Fabric Yardage Calculator

Upholstery yardage from the standard workroom chart — with pattern-repeat allowances — and drapery yardage from rod width, fullness and finished length. Built for interior designers; useful for anyone buying fabric by the yard.
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Standard Upholstery Yardage Chart

Yardages assume 54-inch plain fabric on a standard frame. Patterns add the repeat allowance; deep tufting, skirts and self-welt add more. Treat the chart as the planning number and confirm with your workroom before ordering — reorders from a different dye lot rarely match.


For leather, multiply yardage by 18 to estimate square feet — one yard of 54" fabric covers about 18 sq ft, and hides average 45–55 sq ft.

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How Drapery Yardage Is Calculated

1. Fabric widths. Rod width × fullness (2.5× for pinch pleat, 2× ripplefold, 1.5× flat), plus ~12" for returns and overlap, divided by the fabric width, rounded up. This is how many vertical "drops" must be sewn together.

2. Cut length. Finished length + 16" for the double bottom hem and header. With a patterned fabric, round the cut length up to a full vertical repeat so every drop matches.

3. Total. Widths × cut length ÷ 36, rounded up to the half yard. Order one extra repeat on patterns so the workroom can choose where the motif falls — and always from a single dye lot.

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Frequently Asked Questions

‍How many yards of fabric do I need to reupholster a sofa?
A standard 84" sofa takes about 14 yards of 54" plain fabric; a 96" sofa takes 16, and sectionals run 24–28. Patterned fabric adds 10–25% depending on the repeat.

‍How much fabric do I need for drapery panels?
Rod width × fullness ÷ fabric width, rounded up, gives the number of widths; cut length is finished length + 16", rounded to a full repeat. A 100" rod at 2.5× fullness in 54" fabric at 96" finished length works out to about 16 yards.

‍How much extra does a pattern repeat add?
Plan +10% for repeats to 14", +15% for 15–19", +20% for 20–27" and +25% beyond — every cut must start at the same point in the pattern.

‍What is the standard fabric width?
54" for upholstery and drapery in the US. Quilting cottons are 44–45"; wide sheers run 108–118" so tall windows avoid horizontal seams.

‍What does railroading mean?
Running the fabric sideways so the roll's width covers the piece's length — long sofas and cornices get seamless faces. Solids railroad well; directional patterns usually cannot.