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Fabric yardage: yards and meters
Convert fabric cuts between yards and meters when buying cloth for sewing.
Fabric counters in the US sell by the yard. Most of the rest of the world, and many online shops, sell by the meter. The conversion is exact and small errors still waste money at the cutting table.
The factor
1 yard = 0.9144 meters exactly (international yard). 1 meter ≈ 1.0936 yards. Width is independent: a 45 in (114 cm) or 60 in (152 cm) bolt can be sold in either length unit.
How to buy
Read the pattern envelope. US patterns list yards for 45 in and 60 in widths; European and many Asian patterns list meters and centimeters of width.
Convert length first, then add shrinkage and matching. A straight 2.5 yd cut is 2.5 × 0.9144 = 2.286 m. Round up to the shop increment (often 0.1 m or 1/8 yd).
If you need extra for nap, stripes, or directional prints, add it in the same unit you will speak to the seller, then convert once.
Worked example
A dress wants 3 3/8 yd of 60 in fabric. 3.375 × 0.9144 = 3.086 m. Ask for 3.1 m. In the other direction, a listing of 2.5 m is 2.5 / 0.9144 ≈ 2.73 yd, so buy 2 3/4 yd if the store cuts in eighths.
Conversion table
| Yards | Meters | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.457 | Facings, pockets |
| 1 | 0.914 | Small top, kids |
| 1.5 | 1.372 | Shirt |
| 2 | 1.829 | Simple dress |
| 2.5 | 2.286 | Lined jacket |
| 3 | 2.743 | Coat, wide skirt |
| 4 | 3.658 | Full-length coat |
Tools
Write both the length and the fabric width on the receipt so later recuts stay consistent.