Cloth Napkin Yardage Calculator
Choose napkin size and set quantity.
Napkin Yardage Basics
Cloth napkins are one of my favorite sewing projects — they are useful, eco-friendly, and make great gifts. A dinner napkin is typically 18x18 inches, while lunch napkins are 12x12. The yardage needed is surprisingly small: a set of 8 dinner napkins takes just over a yard of 54-inch fabric.
The key to efficient napkin cutting is maximizing how many fit across your fabric width. On 54-inch fabric, 18-inch napkins need 19 inches per piece (with hem), so 2 fit per width. On 45-inch fabric, 2 also fit since 19 x 2 = 38, well within 45 inches.
Napkin Finishing Options
Napkins can be finished with a simple double-fold hem (my go-to), mitered corners for a professional look, or serged edges for a casual style. Each finish needs slightly different hem allowances. The calculator uses 0.5-inch double-fold hem as standard.
You Might Also Need
Cloth napkins add elegance to any meal. These guides cover related topics:
- Table Runner Fabric Yardage — matching table runner yardage
- Placemat Fabric Yardage — coordinating placemat yardage
- Home Decor Fabric Calculator — general home decor yardage