Roman shade fabric calculator
Enter the finished size of your roman shade (roman blind) and get cut sizes, fabric and lining amounts, and fold spacing.
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How it is calculated
A roman shade is a flat panel, so unlike curtains there is no fullness. The face fabric is cut at the finished width plus 10 cm (5 cm turned in each side) and the finished drop plus 21 cm (3 cm top turn, 18 cm for the bottom hem and rod pocket). With a patterned fabric the cut length is rounded up to a whole vertical repeat.
If the cut width fits within the fabric width, you simply buy the cut length. Wider shades need the fabric turned sideways (railroading) or a seam, and the tool flags that. For the folds, the drop is divided into roughly 26 cm sections; one rod pocket sits between each section, and making the bottom section slightly deeper keeps the stack looking balanced when raised.
Worked example
A lined 90 x 150 cm shade in plain 137 cm fabric: cut the face panel at 100 x 171 cm, so buy 1.8 m. Lining needs 1.7 m. The 150 cm drop divides into 6 sections of about 25 cm, so sew 5 rod pockets.
Common questions
- How much fabric do I need for a roman blind?
- For most single-window shades, the finished drop plus about 21 cm, bought once, because the cut width fits within standard 137 cm fabric. A 120 cm wide by 160 cm shade needs about 1.9 m of face fabric plus lining.
- How many rod pockets does a roman shade need?
- Divide the drop into sections of roughly 22 to 28 cm; the rods sit between sections, so a 150 cm shade gets 5 rods about 25 cm apart. Fewer rods make deeper, more relaxed folds; more rods make crisper ones.
- Can I make a roman shade wider than my fabric?
- Yes, either railroad the fabric (turn it sideways, fine for plains and non-directional prints) or join widths with the seams hidden behind fold lines. The calculator tells you when your size needs one of these.
- Roman shade or roman blind, which is correct?
- Both. Shade is the usual word in the US, blind in the UK and Australia. The construction and the math are identical.
Related tools
SewCalc results are careful estimates based on standard practice. Fabrics, brands and personal technique vary, so always confirm measurements against your own pattern or project before cutting.