20 × 12 ft L-shaped bed: 3 × 50 ft Fabric Rolls

Selected-roll panel cut plan · lengths in feet
Panel	Direction	Run × span	Strips	Pieces / strip	Tail length	Full + tail rolls
1	crosswise	6 × 20	8	1	6	0 + 1
2	crosswise	6.50 × 10	4	1	6.50	0 + 1

Roll-size comparison · areas in sq ft; pins at selected spacing
Roll	Cut area	Rolls	Purchased area	Pins
3 × 50 ft · selected	222	2	300	81
3 × 100 ft	222	2	600	81
4 × 50 ft	222	2	400	68
4 × 100 ft	222	2	800	68
6 × 100 ft	198	2	1200	43
6 × 300 ft	198	2	3600	43

Check the footprint and cutting budget

20 × 12 − 10 × 6 = 180 sq ft

The missing corner is split out of the footprint. Two rectangular panels meet with a six-inch overlap; the join has its own pin allowance. The finished perimeter is 64 feet. The cut budget reserves 222 square feet, including 35.75 square feet in overlapping layers and 6.25 square feet trimmed from the footprint. The purchased 2 rolls provide 300 square feet; 78 square feet remain as uncut stock.

Read each panel's cuts before buying

Panel 1 runs 6 feet along the strips and 20 feet across them, using the crosswise direction. The 8 strips cover 20.50 feet after side overlaps. Each strip uses 1 piece(s): 0 full-length pieces plus a 6-foot tail. One roll supplies 8 complete tails; the panel requires 0 full-piece rolls plus 1 tail-piece rolls. Total full-width cut length is 48 feet. Panels do not share remnants.

Panel 2 runs 6.50 feet along the strips and 10 feet across them, using the crosswise direction. The 4 strips cover 10.50 feet after side overlaps. Each strip uses 1 piece(s): 0 full-length pieces plus a 6.50-foot tail. One roll supplies 7 complete tails; the panel requires 0 full-piece rolls plus 1 tail-piece rolls. Total full-width cut length is 26 feet. Panels do not share remnants.

What changes with a wider overlap?

Changing this exact footprint to twelve-inch overlap produces 3 rolls and 270 square feet of cut fabric, including 70 square feet in overlap. Its trimming allowance becomes 20 square feet. A changed overlap may alter the preferred direction; the program recomputes both rectangular choices.

What changes with closer pins or a fixed direction?

At twelve-inch spacing instead of twenty-four inches, this six-inch-overlap layout reserves 148 pins: 64 around the outside and 84 on seams. With the original spacing and overlap but a forced lengthwise direction, it requires 3 rolls, 270 square feet of cut fabric, and 72 pins. These alternatives keep the same ground dimensions; they change the layout or fastening budget.

Before using this estimate on site

Confirm the actual package dimensions and include any border extensions. Pin counts treat each open seam's endpoints independently, and do not add anchors for plant holes or interior field positions. The roll-size table compares complete cutting plans rather than dividing ground area by package area. Automatic direction checks two directions per panel and does not search every possible patchwork arrangement. Any reduction through offcut reuse requires a separate drawn cut list.

Read the full formulas, assumptions, common mistakes, and FAQs.