Two figures in, a clear answer out. The fabric calculator uses fabric width, length, number of pieces, width and ceiling to produce length of material you’ll need, number of pieces across and number of rows down, applying the standard relationship for this problem in the order the calculation actually needs it.
What Is the Fabric Calculator?
The fabric calculator turns fabric width, length, number of pieces, width and ceiling into length of material you'll need, number of pieces across and number of rows down.
It is a quick way to get from the numbers you have to the number you need, without setting up a spreadsheet or reaching for a formula.
How the Fabric Works
Each result follows from the ones before it, and the calculator shows every step, so a surprising answer can be traced back to the input that caused it.
Round your inputs to the precision you actually know, and keep more precision than that in the intermediate steps.
Getting a Result You Can Trust
Run the calculation twice with slightly different inputs. A sensible calculator moves its output in proportion; a wild change points to a unit or a decimal point problem in what you entered.
Write the inputs down next to the answer. It takes a moment and it is the difference between a number you can explain and one you cannot.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with fabric width set to 100, length set to 25, number of pieces set to 4, the calculator returns number of pieces across of 8, and number of rows down of 1, and length of material you'll need of 25. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out length of material you'll need?
Enter fabric width, length, number of pieces, width and ceiling. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports length of material you'll need, number of pieces across and number of rows down.
What does the fabric actually calculate?
It takes fabric width, length, number of pieces, width and ceiling and converts them into length of material you'll need, number of pieces across and number of rows down using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter fabric width?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Is the answer exact?
It is as exact as the formula and the inputs allow. The method itself is the standard one for this problem, so the only sources of error are the figures you enter and the precision you ask for.
Do I have to fill in every field?
Only the fields a particular result depends on. If you leave one blank, the results that need it simply show a note instead of a number, and everything else still works.