This planner answers a narrow purchasing question: how much continuous fabric length does a stated set of rectangles occupy on your usable bolt width? It keeps the grain direction fixed unless your project explicitly permits rotation. It does not estimate a dress from body measurements or place curved garment pattern pieces.
At the cutting table
Rectangular fabric cutting planner
Enter finished rectangles and a uniform allowance on every edge, or use cut-size rectangles with allowance set to zero. All dimensions are inches.
Example: two 20 × 30 in cut rectangles fit side by side on 40 in usable width. Numbers shown are editable examples. Your entries stay in this page.
Enter your measurements to calculate.
Prepare dimensions before planning
Measure usable fabric width without selvages. Enter one rectangle type per line as width, length, count, with width across the bolt and length along it. Use inches throughout. If these are already cut sizes, keep added seam allowance at zero. If these are finished rectangles, the allowance field adds that amount to each of their four edges.
For two 20 × 30-inch cut pieces on 40-inch usable width, a lengthwise layout can put them beside one another in a 30-inch length: 30 ÷ 36 = 0.8333 yards before the purchase increment. At 39 inches usable width, that arrangement fails; the same two unrotated pieces need two 30-inch rows. A zero allowance in this example does not recommend sewing without allowances; it means they are already included in the dimensions.
Read the coordinates and the limits
The diagram is a cutting map, with its top-left corner at zero. The coordinate table identifies each piece by line number and copy number. The planner tries a height-sorted and an area-sorted shelf layout, keeps the shorter result and labels any rotation. It does not prove a globally optimal arrangement. Gaps counted as offcut area may be separate narrow scraps.
Keep rotation disabled for nap, directional prints or a pattern that requires lengthwise grain. Turning a rectangle can save length mathematically while making the real cut unsuitable. This model does not include print repeats, defect avoidance, mirrored pieces, folds, cutting kerfs, bias strips, irregular hems or curved shapes. Make a full-size physical layout for those cases.
Account for measured treatment changes
When the input is untreated usable width, width loss reduces the width available for the layout; length loss increases the length to buy. For already washed and measured fabric, leave both percentages at zero. The sample shrinkage worksheet explains how to measure them. Moda’s prewashing guidance addresses handling and loss of size in precuts; no default percentage is inferred from it.
If changing an included allowance first, use the rectangular seam worksheet , then enter its revised cut size here without adding that allowance again. Whole quilt backs use a separate panel and overhang calculation .
Method and sources
The layout and worked example are original rectangular geometry, not a fabric test. Input limits are 20 rectangle types and 200 copies. Purchases round upward only at the final increment, which you should match to the seller. Source checked October 15, 2026: Moda, Pre-cuts & Pre-washing . Your pattern’s grain and cut instructions remain controlling.