Fabric Yardage Calculator
Curtain yardage in yards or meters with hem and waste.
What it does
Curtain yardage is panel math plus hem plus waste. Each panel needs finished length plus casing and hems, panels multiply that cut, and a waste share covers crooked cuts and preshrink loss. This page adds those layers in inches or cm.
The default is two 84 in panels with an 8 in allowance. Cut per panel is 92 in, total cut is 184 in, and buy yardage with 10% is 5.6 yd. Metric defaults convert the same drapes to 213 cm with 20 cm hem and give 466 cm cut with 5.1 m to buy.
Hem allowance is the quiet input. Rod pockets eat more than clip tops, puddled hems eat more than sill caps, and linings double the story. Measure your hardware and hem plan before trusting any default.
Plain goods fit this page best. Repeats, half drops, nap, and directional prints all demand extra length per panel that only the repeat size can set.
How to use
- Pick imperial or metric first.
- Enter finished panel length.
- Enter hem allowance.
- Enter panel count.
- Read yards to buy first, then cut length and panels.
Formula
- length
- Finished panel length in the active units.
- hem
- Hem and casing allowance per panel.
- panels
- Count of equal panels.
Hem covers top casing, bottom hem, and side turns in one allowance. The 10% covers straightening, shrinkage, and cutting loss on plain goods. Prints with repeats, nap, or one way motifs need extra beyond this page.
Worked example
Example: two 84 in panels
84 in panels, 8 in hem, 2 panels (metric 213 cm, 20 cm, 2).
- Cut per panel: 84 + 8 = 92 in.
- Total cut: 92 x 2 = 184 in.
- Yards: 184 / 36 = 5.11 yd.
- With 10%: 5.11 x 1.1 = 5.6 yd.
- Metric: 233 x 2 = 466 cm, buy 5.1 m.
- Tool shows 5.6 yd imperial and 5.1 m metric.
Reference table
| Panel | 1 panel | 2 panels |
|---|---|---|
| 63 in | 2.2 yd | 4.3 yd |
| 72 in | 2.4 yd | 4.9 yd |
| 84 in | 2.8 yd | 5.6 yd |
| 96 in | 3.2 yd | 6.4 yd |
| 108 in | 3.5 yd | 7.1 yd |
Limits
- Lengthwise cuts only. Railroaded goods differ.
- One allowance per panel. Mixed lengths need splitting.
- 10% waste fits plain goods. Prints need more.
- Ignores width piecing and linings.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting casing in hem allowance.
- Measuring the window, not the rod drop.
- Skipping preshrink before cutting.
- Mixing inches with yards mid chain.
- Matching prints without adding repeats.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
One 84 in panel, 16 in hem?
Cut 100 in, buy 3.1 yd (100 / 36 x 1.1).
Three 84 in panels, 8 in hem?
Cut 276 in, buy 8.4 yd.
Questions
How much fabric for curtains?
Add hem to length, times panels, divide by 36, add 10%. Here 5.6 yd.
What is the cut length?
184 in of cut length for the example (466 cm metric).
Is waste included?
Both sides model above include 10% for cuts and straightening.
Does it work in metric?
Yes. Enter cm for meters to buy.
What about wide fabric?
Wide goods can turn panels sideways. This page assumes lengthwise cuts.
Does it match patterns?
No. Repeats, nap, and matching sit outside straight yardage.