Fabric Requirement Calculator

Estimate yards of fabric needed for your garment based on type, size, fabric width, and layout efficiency. Works for shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, and skirts.

Inputs

Garment Type

Size Factor

Fabric Width

Layout Efficiency

Tab to move between fields

Results

Yards to Buy

3 yd

≈ 18 smartphones

Exact Yards Needed2.94 yd

Meters Needed2.69 m

Total Fabric Area33.8 sq ft

Est. Waste0.5 yd

How to Use This Calculator

Select the garment type (dress, top, pants, skirt, jacket, etc.) from the dropdown.
Select your size factor and fabric width (inches) -- common: 44/45 in or 58/60 in.
Set layout efficiency -- a complex layout loses more fabric than a straight layout.
Review yards to buy, yards needed before waste, meters equivalent, and total sq feet.
Round up to the nearest quarter-yard when ordering -- fabric cannot be returned once cut.

How the result changes with Fabric Width

Fabric Width	Yards to Buy
40	3.38 yd
49	2.75 yd
59	2.25 yd
68	2 yd

What each input means

Garment Type: 1=Shirt/Blouse, 2=Pants, 3=Dress, 4=Jacket, 5=Skirt
Size Factor: 1.0=Standard, 0.7-0.9=Petite/Small, 1.1-1.5=Plus sizes, up to 2.0=Very large
Fabric Width: Width of the fabric bolt (common: 36", 45", 54", 60")
Layout Efficiency: How efficiently pieces fit on fabric (85% typical, lower for plaids/nap)

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Garment Type = 1, Size Factor = 1, Fabric Width = 45, Layout Efficiency = 85 = 4 input(s) provided
Calculate Yards to Buy
3 = 3
Calculate Exact Yards Needed
2.94 = 2.94
Calculate Meters Needed
2.69 = 2.69

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

Sewing & Tailoring

Seam Allowance Calculator

Calculate the total extra fabric needed for seam allowances across all pattern pieces. Enter piece count, seam allowance width, and total seam length.

Sewing & Tailoring