Fabric Yardage & Upholstery Material Calculator - buildercalc

Standard upholstery fabric is manufactured in 54-inch (137 cm) bolt widths. Apparel and quilting fabrics measure 44/45 inches.

Add pattern repeat distance to vertical cut length for each fabric panel to ensure pattern alignment across seams.

Fabric repeat is the vertical and horizontal distance between identical design elements in printed or woven textiles.

A full commercial bolt of upholstery fabric typically contains 30 to 50 linear yards of material.

Selvage is the tightly woven finished edge of fabric running along both sides of the bolt to prevent fraying during weaving.

Fabrics with directional pile (velvet, corduroy, chenille) must be cut in one uniform direction so light reflection and color shade remain consistent.

Multiply linear yards by 0.9144 to convert to meters (e.g., 10 yards x 0.9144 = 9.144 meters).

A standard 7-foot, 3-cushion sofa requires approximately 14 to 18 linear yards of 54-inch wide solid fabric (add 20% for large pattern repeats).

Railroading turns fabric 90 degrees so the pattern runs horizontally across the bolt width, allowing seamless coverage on long sofa backs.

Multiply window width by fullness factor: 2.0x for standard double fullness, 2.5x for luxury pinch pleat, or 3.0x for sheer curtains.

A linear yard is 36 inches long by the fabric bolt width (e.g., 36" x 54" = 13.5 sq ft). A square yard is 36" x 36" (9 sq ft).

Estimate 1.5 to 2.5 additional linear yards of fabric to cut 1-1/2 inch wide bias strips for self-welting on a standard sofa.

Upholstery fabric weight ranges from 8 oz/yd² (light duty) to 14-20 oz/yd² (heavy commercial Grade A contract fabric).

Wyzenbeek abrasion testing rates residential fabric at 15,000 double rubs, heavy duty at 30,000 double rubs, and commercial contract grade at 50,000+ double rubs.

Cut dimensions = (Cushion Width + 2x Boxing Height + 1" seam) x (Cushion Depth + 2x Boxing Height + 1" seam).

Cutting fabric on a 45-degree diagonal (bias) provides maximum stretch and flexibility, allowing piping to curve smoothly around cushion corners.

Add 1/2 inch seam allowance to all cut edges (1 inch total added to length and width dimensions per panel).

Curtain lining yardage equals main face fabric yardage multiplied by 0.95 (slightly shorter hem length to prevent lining sag below face fabric).