Yards to inches:
multiply by 36
Convert yards to inches for cloth, curtains and sports pitches, with a chart, worked examples and a quick way to check your answer.
Calcylator Editorial Team
Updated · 6 min read
How many inches are in a yard?
There are exactly 36 inches in one yard. A yard is 3 feet and each foot is 12 inches, so 3 times 12 gives 36.
The number is exact, not rounded. That makes yards to inches a reliable multiplication, and the answer is always a much bigger number than the one you started with, because the inch is a small unit.
The yards to inches formula
- inches:
- length in inches
- yards:
- length in yards
- 36:
- inches in one yard (exact)
Curtain fabric
5.5 yards
Multiply
5.5 × 36
Length in inches
198 in
5 × 36 = 180 and 0.5 × 36 = 18, which add up to 198.
Cricket gives a memorable second example. The pitch is 22 yards long, which is 22 × 36 = 792 inches, or 66 feet. For the reverse, a 252-inch length is 252 ÷ 36 = 7 yards.
- Write the length in yards as a decimal, so 2 1/4 becomes 2.25.
- Multiply by 36.
- Round to the nearest fraction of an inch if the job needs it.
- Check that the inches figure is 36 times the yards figure by dividing back.
Yards to inches chart
Every row multiplies the yards by 36.
| Yards | Inches |
|---|---|
| 1 yd | 36 in |
| 2 yd | 72 in |
| 5 yd | 180 in |
| 10 yd | 360 in |
| 25 yd | 900 in |
| 50 yd | 1,800 in |
| 100 yd | 3,600 in |
| 250 yd | 9,000 in |
| 500 yd | 18,000 in |
| 1,000 yd | 36,000 in |
For fractions of a yard, remember that a quarter yard is 9 inches, half a yard is 18 inches and three quarters is 27 inches.
Where you convert yards to inches
Soft furnishings are the common case. Fabric is sold by the yard, while a curtain or cushion pattern is drawn in inches. If a pair of curtains needs two drops of 84 inches each, you need 168 inches, which is about 4.67 yards, so most shoppers buy 5 yards.
Sports and landscaping use it as well. A groundskeeper marking a 10-yard zone in a training drill can convert to 360 inches for a tape or line-marking template. Tailors and upholsterers often do it in reverse, adding up several short cuts in inches and dividing by 36 to see whether one length of cloth is enough.
Common mistakes when converting yards to inches
- Using 12 instead of 36. Twelve is the number of inches in a foot, not a yard.
- Dividing instead of multiplying. Inches are smaller, so the inch figure must be larger.
- Reading 0.5 yards as 5 inches. Half a yard is 18 inches.
- Buying cloth to the exact inch. Add a margin for hems, pattern matching and shrinkage.
Common questions
How many inches are in a yard?
There are exactly 36 inches in a yard. A yard is 3 feet, and each foot has 12 inches, so 3 × 12 = 36. The figure is exact and used in every yards to inches conversion.
How do I convert yards to inches?
Multiply the yards by 36. For example, 3.5 yards is 3.5 × 36 = 126 inches. For a fraction of a yard, remember that a quarter yard is 9 inches and half a yard is 18 inches.
How many inches is 2 yards?
Two yards is 72 inches, because 2 × 36 = 72. That is also 6 feet. It is a handy reference when you cut fabric, rope or timber, as many people know that 72 inches equals 6 feet.
How do I convert inches to yards?
Divide the inches by 36. A 108-inch length is 108 ÷ 36 = 3 yards. If the result is not a whole number, the decimal shows part of a yard, such as 0.5 yards for 18 inches.
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