Quilt Yardage Calculator: Length to Yardage to Buy

Work out yardage to buy before you cut. Enter total fabric length needed and extra percent, and see total length with extra, exact yardage and yardage to buy, with the formula in steps.

Calculate your yardage

Total fabric length needed in

Extra for mistakes and shrinkage, percent

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 length to yardage only. It does not work out piece counts, backing size, or batting size. Use the Fabric Calculator for piece counts, and the Backing Calculator for backing size.

Your result

Enter your measurements, then calculate.

How the calculator works

Step 1: Total length, with extra

Total length with extra equals total fabric length needed times one plus extra percent divided by 100. For total length 150 inches and extra 10 percent, total length with extra equals 150 times 1.10, equals 165 inches.

Step 2: Exact yardage

Exact yardage equals total length with extra divided by 36 in inch mode. One yard equals 36 inches. For total length with extra 165 inches, exact yardage equals 165 divided by 36, equals 4.58 yards.

Step 3: 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 4.58 yards, yardage to buy equals 4.63 yards, because 4.625 rounds to 4.63 at two decimal places.

Step 4: Metres and feet, for comparison

Same length in metres equals total length with extra in inches times 0.0254. Same length in feet equals total length with extra in inches divided by 12. For 165 inches, same length is 4.19 metres and 13.75 feet. In centimetre mode, metres to buy are total length with extra in centimetres divided by 100, rounded up to the nearest 0.1 metre.

Assumptions, shown next to the result

Extra percent is your own choice, not a standard amount. If you already added extra in another calculator, enter 0 percent here, or you will add extra twice. Yardage to buy is rounded up, so you buy enough, but rounding does not replace checking your pattern and your fabric width.

Yardage chart by total length

This chart uses the same formula as the calculator: exact yardage equals total length divided by 36, yardage to buy is exact yardage rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard. Extra is shown at 0 percent and at 10 percent, for comparison.

Total length needed	Yardage to buy, 0 percent extra	Yardage to buy, 10 percent extra
36 in	1.00 yards	1.13 yards
72 in	2.00 yards	2.25 yards
108 in	3.00 yards	3.38 yards
144 in	4.00 yards	4.50 yards
180 in	5.00 yards	5.63 yards
216 in	6.00 yards	6.63 yards

Chart yardage is a guide for the lengths shown. Your exact total length and extra percent may give a different result. Use the calculator above for your own measurements.

Worked example, checked against the calculator

Total fabric length needed 150 inches, extra 10 percent.

Total length with extra: 150 times 1.10 equals 165 inches.

Exact yardage: 165 divided by 36 equals 4.58 yards.

Yardage to buy, rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard, equals 4.63 yards.

Same length in metres: 165 times 0.0254 equals 4.19 metres. Same length in feet: 165 divided by 12 equals 13.75 feet.

Without extra, for comparison: total length 150 inches, exact yardage 4.17 yards, yardage to buy 4.25 yards. Extra 10 percent adds 0.38 yards to buy in this example.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert fabric length to yardage?

Divide total fabric length in inches by 36 to get exact yardage, then round up to the nearest eighth yard to get yardage to buy. For example, 150 inches with 10 percent extra gives total length 165 inches, exact yardage 4.58 yards, and yardage to buy 4.63 yards.

How many inches are in a yard of fabric?

One yard equals 36 inches, 3 feet, and about 0.91 metres. Fabric is usually sold by the yard in the United States, so length in inches must be divided by 36 to get yardage.

Should I add extra yardage for mistakes?

Extra yardage is your own choice, not part of every calculation. This calculator lets you add a percentage for mistakes, cutting errors and shrinkage. If you already added extra in another calculator, enter 0 percent here, or you will add extra twice.

What is the difference between exact yardage and yardage to buy?

Exact yardage is total length 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.

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