What is quilt fabric yardage calculator?
A quilt yardage calculator estimates fabric needs before you shop or cut. Yardage depends on finished size, borders, fabric width, backing strategy, binding width, and how many fabrics divide the quilt top.
How to use this calculator
- Enter finished quilt width and height.
- Set fabric width.
- Choose border and binding dimensions.
- Use the output as a shopping estimate and round up for cutting plans.
How is it calculated?
Formula
yardage = estimated component area / (fabric width x 36), with backing and binding allowances What The Constants Mean
- Backing overage (8): Adds extra backing size for quilting setup and squaring after quilting.
- Backing seam and squaring factor (1.1): Adds 10% for piecing, squaring, and small cutting losses.
- Binding join allowance (20): Adds extra binding length for joining tails and finishing corners.
A 60 x 72 in quilt with borders and 42 in fabric needs separate estimates for top, backing, and binding.
Common mistakes
Fabric estimates based only on surface area can miss seams, directional prints, squaring, shrinkage, and pattern repeats. Round up when buying fabric, especially for backing and binding.
FAQ
How much backing should I add?
Many quilters add about 4 in on every side, especially for longarm quilting.
Should I prewash fabric?
That depends on your process, but prewashing can change final yardage and shrinkage.
Does directional fabric need more yardage?
Often yes, because pieces must be oriented consistently.
Is this a cutting diagram?
No. It is a yardage estimate; pattern-specific cutting can vary.