Inches to Yards for Fabric: Quick Reference
Convert fabric lengths from inches to decimal yards and common fractional-yard purchase quantities.
| Yards | Inches | Centimeters | Meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 4.5 | 11.43 | 0.1143 |
| 1/4 | 9 | 22.86 | 0.2286 |
| 3/8 | 13.5 | 34.29 | 0.3429 |
| 1/2 | 18 | 45.72 | 0.4572 |
| 5/8 | 22.5 | 57.15 | 0.5715 |
| 3/4 | 27 | 68.58 | 0.6858 |
| 7/8 | 31.5 | 80.01 | 0.8001 |
| 1 | 36 | 91.44 | 0.9144 |
| 1 1/2 | 54 | 137.16 | 1.3716 |
| 2 | 72 | 182.88 | 1.8288 |
| 3 | 108 | 274.32 | 2.7432 |
One yard is a length, not a square: a yard cut from a 44-inch bolt measures 36 × 44 inches before removing the selvedges. A quarter yard is 9 inches long. A fat quarter is a different cut, typically about 18 × 22 inches from nominal 44-inch fabric.
Divide inches by 36
Convert inches to yards by dividing by 36. For example, 72 inches is 2 yards and 45 inches is 1.25 yards.
Round purchases upward
When the exact value falls between the increments sold by a fabric shop, buy the next available increment unless your project specification explicitly allows less.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-14. Measurements and construction practices vary; verify project-specific requirements before cutting expensive fabric.