Quilt Piece Count Calculator: Yardage to Piece Count

Work out how many pieces you own before you cut. Enter yardage owned, cut piece size and fabric width, and see pieces per strip, strips, total pieces and leftovers, with the formula in steps.

Calculate your piece count

Cut piece width in

Cut piece length in

Yardage you already own yards

Yardage you already own, in yards or metres, depending on unit mode. This calculator does not buy fabric, it counts pieces from fabric you already have.

Fabric width

This calculator uses cut size, not finished size. If you only know finished size, use the Fabric Calculator, which adds seam allowance for you.

This calculator works out yardage from cut pieces only. For finished size, use the Fabric Calculator. For the bottom layer, use the Backing Calculator.

Your result

Enter your measurements, then calculate.

How the calculator works

Step 1: Total fabric length you own

Total fabric length you own equals yardage owned times 36, because one yard equals 36 inches. For yardage owned 2 yards, total fabric length you own equals 2 times 36, equals 72 inches. In centimetre mode, total fabric length you own is yardage in metres times 100, in centimetres.

Step 2: Pieces per strip

Pieces per strip equals fabric width divided by cut piece width, rounded down to a whole number, because a partial piece cannot be cut. For fabric width 44 inches and cut piece width 3.5 inches, pieces per strip equals 44 divided by 3.5, equals 12.57, rounded down to 12 pieces.

Step 3: Strips you can cut

Strips you can cut equals total fabric length you own divided by cut piece length, rounded down to a whole number, because a partial strip cannot be cut. For total length 72 inches and cut piece length 3.5 inches, strips you can cut equals 72 divided by 3.5, equals 20.57, rounded down to 20 strips.

Step 4: Total pieces you can cut

Total pieces you can cut equals pieces per strip times strips you can cut. For pieces per strip 12 and strips 20, total pieces you can cut equals 12 times 20, equals 240 pieces.

Step 5: Leftover fabric, shown next to the result

Leftover length along the roll equals total fabric length you own minus strips you can cut times cut piece length. For total length 72 inches and strips 20 times cut length 3.5 inches, leftover length equals 72 minus 70, equals 2 inches. Leftover width per strip equals fabric width minus pieces per strip times cut piece width. For fabric width 44 inches and pieces per strip 12 times cut width 3.5 inches, leftover width equals 44 minus 42, equals 2 inches per strip. Leftover fabric is waste for this piece size, unless a smaller piece can use it.

Assumptions, shown next to the result

Pieces are cut in the stated layout, with cut piece width across fabric width and cut piece length along the roll. No seam allowance is added, because cut size already includes seam allowance. No extra is added for mistakes or shrinkage, because this calculator counts pieces from fabric you already own, it does not buy fabric. If your fabric has a directional print and pieces must all run one way, check layout before cutting.

Piece count chart

This chart uses the same formula as the calculator: pieces per strip equals fabric width divided by cut piece width, rounded down, strips equals total length divided by cut piece length, rounded down, total pieces equals pieces per strip times strips. Cut piece is 3.5 by 3.5 inches, fabric width is 44 inches, pieces per strip is 12 for all rows.

Yardage you own	Strips you can cut	Total pieces
0.5 yards	5 strips	60 pieces
1 yard	10 strips	120 pieces
2 yards	20 strips	240 pieces
3 yards	30 strips	360 pieces

Chart values are a guide for the yardages shown. Your own cut piece size, fabric width and yardage may give a different result. Use the calculator above for your own measurements.

Worked example, checked against the calculator

Yardage you already own 2 yards, cut piece 3.5 by 3.5 inches, fabric width 44 inches.

Total fabric length you own: 2 times 36 equals 72 inches.

Pieces per strip: 44 divided by 3.5 equals 12.57, rounded down to 12 pieces.

Strips you can cut: 72 divided by 3.5 equals 20.57, rounded down to 20 strips.

Total pieces you can cut: 12 times 20 equals 240 pieces.

Leftover length along the roll: 72 minus 20 times 3.5, equals 2 inches. Leftover width per strip: 44 minus 12 times 3.5, equals 2 inches per strip.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how many pieces I can cut from yardage I already own?

Multiply yardage by 36 to get total length in inches, divide fabric width by cut piece width and round down to get pieces per strip, divide total length by cut piece length and round down to get strips, then multiply pieces per strip by strips to get total pieces. For example, 2 yards of 44 inch fabric, cut 3.5 by 3.5 inch pieces, gives 12 pieces per strip, 20 strips, and 240 pieces total.

What is the difference between piece count and pieces to yardage?

Pieces to yardage starts from pieces needed and works out yardage to buy. Piece count starts from yardage already owned and works out pieces that can be cut. They are inverses of each other, and they use the same strip layout, with rounding down in both directions.

Why is piece count rounded down?

Piece count is rounded down at pieces per strip and at strips, because a partial piece cannot be cut. Rounding up would count pieces you cannot actually cut.

✂️