Affiliate Disclosure
Some supply links on this site are paid links. This page explains what that covers and what it does not.
The short version
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something after following a paid link here, we receive a small commission and you pay the same price you would have paid otherwise. Paid links are labelled wherever they appear.
What keeps the numbers honest
Paid links cover fabric as well as notions, which means a larger estimate would earn us more. We would rather name that than have you find it, so here is what stops it mattering.
Every yardage total includes a cutting allowance, shown as its own line rather than folded into the number, and those percentages are fixed: 15 for beginner, 10 for DIY, 5 for professional. They are published on the methodology page and pinned by an automated check that fails our build if anyone changes them. Nudging an estimate upward is not something that can be done quietly here.
We also do not pick products for you. Links go to a search rather than a single listing, so what you buy, and from whom, stays your decision.
What carries a paid link
Fabric, in the weight and type each calculator is for, plus the categories below and nothing else. Links go to a product search rather than a single listing, because the right batting or foam depends on your project.
| Fabric, by calculator | What to check before buying |
|---|---|
| upholstery | Check the double rub count. Under 15,000 suits occasional use, but a family sofa wants 30,000 or more. |
| cushions | For anything that lives outside, look for solution dyed acrylic. Printed outdoor fabric fades within a season. |
| curtains | Check the width first. Wider fabric means fewer joins on a tall window, which changes both the look and the yardage. |
| quilting | Quilting cotton is usually 42 to 44 inches wide. Confirm the width, because every yardage figure assumes one. |
| sewing | Match the weight and drape to your pattern. A stiff fabric will not hang like the photo, whatever the yardage says. |
| Category | What to check before buying |
|---|---|
| Foam/insert size check | Density and firmness are two different numbers. Density is weight per cubic foot, firmness is ILD. For a seat cushion you want both listed, not just one. |
| Round foam/insert size check | Check whether the listed size is the foam itself or the finished cover. They are not the same. |
| Bolster insert size check | Sold by length and diameter. A firm fill holds its shape on a daybed, a loose polyester one goes flat. |
| Zipper chain | Sold by the yard with sliders bought separately, so you can cut the exact length you need. Most fabric shops do not stock it. |
| Compatible zipper slider | The slider has to match the chain. A number 5 slider will not run on number 3 chain. |
| Zipper | Match the length to the opening in your cut list, and the weight to your fabric. |
| Panel-joining supplies | Heavy thread and plenty of pins. A seam across a visible panel shows every wobble. |
| Welt cord | Sold by diameter. A thicker cord gives a heavier, more traditional edge and needs a wider strip to cover it. |
| Staples or other fasteners | Match the gauge and crown width to your frame. A manual gun struggles on old hardwood, so electric is worth it for a whole chair. |
| Optional padding wrap | Softens the edge of the foam and stops the cover gripping it. Only needed if you are replacing the padding. |
| Grommets/Eyelets | Check the inner diameter against your rod. Too tight and the curtain will not slide properly. |
| Pleat Hooks | Hook position sets the finished height. Buy a few extra, they are easy to lose. |
| Curtain Rod/Track | Measure your installed hardware rather than the window. Width, projection from the wall and bracket spacing all change the look. |
| Heading Tape | Tape type sets the pleat style and has to match the fullness you chose. Buy for the flat width of the panel, not the finished width. |
| Fusible Interfacing | Should support your fabric, not stiffen it. Test on a scrap first, because too heavy a weight turns a soft collar into card. |
| Buttons | Check the shank and the buttonhole size together. Buy a couple of spares, dye lots vary. |
| Waist closure | Match the closure to the waistband weight. A heavy waistband pulls a light hook open. |
| Thread | Match the type and weight to your fabric, not just the colour. |
| Quilting Thread | Piecing and quilting often want different weights. Check what your machine and batting prefer. |
| Batting | Sold in crib, throw, twin, full, queen and king sizes. Take the planning size next to this row and buy the next size up. |
What we do not link
- Frame hardware such as hog rings, tack strips, webbing, and buckram, which trade suppliers stock properly and general retailers do not
- Quilting rulers, where counterfeits with inaccurate markings are a known problem
- Sewing machines and dress forms, which are not what you are shopping for at the moment you calculate yardage
Printed and saved results stay clean
Paid links appear on screen only. The PNG you download, the page you print, and the result text you copy contain the plain materials list with no links and no retailer names. A cut sheet you carry to the workshop should be a cut sheet.
What a commission does not change
No brand pays for placement, and no retailer has any say in a calculator formula or a published result. Our editorial policy and methodology set out how results are produced, and the privacy policy covers what happens when you follow an outbound link.
Related Pages
Read how this site handles calculations, corrections, privacy, and contact requests.