How to Calculate the Amount of Fabric You'll Need for Your Sewing Project

Whether you want to reupholster a sofa, make a quilt, or sew a new dress, your most important task will be choosing fabric—not only the style of the material, but also how much of it you'll need. When you're able to make a rough estimate of fabric and understand the factors involved—the shape of the piece, the pattern of the cloth, any extras such as a skirt or welting—before diving in, you can better plan and budget for your sewing project.

How to Measure Simple Yardage

The most common standard width for project fabric is 54 inches. You request—in yards or inches—a specific length. So a yard of fabric will typically measure 54 inches (standard width) by 36 inches (1 yard).

At the most basic level, the amount of fabric you need for a project is a function of the width and length of your finished project. While the math here can help, experts also recommend sketching out your project on graph paper to make a more precise plan.

For example, if you want to make a simple, no-frills curtain for a 24-inch-wide by 36-inch-high window, you'll need a single yard of fabric, or 36 inches. The 36-inch-length will cover your window from top to bottom, while the pre-established 54-inch width of the fabric is more than enough to cover the 24-inch width.

If you wanted to make an 18-inch-square pillow cover, you'd need two squares of fabric, about 18 inches wide by 18 inches long. Both those squares could be cut from a 54-inch-wide bolt of fabric, so you would need an 18-inch-length, or half a yard, to create two squares.

One warning: If you've opted for a fabric with a print that runs in a specific direction, consider that when identifying your length and width; otherwise, you may end up with the images sideways in your finished project.

How to Measure Fabric Required for Pieced Projects

If you need several different pieces of fabric for a pieced project, like patchwork napkins or a hand-stitched quilt, figure out how much fabric you need with this formula from upholsterer Tony Totillo. These calculations work for many projects, including pillows, cushions, clothes, bedding, and headboards.

Step 1: Determine how many pieces your fabric's width can provide

Find the number of pieces that your fabric's width can provide by dividing the width of the fabric by the width of one piece, and rounding down to a whole number.

For example, if you have a 54-inch-wide fabric and need pieces that are 6 inches square, you can make exactly nine pieces (54 inches divided by 6 inches = 9). If you need pieces that are 10 inches square, you can make five pieces, with 4 inches left over (54 inches divided by 10 inches = 5.4).

Step 2: Determine how many rows of fabric you will need

Divide the total number of pieces you need by the number of pieces that fit into your width to determine how many rows of pieces you will need.

In our example above, you need 27 6-inch squares, and you can get exactly nine from the width, you'll need three rows of nine (3 x 9) to make 27. If you need 20 10-inch squares, plan to make four rows of five squares (4 x 5).

Step 3: Determine the total length required

Multiply the number of rows by the length of each piece to find your total length.

In the example with 6-inch squares, three rows of 6-inch squares (3 x 6) totals 18 inches; this project requires an 18-inch-long piece of 54-inch-wide fabric. In the project that requires 20 10-inch squares, four rows of 10-inch squares (4 x 10) totals 40 inches; this project requires a 40-inch-long piece of 54-inch-wide fabric.

Step 4: Calculate your fabric in yards

Divide the length by 36 inches to convert to yards, and round up.

The first project in the example requires 18 inches in length, or 1/2 yard of fabric. The second project requires 40 inches in length, or 1 yard plus 4 inches; round up to 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 yards.

Factors that Affect Your Yardage

When shopping for fabric, the width, thickness, type, and pattern can all affect your final yardage numbers—and so can specific design details on your piece and the upholsterer's work style.

Hems, Seams, and Other Edging

If you're a novice sewer, you may want to allow plenty of extra fabric for crooked cuts, knotted threads, or other mistakes. Whether you're new or experienced, don't forget to include any seam allowances (for pillows), hemming (for tailored pants), edging (for canvas wall art), or additional fabric you might need for gathering, crimping, and smocking.

Variations in Fabric Width

The most common width for fabric today in the United States is 54 inches; however, 48-inch-wide fabric is found both here and in Great Britain, and 40- and 42-inch widths are standard for many imported fabrics, like Indian silks. Other fabrics, such as garment textiles, may be wider: Oxford cloth and gingham are frequently sold in 60- and 72-inch widths.

Projects that include yardage estimates often base those estimates on 54-inch-wide fabric, so choosing fabrics in that width will typically produce the least cutting waste.

Pattern

Solid fabrics are the simplest to work with: Stripes, plaids, and other patterns must be matched at the seams to be consistent. This can be tricky for the upholsterer, but a smaller stripe or plaid that is evenly spaced should not cause much cutting waste, so you shouldn't need to allow for extra fabric.

Repeat

Some fabrics with a repeating pattern will require extra yardage to make sure the pattern is spaced and centered properly. "If you have a bouquet pattern with an 18-inch repeat, that means it will be 18 inches before you hit the next, identical bouquet," says upholsterer Carl Dellatore, owner of the D&F Workroom in New York City. "To center the bouquet on the seat of a chair, on the back, and on the skirt, you'll need to cut away excess fabric and fit the pattern correctly." Some patterns have very small repeats, 3 inches or less; others are as large as 54 inches. "In general, an 18-inch repeat means you'll need about 20 percent more fabric; a 27-inch repeat, 40 percent more," says Dellatore.

Welting

If you want welting—the cord that covers the seams—from the same striped or plaid fabric you chose, you'll need a lot more. "Welting on a chair with a striped or plaid fabric automatically adds an extra yard-and-a-half," says Dellatore. "Welting is always cut on the bias—a diagonal—so it lies smoothly. Often, you can cheat a little and get welting from cutting excess, but a stripe or plaid won't look right unless it is cut on a complete bias." Some people choose a solid fabric for welting that complements their patterned piece. This makes the work simpler and usually saves money, since solids are generally less expensive than patterns.

Buy More Than You Need

Never skimp on fabric, and assume you will be able to go back to the store and buy more if necessary. You can't count on getting an exact fabric match the second time around. "Dye lots change overnight," warns upholsterer Dellatore. "You might buy an extra yard of fabric that looks the same, but if the dye is slightly different, it won't match the rest of the fabric."