How Many Fat Quarters are in a Yard of Fabric?
Fat quarters are perfect for sewing projects! Fat quarter bundles are inexpensive and are a great way to get a variety of fabrics for smaller projects or quilt patterns.
If you can’t find these pre-cut fabrics or want to use a certain fabric that isn’t already cut into a fat quarter, this guide will show you how to convert fat quarters into yardage.
How Many Fat Quarters Are in a Yard?
There are 4 fat quarters in a yard of fabric.
If you put four fat quarters together (2 rows of 2 fat quarters each) it would make a yard of fabric.
The handy chart above is an easy way to see how many fat quarters can be cut from one yard of fabric.
The length of the material in one yard of fabric is 36″ long.
What is the Number of Fat Quarters in a Half Yard?
There are two fat quarters in a half-yard of fabric.
Dimensions of a Fat Quarter
The size of a fat quarter is 18 inches X 22 inches.
Approximately 46 cm X 56 cm.
However, a single fat quarter can be slightly smaller, such as 18″ X 21″ or 18″ X 20″ depending on the width of the fabric that it is being cut from.
Most general quilting fabrics or cotton fabric measures 44″ in width but some fabric designers may make their fabric 42″ or 43″ instead.
Fat quarters are squares of fabric, rather than long strips.
While a fat quarter size is usually 18″ X 22″ the actual amount of fabric you receive in a pre-cut fat quarter could be different.
It may be slightly less or slightly more based on the fabric it was cut from and the way in which it was cut.
Is a Quarter of a Yard the Same as a Fat Quarter?
How does a regular quarter yard of fabric compare to fat quarter fabrics?
While a fat quarter is a quarter of a yard of fabric, it is NOT the same as getting a quarter of a yard of fabric cut off the bolt.
A fat quarter of fabric is cut in a different shape than a quarter yard of fabric.
If you ask for a quarter of a yard at a fabric store or quilt shops, they will measure 1/4 of a yard (9 inches) from the cut end of the bolts of fabric. So you will get a skinny strip of fabric that is 9″ X 44″ (or whatever width of fabric it is).
A fat quarter is still a quarter of a yard, but it is cut in a different way. It is a square shape, not a long strip of fabric.
| Size of Fabric | Dimensions | Surface Area |
| Fat Quarter | 18″ X 22″ | 396 sq. inches |
| Quarter of a Yard | 9″ X 44″ | 396 sq. inches |
How to Cut Fat Quarters Out of a Yard of Fabric
If you want to cut four fat quarters from a yard of fabric, it is easy!
Here’s how to do it:
- Fold a yard of fabric in half. Cut along the folded line to create 2 half-yard pieces.
- Open up each half-yard piece. Fold each in half.
- Cut along the folded lines of each piece to create a square.
Related Post: 12 Different Types of Sewing Scissors
Is It Cheaper to Buy Fat Quarters?
A fabric shop will usually charger you a little bit more for this smaller size because of the fabric cuts that are needed.
Fat quarters are usually more expensive than the cost of the same amount of yardage of fabric.
However, the main difference is that you can buy several fat quarters in different patterns without needing to buy a large piece of fabric to cut into smaller pieces of fabric.
If you only need one fat quarter, you would need to buy a half yard in order to have enough fabric to cut a fat quarter. While you would then have two fat quarters from that half yard, you may want two different fabrics rather than two squares of the same fabric.
In which case, buying single fat quarters can be more cost effective. However, if you are okay with adding the extras into your fabric stash for future projects, then buying yardage of fabric will cost less over time.
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