About Yardstick Tools

Yardstick Tools answers one question for people who make and grow things: how much do I need? How much backing fabric for a queen quilt, how many board feet in a stack of lumber, how much resin for a river table, how much soil for a raised bed.

How we build each calculator

• The formula is on the page. Every calculator explains the math it uses and walks through a worked example, so you can check the answer yourself.
• Charts for the common sizes. Most pages include a table for standard sizes that you can print and keep in the workshop or sewing room.
• Rounded the way you buy. Fabric is rounded up to the next ⅛ yard, lumber to whole boards, bags of soil to whole bags.
• Tested. The calculations are covered by automated tests, and every page records when it was last updated.

Estimates, not guarantees

The results are estimates for planning and shopping. Materials vary — fabric shrinks, wood is milled to different sizes, resin densities differ by brand — so follow the manufacturer's instructions where they apply and buy a little extra for anything you cannot easily match later.

Found a mistake?

If a number looks wrong or you would like a calculator we do not have yet, please tell us on the contact page.