With so many types of textiles, colors, patterns, and prints to choose from, purchasing fabric online or in-store is easier than ever. To help narrow down your choices, we set out to find the best places to buy fabric for all of your sewing and creating needs.
We researched dozens of online fabric stores to determine the best of the best, paying close attention to textile, pattern selections, quality, price point, and level of expertise. We narrowed it down to the top 10 fabric stores, with craft giant JOANN as our front runner, thanks to the company’s vast collection of fabrications, affordable prices, and ability to shop online or in-store.We also included Spoonflower for its amazing customization feature and Queen of Raw for its deadstock fabrics and sustainable solutions.
Here are the best places to buy fabric online.
What We Like
Large selection of textiles, prints, and patterns
In-store pick-upavailable
Fabric swatches available
Bulk orders available
Coupons
What We Don't Like
Yardage minimum for online orders
When we think of fabric, it’s impossible not to think of JOANN. The craft supply store has a robust online and in-store collection of all different types of textiles, prints, and patterns, including some fun licensed patterns from Disney, Harry Potter, Friends, and more. There’s also almost always a good coupon available on the site, so you know you’re getting the best deal on your fabric.
On JOANN's site, you can easily navigate the company’s offerings with its “Shop by fabrication” feature and seasonal picks. You can also purchase a small fabric swatch to ensure you have the right textile, color, or print for your project. And, for bigger projects, you can request a bulk order. If it’s available in a store near you, you can even request in-store pick-up to avoid shipping fees.
The downside to shopping for fabric online at JOANN is that there is a yardage minimum. However, if you need less than a yard, you can also stop by the closest brick and mortar store to purchase fabric in more specific measurements.
What We Like
Custom prints
Large variety of exclusive designs
Matching wallpaper and decor are available
Over 20 textile options
What We Don't Like
Pricier than competitors
Spoonflower is a must for pattern lovers. The online fabric supply store has over 1 million designs from artists around the world and even better, if you don’t see something you like, you can upload your own design for a completely custom and unique textile. Aside from customization, the great thing about Spoonflower is that you can find a print in almost any textile as the company offers a selection of over 20 fabric options to choose from. And, if you are looking for matching home decor items, you can purchase wallpaper and decor (think: pillows and duvet covers) in the same fabric. The other great thing about Spoonflower is there are three minimum sizes to choose from: an 8x8 square, a fat quarter, and a yard, which is not common for purchasing fabric online.
What We Like
Variety of prints and patterns
Textile and color options
Exclusive designs
What We Don't Like
Print width of 54 inches
Minimum and maximum order quantity
Best known for its collection of artisanally created items—including invitations, stationery, and gifts—Minted is also a great source for fun and exclusive printed fabrics. This is a great place to go if you’re working on a project that requires a unique print in customizable colors and your preferred choice of fabric, as each print is available in a variety of color schemes and fabric options to choose from.
There is one downside to shopping for fabric at Minted, though. If you’re working on a bigger project, obtaining enough fabric could be tricky since the print width is 54 inches and the maximum continuous length of fabric is 10 yards. The fabric is also only available in 1-yard increments, so you might have some excess textile after completing your project.
What We Like
You can shop by skill level and project
Large range of textiles
Fabric quiz makes it easier to shop
Chat with a live fabric specialist
What We Don't Like
Swatches are expensive
If you watched Project Runway, Mood Fabrics might sound familiar. The New York City-based fabric supply is a go-to for beginners and coveted fashion designers alike and offers a wide range of fashion, home decor, and fabrics, plus trims, buttons, and notions. It truly is a one-stop-shop.
The tricky thing about shopping for textiles at Mood Fabrics is that there is so much to choose from, but the company knows this and created several tools to help you select the right material. You can shop by skill level, project, or take the company’s fabric quiz to help you narrow down your choices. And, if you’re still stuck, there is a live chat feature that allows you to connect with a fabric specialist. We also love that Mood lets you buy fabric in ½ yard increments. While this might not be ideal for smaller projects, it is one of the best yardage minimums we have seen for online fabric shopping.
Just keep in mind: if swatches are important to your project, they aren’t available per piece of fabric, and the fabric swatch books are expensive.
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What We Like
Textile variety
Color and pattern variety
Size range
What We Don't Like
Quality is harder to gauge
Shipping costs
Etsy is known for its marketplace of unique handmade items, but it’s also one of the best sources for craft supplies, including fabric. We love that there is a large variety of textiles, colors, and patterns available from individual sellers, making it easier than ever to find the perfect fabric for your project. Since fabrics are sold by individual Etsy shops, you can find fabrics available in a variety of sizes, including smaller swatches, too.
The main con to shopping for fabric on Etsy is that quality can be harder to gauge, so it’s important to check out the shop and product reviews when vetting the best textile for your project. Additionally, shipping costs can range a lot—and be expensive—depending on where you are ordering from.
What We Like
Recycled fabrics available
Trusted by top costume designers
Swatch cards are available
What We Don't Like
Less textile variety
Blue Moon Fabrics is Los Angeles’ go-to textile shop for all things swimwear, activewear, dancewear, and couture, and the company’s coveted fabrics are available online, too. The fashion fabrics shop has worked with top film and television costume studios and high-end fashion designers for over 20 years, making it a great source for all of your garment needs and expertise.
If you’re planning a project or sourcing material for upcoming designs, Blue Moon Fabrics offers a selection of textile swatch cards to support your design process. And, for those looking for eco-friendly fabrics, the company also has a collection of recycled textiles, including polyester, spandex, fishnet, and more.
The only downside to purchasing textiles from Blue Moon Fabrics is that it has a fashion focus, so there isn’t a whole lot of textile variety and probably not the best choice for someone looking to create home decor accessories or upholstered furniture.
What We Like
Eco-Friendly
Deadstock fabric
You can buy and sell
Scrap packs are available
Fabric variety
What We Don't Like
Shipping costs
Whether it’s for fashion or upholstery, the fabric industry can result in a lot of waste. If you’re looking for a more sustainable way to shop for fabric, Queen of Raw is the solution. Rather than contribute to new fabric production, Queen of Raw is all about saving existing (and unused) textiles through the company’s marketplace, where you can buy and sell excess deadstock fabric supply.
Thanks to its marketplace nature, Queen of Raw has a lot to offer in terms of variety, quality, price point, and origin. There is a corner of the website dedicated to smaller inventory (under three yards of fabric available) and, if you’re in need of more, there is a category for over 250 yards available, too. We also love the scrap fabric pack offerings as they are ideal for smaller projects or creating samples at a lower cost.
The only downside to Queen of Raw is the shipping cost. Because it’s a marketplace, you can purchase your fabric from sellers all around the world, which usually warrants higher shipping fees.
What We Like
Fabric swatches are available
Custom items
Easy to navigate
Fun prints
What We Don't Like
Minimum order quantity
Sold in 1-yard increments
If you’re shopping for fabric for a DIY home project, Loom Decor is a great place to purchase cotton, linen, polyester, velvet, sheer, and indoor or outdoor textiles. This fabric supply is great for advanced sewers looking to create a custom piece for their home, but it is also great for someone with little to no experience, as you can order custom window treatments, pillows, and other upholstered items in the fabric of your choice, without stitching a thing.
It can be tricky not being able to touch and see the fabric in person before ordering. But, with Loom Decor, you don’t have to worry about that since the company offers fabric swatches with speedy three-day delivery. The only downside to purchasing fabric online at Loom Decor is there is a minimum order quantity of one yard, and the fabric is sold in 1-yard increments. So, if you need one and a half yards, you’ll need to order two yards of fabric.
What We Like
Fabric swatches are available
Direct to consumer model
You can shop on Amazon
What We Don't Like
Minimum order yardage and quantity
Fabric.com is Amazon’s online fabric shop, dedicated to supplying fabric direct to consumers at affordable price points. Whether you’re looking for apparel or upholstery fabrics, Fabric.com has a wide range of textiles, including fabrics purchased from favorite designers’ collections of first quality closeouts at the end of each fashion season.
Prime members can purchase select fabrics on Amazon for further discounts and benefits. The only downside is that there is a minimum order quantity of at least 1 yard of fabric (with some textiles requiring additional yardage per order).
What We Like
Free fabric swatches are available
High-quality upholstery fabric
What We Don't Like
Minimum order quantity
Sold in 1-yard increments
West Elm is known for its collection of high-end furniture and home goods, but it’s also a great source for high-quality upholstery fabrics, sold by the yard. On the site, you can shop by color, print, or material type. And, before you buy, you can request free fabric swatches to help you determine the right match for your project.
The downside to shopping for fabric at West Elm is, unlike other fabric stores, there isn’t a lot of variety in terms of fabric—and all textiles are made with home decor in mind. There’s also a minimum order quantity of one yard, and the fabrics are sold in 1-yard increments, so you might spend money on excess yardage.
What To Look For Buying Fabric Online
Relevance to Your Project
“Reference your project instructions or pattern jacket for recommendations of fabric types that work best for that project,” says Anna Olsen, a Crafted Content team member at JOANN. Another trick is to look for items you might already own—such as a dress or pillowcase—to compare how the fabrics feel in comparison.
Level of Expertise
According to Olsen, woven fabrics such as cotton, linen, shirtings, and home decor canvas are great fabrics for beginners. “Fabrics that stretch, have a lot of drape, embellishments, or finishes may require extra prep work, special techniques, and additional tools to complete a project,” she adds.
Increment Limits
You'll find that a lot of stores sell their fabric in 1-yard increments. While this is common, it often leads to you paying for excess textile that you don't end up using. However, some sites, like Mood, lets you buy fabric in ½ yard increments, which is one of the lowest yardage minimums we've found in our research.
FAQ
Do you have to buy fabric by the yard?
You don’t have to purchase fabric by the yard. However, if you are shopping for fabric online, this tends to be the trend as most online fabric retailers sell fabric by the yard (and some might sell by the half yard). If you prefer a custom fabric length, Olsen recommends going to a cut counter at a local fabric store to purchase your desired amount.
How much does one yard of fabric cost?
When shopping for fabric by the yard, the price can vary. It all depends on fabrication and the collection, as some licensed or designer textiles might have higher price points. “A beginner-friendly cotton starts around $5 per yard, while everyday home decor and apparel fabrics are generally between $10 to $30 per yard,” says Olsen.
How wide is fabric sold by the yard?
The width of fabric sold by the yard can vary, depending on your choice of textile. “Fabrics can be found in widths ranging from 45 inches to 58 inches,” says Olsen.
Why Trust The Spruce
Contributing writer Jessie Quinn is a lifelong maker and is known for roaming the fabric aisles at her local craft supply shop. For this roundup, Jessie used her years of meticulously researching and purchasing craft supplies (including fabric) to help guide her as she carefully vetted each store’s fabric offerings. Jessie considered material quality, fabric variety, color and pattern options, price point, and each textile supply’s level of expertise to determine the best places to buy fabric. As a result, Jessie created a thoughtful and robust list of the top fabric stores for all of your sewing and crafting needs.