How is canvas fabric sold?

Canvas is sold by the metre from rolls typically 1.6 m or 2.1 m wide. Calculate your total area, then divide by the roll width to estimate the length needed. This is a no-waste minimum that assumes pieces nest efficiently across the roll, so round up to allow for offcuts and squaring the cut.

What weight of canvas should I use?

Medium weight (7-10oz) cotton duck is suitable for most painting. Heavy weight (10-12oz) is better for large canvases. Linen is measured in grams per square metre, with 350-500 gsm being typical for painting.

Should I pre-shrink canvas before stretching?

Pre-shrinking is recommended for unprimed canvas. Soak it in lukewarm water for 30 minutes, then hang to dry. This prevents the canvas from shrinking later when you apply gesso or wet paint.

ArtCalcs

Canvas Area Calculator

Calculate the total area of canvas fabric needed including overlap for stapling.

Canvas Width

Finished face width of the stretched canvas (the visible painting surface, not including the wrap)

Canvas Height

Finished face height of the stretched canvas (the visible painting surface, not including the wrap)

Quantity

How many canvases of this size you are cutting

Wrap Depth

Depth of the stretcher bar the canvas wraps around — standard bars ~18 mm, deep/box/gallery-wrap ~38 mm

How We Calculate This

Fabric per canvas = (Width + 2×(wrap depth + stapling allowance)) × (Height + 2×(wrap depth + stapling allowance))

Total = Area per canvas × Quantity

Each fabric dimension adds the wrap depth (to cover the stretcher-bar edge) plus a stapling allowance (to fold and staple onto the back) to both sides. Jackson's Art suggest roughly +75 mm per side for standard ~18 mm bars and +100 mm per side for deep/gallery-wrap ~38 mm bars; adjust the Stapling Allowance to match your bar depth and stretching method.

Roll length is an area-based estimate (total area ÷ roll width). It assumes pieces nest efficiently across the roll with no offcut waste, so treat it as a no-waste minimum and round up when buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Canvas Size Calculator

Calculate canvas dimensions including wrap-around allowance for gallery wrap and stapling edges. Free online calculator, no signup required.

Stretcher Bar Calculator

Work out stretcher bar lengths, cross braces and corner keys needed for your canvas. Includes brace spacing for large canvases.

Gesso Coverage Calculator

Calculate how much gesso primer you need for your canvas or wood panel based on surface area, absorbency and number of coats applied.

Panel Size Calculator

Work out wood panel dimensions and cradling requirements for rigid painting surfaces. Covers MDF, birch plywood and hardboard panels.

Canvas Cost Calculator

Estimate the total material cost of canvas fabric, stretcher bars, gesso and staples for building your own stretched canvases.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.