← All tools

Pleat Calculator

How much fabric do pleats take? Give the pleat count, the depth of each fold and the flat space between pleats, and get the fabric needed, the pleated width and the strips to cut.

Whole pleats across the panel
How far one fold turns back
Flat fabric between pleats
Bolt width less both selvedges

A knife pleat folds once to one side, so it eats twice its depth and shows one depth of fabric. A box pleat and an inverted pleat fold twice, so they eat four times their depth and show two. The space between pleats is flat fabric that is neither folded nor hidden. Fabric needed is the pleat count times the fabric each pleat takes; the pleated width is the same count times what each pleat shows; the folded-away figure is the difference and is the fabric that disappears into the folds. Strips are counted by dividing the fabric by the usable width and rounding up. Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.