Fat Quarter: How Many Yards & How to Cut Your Own

If you’re a quilter or sewist, you’ve probably heard of fat quarters. They’re pre-cut pieces of fabric that are super popular for smaller projects and for building up a diverse fabric stash.

But when you’re planning a project, it’s important to know how much fabric you’re actually getting. This article will break down what a fat quarter is in terms of yards and its actual dimensions.

How many fat quarters are in a yard?

Here’s the most basic conversion you need to know:

  • Four fat quarters equal one yard of fabric.
  • Two fat quarters equal a half-yard of fabric.

A yard of fabric is 36 inches long. Because of the way a fat quarter is cut from a yard, you end up with four pieces of a particular size that, when you put them together, equal a yard.

How big is a fat quarter?

A fat quarter is usually about 18″ x 22″. However, the exact size can vary a little based on the manufacturer and the width of the fabric. You might see some fat quarters that are 18″ x 21″ or even 18″ x 20″.

Standard fabric is typically 44 inches wide, although you sometimes see 42″ or 43″. The 22″ side of a fat quarter is about half the width of standard fabric.

A fat quarter contains roughly 396 square inches of fabric.

Fat Quarter vs. Quarter Yard: What’s the Difference?

A quarter yard is a long, skinny piece of fabric, typically about 9 inches by 44 inches (the width of the fabric). A fat quarter, on the other hand, is a squarer piece, usually about 18 inches by 22 inches.

So, a quarter yard and a fat quarter have about the same amount of fabric – around 396 square inches. The difference is just in the shape. One’s long and narrow, and the other is more square.

How to cut fat quarters from a yard of fabric

If you’re a visual learner, you’ll find dozens of videos online that show you how to do this. But in general, you can create fat quarters from a yard of fabric by:

  1. Folding the yard of fabric in half lengthwise.
  2. Cutting along the fold to make two half-yard pieces.
  3. Opening each half-yard piece and cutting along the fold line.

Some crafters will also tell you to account for the selvedge of the fabric when you make your cuts.

In Summary

A fat quarter is a quarter of a yard of fabric, but instead of being a long, narrow strip, it’s a wider cut that measures about 18″ x 22″. Fat quarters are great for smaller projects and a fun way to collect a variety of fabrics.