How much curtain fabric do you need? Get the exact number.
Set your pleat type, fullness, pattern repeat and lining, in inches or metric, and get the widths, cut lengths and total fabric. Then download a print-ready cut list to take to the shop.
What you get
- Number of fabric widths to cut
- Cut length per width, with the pattern repeat added
- Total fabric to buy, in yards or metres
- Lining quantity when you need it
- A print-ready cut list PDF for the workroom
Free, no signup. Everything runs in your browser.
Get every input right
How to Measure
Measuring for curtains comes down to two numbers and where you take them from: the width of the track or pole, and the finished drop from the top of the heading to where you want the hem to fall.
Read the guideFullness & Pleats
Fullness is how much wider than the track your fabric is gathered, and it is set by the heading you choose.
Read the guidePattern Repeat
A patterned fabric has to match across every width, so each drop is cut to a whole number of pattern repeats.
Read the guideThe pattern repeat is where the money is
Most curtain fabric calculators handle a track width and a fullness ratio fine. Where they slip is the pattern. A patterned fabric has to match across every width, so each drop is cut to a whole number of pattern repeats. Miss that and your widths will not line up. On a 64 cm repeat over a tall drop, getting it wrong can waste a metre of cloth per width, often $100 to $400 of fabric on a large pair.
A half-drop repeat is the one that catches people out. The pattern steps down halfway on alternate widths, so you add one whole extra repeat to the order, once, to offset the alternate drops. This calculator does that for you, in inches or metric, and writes the exact cut length for every drop onto a cut list you can print. A chatbot can describe the rule, but it cannot hand you a correct print-ready sheet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much fabric I need for curtains?
Multiply the track or pole width by the fullness for your heading, divide by the usable fabric width to get the number of widths, then cut each width to the finished drop plus the header and hem, rounded up to a whole pattern repeat. The calculator does all of it and gives you the total in yards or metres.
Does the calculator work for UK metric and US yardage?
Yes. Toggle between inches and yards for US fabric or cm and metres for UK, Australian, and European fabric. It is one tool for both.
Which pleat types does it cover?
Pencil pleat, pinch and triple pleat, wave or ripplefold, eyelet and grommet, gathered rod pocket, and tab top, each with its correct fullness ratio.
Is it free, and do I need to sign up?
It is free with no signup. The calculation and the cut list PDF are built in your browser, so nothing you type is sent anywhere.