What is a selvedge allowance?

The selvedge is the finished edge of the fabric, which is often unprinted or covered by printer marks. Most printers leave 1–2 cm on each side.

Fabric Width Calculator

Choose a standard fabric width, enter your repeat, and get the number of full repeats, the leftover and repeat sizes that fit exactly — plus fabric length.

How to use the Fabric Width Calculator

Pick a standard fabric width or enter a custom one.
Set the selvedge allowance.
Enter your repeat width (and height for length).
Use the table of exact-fit repeat widths to rescale if needed.

Standard fabric widths

Width	Typical fabrics
112 cm / 44″	Quilting cotton, poplin, voile
137–140 cm / 54–55″	Home décor, canvas, linen
145–150 cm / 57–59″	Dress fabrics, jersey, many digital print bases
280 cm / 110″	Sheeting, wide-width curtains

Widths vary between mills — always confirm the printable width with your supplier.

Example

A 32 cm repeat on 145 cm fabric (143 cm printable) gives four full repeats and 15 cm left over. The table suggests 35.75 cm for exactly four or 28.6 cm for exactly five — scale by 111.7% or 89.4% accordingly.