Inches to Yards (in to yd)

How to convert inches to yards

Divide the inches by 36:

yd = in ÷ 36

100 in ÷ 36 = 2.78 yd. The divisor is exact: a yard is 3 feet of 12 inches. Because fabric and lumber are cut in whole yards plus inches, the result also shows yards and feet — 2 yd 2.33 ft — along with feet and meters. In yards and inches that is 2 yd 28 in: 2 × 36 = 72, and 100 − 72 = 28. To go the other way, multiply yards by 36.

Fabric cuts in inches

Fabric stores sell by the yard and by fractions of a yard, so a pattern measured in inches needs converting before you buy:

A fat quarter is a half yard cut in half across: 18 × 22 inches from 44-inch-wide quilting cotton. If a project needs 50 inches, buy 1 1/2 yards (54 inches) rather than 1 3/8 — many counters cut only to the eighth, and the extra covers shrinkage when the fabric is prewashed.

Inches to yards chart

Measuring for curtains, tablecloths and upholstery

For curtains, measure the window width in inches, multiply by 2 to 2.5 for fullness, and add 4 inches per panel for side hems; then measure the drop and add about 16 inches for the top and bottom hems. Multiply the drop by the number of fabric widths you need and divide by 36 to get yards. A tablecloth for a 60-inch table with a 10-inch drop on each side needs an 80-inch square of fabric — 2.22 yards of 90-inch-wide fabric, or two widths of narrower fabric seamed together. If the fabric has a pattern repeat, add one repeat per width so the motifs line up.

Yards, feet and inches

A yard is also 3 feet, so the answer can be read in feet first: 100 inches is 8 ft 4 in, or 2 yd 28 in. For feet as the main unit, see inches to feet; for the reverse of this page, feet to yards and yards to feet. A yard is 0.9144 m, so the result lists meters for fabric bought abroad by the meter — 1 meter is 39.37 inches, a little more than a yard.