How to Calculate Fabric Repeat Size

Repeat size is the physical width and height of one repeat on the printed fabric. It controls how large your motifs appear and how efficiently the design uses the fabric. Here are the calculations you will need.

1. Repeat size from pixels

Repeat width (cm) = pixel width ÷ DPI × 2.54

Example: a 2,400 px tile at 150 DPI is 2,400 ÷ 150 = 16 inches = 40.64 cm.

2. Pixels from repeat size

Pixels = repeat width (cm) ÷ 2.54 × DPI

Example: a 25 cm repeat at 300 DPI needs 25 ÷ 2.54 × 300 = 2,953 px.

3. Repeats across the fabric

Repeats across = printable width ÷ repeat width

Printable width is the fabric width minus selvedges. On 145 cm fabric with 1 cm selvedges (143 cm printable), a 30 cm repeat fits 4.77 times: four full repeats and a partial repeat of 23 cm.

4. Repeat width for an exact number across

Repeat width = printable width ÷ desired number of repeats

Five repeats across 143 cm needs a repeat of 28.6 cm. This matters for engineered prints, panels and products cut from a full width, such as tablecloths or scarves.

5. Fabric length for a number of repeats

Length = repeat height × number of repeats down

Ten repeats of a 32 cm design need 3.2 m of fabric before any allowance for waste and test prints.

Choosing a sensible repeat size

Product	Typical repeat width
Childrenswear, shirting, ditsy prints	5–15 cm
Dresses, blouses, quilting cotton	15–35 cm
Bedding and cushions	30–64 cm
Curtains and upholstery	45–90 cm

Half drop and brick repeats

Quote the size of the full tile you supply. For a ½ drop, that tile is twice the unit width; for a ½ brick, twice the unit height. When printers ask for “repeat size” for a half drop they usually mean the unit dimensions plus the drop — state both to avoid confusion: “Unit 30 × 30 cm, half drop, tile 60 × 30 cm”.

The Repeat Size Calculator and Fabric Print Size Calculator do all of these calculations instantly in centimetres or inches.