yardage to buy, rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard, equals 2.88 yards.
Exact yardage as yards and inches: 2 yards and 28 inches, because leftover fraction 0.78 times 36 equals 28 inches, rounded.
Yardage to buy as yards and inches: 2 yards and 31.5 inches, because leftover fraction 0.875 times 36 equals 31.5 inches.
Same length in feet: 100 divided by 12 equals 8.33 feet. Same length in centimetres: 100 times 2.54 equals 254 centimetres. Same length in metres: 100 times 0.0254 equals 2.54 metres.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert inches to yards?
Divide inches by 36 to get exact yardage, then round up to the nearest eighth yard to get yardage to buy. For example, 100 inches divided by 36 equals 2.78 yards exact, and 2.88 yards to buy.
How many inches are in a yard?
One yard equals 36 inches, 3 feet, 91.44 centimetres, and 0.9144 metres.
What is the difference between exact yardage and yardage to buy?
Exact yardage is inches divided by 36, with no rounding. Yardage to buy is exact yardage rounded up to the nearest eighth yard, because fabric shops cut in eighth yard increments, and rounding down would give you less fabric than you need.
Related calculators
Quilt Fabric Conversion Calculator
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Calculate fabric conversion →Quilt Yardage Calculator
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Total fabric for a quilt, broken down by piece.
Calculate fabric →Quilt Pieces to Yardage Calculator
Cut pieces turned into yardage, from cut piece size and count.
Calculate pieces to yardage →Quilt Backing Calculator
Backing fabric and yardage by quilt size and fabric width, with straight panels.
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Calculate binding →Guide for this topic: How to Calculate Inches to Yards.