About this calculator

Why it exists

Under-buying fur is expensive in a way that is easy to miss. It is not just the extra shipping on a second order. Faux fur is sold in dye lots, and a reorder six weeks later frequently does not match the bolt you already cut into. Makers end up with a suit that has a visibly different panel, or they over-buy by several yards to be safe and tie up money in fabric that sits in a bin.

Most existing advice is a forum post saying “about four yards for a full suit, more if you are tall.” That is not enough to order against. This tool aims to give you a number you can defend, plus the reasoning behind it, so you can adjust it for your own pattern rather than trusting a stranger's guess.

How the model works

The estimate is built in three stages. Each stage is transparent, and the result page shows the output of every one of them.

1. Reference surface areas. Each body region carries a reference area in square yards. Your body size scales those areas, and the suit type you pick decides which regions are included at all.
2. Area converted to linear yards. Total area is divided by usable bolt width. A 2 inch selvedge is discounted first, then a pile-direction factor is applied, because fur pieces cannot be rotated to nest more tightly.
3. Allowances, then the colour split. Waste for your chosen fur quality, pile direction and your own buffer are added in sequence. The result is then weighted across your colours, with the primary colour taking the largest share because it covers the large panels.

What it deliberately does not do

• It does not read your pattern. If you have a pattern that nests unusually well or badly, trust your pattern over this estimate.
• It does not know your local supplier. Usable width varies by mill and region. Measure the bolt you can actually buy and pick the closest option.
• It does not cover every material. This is for faux fur. Fleece, minky and upholstery velvet behave differently and have their own nap rules.

Who it is for

First-time makers ordering their first bolt, and experienced makers pricing a commission who want a second opinion before quoting a client. Both groups benefit from seeing the per-region table, because that is usually where an intuition about yardage is wrong.

Accuracy and feedback

Treat the output as a planning figure. Makers commonly land within about 10 to 15 percent of a model like this once the buffer is included, which is the right level of precision for ordering fabric. If you build a suit and the estimate was badly off, that is useful information — tell us what you actually used via the contact page and it gets folded into the next revision.

Technology

The site is a static Next.js export. Every calculation runs in your browser with JavaScript, and no input is transmitted to a server. There is no account to create. The site is supported by third-party advertising and uses analytics, so those providers may set cookies on your device — the privacy policy explains which ones and how to opt out.