SeeMyQuilt
30 free calculators

Quilt calculators

Yardage for a whole quilt, plus a calculator for every bit of quilting math: binding, backing, triangles, geese, sashing, setting triangles and precuts.

Quilt yardage calculator

Choose a block, a quilt size and a setting. You get yardage for every fabric and the pieces to cut.

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Finishing

6 calculators.

Quilt binding

Enter the size of your quilt top.

Bias binding

For quilts with curved or scalloped edges.

Scrappy binding

Making binding from leftover strips?

Quilt backing

Enter the size of your quilt top.

Quilt batting

Enter the size of your quilt top to see the batting size you need and the smallest packaged size that fits.

Quilt border

Enter the size of the quilt center and the border width.

Triangles & units

8 calculators.

Half-square triangle

Enter the finished size of your half-square triangle and how many you need.

Eight-at-a-time half-square triangle

The fastest way to make a lot of identical half-square triangles.

Four-at-a-time half-square triangle

Sew around two squares, cut both diagonals, and get four half-square triangles.

Hourglass (quarter-square triangle)

Enter the finished size of your hourglass unit and how many you need.

Flying geese

The no-waste method makes four identical geese from one large square and four small squares.

Flying geese

One rectangle and two squares per goose.

Square in a square

A center square on point with four corner triangles.

Snowball block

A square with stitch-and-flip corners.

Layout & size

7 calculators.

Quilt size

Enter how many blocks you have and their size.

How many blocks do I need?

Enter the quilt size you want and your block size.

Quilt sashing

Strips between the blocks, with cornerstones where they cross.

Setting triangles

For blocks set on point.

On-point quilt size

Blocks set on point measure 1.414 times their size across.

Bed quilt size

Choose the mattress and how far the quilt should hang down.

T-shirt quilt

Enter how many shirts you have and the block size.

Fabric & precuts

9 calculators.

Fabric yardage

Enter the size of a piece and how many you need.

How many pieces from my fabric?

Enter how much fabric you have and the size of the piece.

Fat quarter

A fat quarter is about 18" × 21".

Charm pack

Charm squares are 5" and finish at 4 1/2".

Layer cake

Layer cake squares are 10" and finish at 9 1/2".

Jelly roll

Jelly roll strips are 2 1/2" wide and finish at 2".

Fabric measurement converter

Convert a fabric length in inches to yards, the nearest 1/8 yard a shop will cut, and metres.

Quilt fabric cost

Enter the yardage for the top, backing and binding and the price per yard to see what the fabric will cost.

Log cabin block

Enter the center size, the strip width and the number of rounds.

How the yardage is worked out

The calculator counts every piece in the quilt, then works out how many strips to cut across the width of the fabric and how long a piece of fabric those strips take.

  • Squares and rectangles are cut 1/2" larger than their finished size.
  • Half-square triangles come from squares cut 7/8" larger than the finished unit, cut once on the diagonal.
  • Quarter-square triangles, including the large triangle in a flying goose, come from squares cut 1 1/4" larger than the long side, cut twice.
  • Fabric is assumed to be 42" wide after removing selvages. 10% is added and the result is rounded up to the next 1/8 yard.

Questions

How much fabric do I need for a quilt?

It depends on the block and the size. A 54" × 66" Nine Patch lap quilt with 12" blocks takes 1 1/4 yd of the main fabric, 1 1/4 yd of background and 4 1/4 yd of backing. Use the tool above for your own block and size.

How much extra fabric should I buy?

This calculator adds 10% and rounds up to the next 1/8 yard. Buy more if your fabric has a large or directional print, or if you are new to rotary cutting.

What is usable width?

Quilting cotton is sold 44" to 45" wide. After removing selvages and allowing for shrinkage, plan on 42" of usable width.