How to Use the Curtain Fabric Calculator
Sewing your own curtains or ordering custom panels means figuring out how much fabric to buy — which isn't always obvious. Enter your window width, desired curtain length, pleat ratio, and fabric bolt width, and this calculator tells you the number of fabric panels needed and the total yardage to purchase.
The pleat ratio determines how full your curtains look — it's multiplied by the window width to get the total fabric width required. For example, a 60 in window with 2x fullness needs 120 in of fabric width; with a standard 54 in bolt, that means sewing together 3 panels. Add a hem allowance (typically around 8 in) to the curtain length, multiply by the number of panels, and you get the total fabric to buy. Check your fabric store's actual bolt width and match it in the calculator for the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
2x fullness is the most common choice. Use 2.5x-3x for a fuller, more luxurious look, or 1.5x for a flatter, more minimal style.
The total fabric width needed (window width times pleat ratio) is divided by your fabric's bolt width and rounded up. For example, if you need 110 in of width and your fabric is 54 in wide, you'll need 3 panels.