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Fabric & sewing

Curtain fabric calculator

Estimate curtain fabric from the pole width, desired fullness and fabric width. The quantity depends on full widths of fabric and the cutting height of each length.

Your project measurements

Metric units
cm
cm
×
Example value: follow the instructions for your chosen heading tape or finish.
cm
Excluding unusable selvedges, before any shrinkage.
cm
cm
cm
cm
%
Enter only if known. Use 0 for fabric that is already prepared.

Need a starting point? The initial values are an example.

YOUR ESTIMATE

10.4 m

Calculated fabric length

Illustrative diagram. Curtain pole width and finished curtain height, with panels shown in proportion. Result: 10.4 m180 cm230 cmFinished view · 2 panels · 4 fabric widths · not a cutting planIllustrative diagram10.4 m
Full fabric widths per panel2 strips
Total strips4 strips
Fabric length before shrinkage260 cm
Fabric width after shrinkage140 cm
Purchase rounded up to 10 cm10.4 m

Full fabric widths are counted separately for each panel, without sharing half-widths or optimising offcuts. The total may therefore exceed a manually prepared cutting plan.

Fullness and hems are sewing choices. Check the instructions for your chosen finish and prepare the fabric before cutting.

Understand the calculation
  1. Fabric width to prepare per panel for gathering: 180 × 2 ÷ 2 = 180 cm, plus two 4 cm hems.
  2. With a fabric width of 140 cm after shrinkage and joining seams: 2 fabric widths per curtain panel.
  3. Length before shrinkage and after any pattern matching: 260 cm per fabric length.
  4. 4 × 260 ÷ 100 = 10.4 m.

The estimate depends on your measurements and entered inputs. PDF output uses your browser’s Save as PDF option.

MetraNest · https://metranest.com/en/calculators/curtains/ · Méthode : Largeur par pan = tringle × ampleur ÷ nombre de pans. Le nombre de lés entiers couvre cette largeur et les ourlets, après retrait et coutures. Métrage = total des lés × hauteur de coupe avant retrait, arrondie au raccord si présent.

Fullness and curtain pole width

The spread-out fabric is usually wider than the curtain pole to create folds. Your chosen fullness factor multiplies the width to cover. It depends on the desired appearance and curtain heading system. Check the heading tape or pattern instructions before choosing a value.

From width to full fabric lengths

Fabric width is the width of material sold by the metre. The tool counts full fabric widths for each curtain panel, after accounting for side hems and joining seams. It does not share one fabric width between two panels: a manual cutting plan may sometimes use less fabric.

Prepare the cutting height

Add the top and bottom allowances to the finished height. Known washing shrinkage reduces the fabric width and increases the length needed before preparation. The vertical pattern repeat then rounds up each fabric length. Check the starting position of the first motif and horizontal matching separately.

The formula
Width per panel = pole width × fullness ÷ number of panels. Full fabric widths must cover this width and the hems after shrinkage and joining seams. Fabric length = total full widths × cutting height before shrinkage, rounded to the pattern repeat if present.

Two curtain panels using full fabric widths

A 180 cm curtain pole, a fullness factor of 2 and two panels require 180 cm of fabric width per panel. With 140 cm-wide fabric, 4 cm side hems and 1.5 cm seams, two fabric widths are needed per panel. A finished height of 230 cm plus 30 cm of allowances gives 4 × 2.60 = 10.40 m, without shrinkage or pattern matching.

Details to check

  • Measure the curtain pole, then the height from the chosen hanging point.
  • Keep finished dimensions separate from sewing allowances.
  • Mark the number of curtain panels on your sketch.

Frequently asked questions

Does the fabric length change for two curtains?

Yes, because fabric widths are rounded up separately for each panel, and each panel has its own hems. This keeps full widths and does not try to share offcuts.

Does wide fabric avoid seams?

Sometimes, if its dimensions and pattern direction allow the layout. Compare the cutting plan before choosing the fabric width.

Method and references · Editorial review: 25 October 2026

The geometric formulas are explained here. For a product, its packaging dimensions and coverage rate remain the reference inputs.

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