Cotton Fabric Yardage Guide
Cotton is the most common fabric for sewing, quilting, and home decor. Here is everything you need to know about buying the right amount.
Cotton Fabric Widths
| Type | Width | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Quilting cotton | 44–45" (42" usable) | Quilts, crafts, simple garments |
| Cotton lawn / voile | 44–45" | Blouses, summer dresses, baby clothes |
| Cotton canvas / duck | 54–60" | Upholstery, bags, heavy curtains, slipcovers |
| Cotton sateen | 54–58" | Drapery, home decor, formalwear |
| Cotton wide-back | 108" | Quilt backing |
Shrinkage
Cotton shrinks 3–5% in the first wash. Heavy cottons like canvas can shrink up to 8%. Always pre-wash before cutting, or buy an extra 5–8% to compensate. For rates by fabric type, see our reference page.
Yardage Tips for Cotton Projects
Quilting
Quilting cotton is the go-to for patchwork. At 42 inches usable width, a queen quilt top needs 7.5–10 yards split across your colour count. Get a per-colour breakdown from the patchwork tool. Check the quilt yardage chart for quick reference.
Garments
Cotton lawn and voile are 44–45 inches, so garment pattern yardage requirements are typically based on this width. Cotton drill and twill are wider (54–58 inches) and need less yardage. Use the sewing calculator.
Upholstery & slipcovers
Cotton canvas at 54 inches is the standard slipcover fabric. It is durable, washable, and affordable. For yardage, see our slipcover fabric guide.
Using the same cotton across several projects? You can tally them all in one place so quilting, garments, and home decor share a single bolt.