Free Quilt Calculator

Eight essential calculators — fabric, binding, backing, borders & more

Quilting Unit Converter

Convert any fabric measurement between quilting's most common units — decimal yards, fractional yards, inches, centimeters, and meters. Also converts yardage between different fabric widths so you can substitute a wider or narrower fabric without recalculating your entire project.

Conversion

Convert any fabric measurement into all common units at once.

Fabric width conversion

Convert yardage between two different fabric widths, preserving the same total area.

All calculations show the exact fabric needed based on your inputs — they do not include extra for cutting errors. Consider adding 5–10% to any yardage figure. Standard quilting cotton WOF is 44".

How It Works

Unit conversion: All measurements are converted through inches as a base unit. Decimal yards × 36 = inches; centimeters ÷ 2.54 = inches; meters × 39.3701 = inches. Results are shown in all units simultaneously.

Width conversion: Uses the fabric area ratio: (yards × original width) ÷ new width, rounded up to the nearest ⅛ yard. This ensures you always buy enough for the same total fabric area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a fraction like ⅞ yard to a decimal?
Divide the numerator by the denominator. ⅞ = 7 ÷ 8 = 0.875 yards. Common conversions: ¼ = 0.25, ⅜ = 0.375, ½ = 0.50, ⅝ = 0.625, ¾ = 0.75, ⅞ = 0.875.
How much fabric is in a fat quarter?
A fat quarter is cut 18" × 22" (half a yard cut across the fold, then in half again). In yardage terms, it contains the same area as ½ yard of 22"-wide fabric — but not the same as ½ yard at full width (44").
What is WOF and how wide is standard quilting cotton?
WOF stands for "width of fabric." Standard quilting cotton is 44" wide (sometimes labeled 44/45"). Wide-back fabrics and some flannels are 60" wide. Extra-wide backing fabric is typically 108" wide.
Why would I need to convert between fabric widths?
Most quilt patterns are written for 44"-wide fabric. If you find a fabric you love that's 60" or 108" wide, you need less yardage. The fabric width converter calculates the equivalent yardage so you buy exactly the right amount.

Related Calculators

Yardage CalculatorStrips CalculatorBacking CalculatorShapes & HST Calculator