Precut Fabric Calculator
Zero Waste & No Sign-up: Calculate how many precut fabric bundles you need for your quilt. Supports Jelly Rolls (2.5" strips), Charm Packs (5" squares), Layer Cakes (10" squares), and more.
How to Use the Precut Calculator
Choose a precut type and how many bundles you have. The standard specs are built in: a Jelly Roll holds 40 strips of 2-1/2 inches by the fabric width, Charm Packs hold 42 five-inch squares, Layer Cakes hold 42 ten-inch squares, a fat quarter is an 18 x 21 inch cut, and a fat eighth is 9 x 21 inches.
The calculator multiplies pieces by their dimensions to get total fabric area, then expresses it as equivalent yardage based on a 42-inch fabric width. One Jelly Roll, for instance, carries 4,200 square inches — about 2.78 yards of fabric in strip form.
Use the equivalent yardage to sanity-check a pattern: if a design calls for 8 yards of assorted prints, two Layer Cakes plus a Jelly Roll come close to covering it. Remember that precut areas are gross figures — pinked edges and the trim lost around each piece make the practical yield slightly smaller.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many strips are in a Jelly Roll?
A standard Jelly Roll contains 40 strips, each 2.5 inches wide and approximately 44 inches long (the width of the fabric). Some manufacturers include 42 strips.
How many squares are in a Charm Pack?
A standard Charm Pack contains 42 squares, each 5 x 5 inches. These represent one square from each fabric in a collection, making them ideal for scrappy projects.
Can I mix different precut types in one quilt?
Yes. Many quilters combine precuts — for example, using a Jelly Roll for strips and a Charm Pack for accent squares. Our calculator can estimate needs for each type separately.