The Best Online Fabric Stores (2026)
Ten online fabric stores for garment sewing, compared on what each is best at, shipping, and whether you can return cut fabric. Policies checked Oct 31, 2026.
Buying fabric online is mostly a bet on three things: that the listing describes the fabric honestly, that it arrives in reasonable time, and what happens if it’s wrong. Stores differ far more on that last point than most people expect. Some take back unwashed cut yardage within 30 days; others treat every cut as final sale.
So we did the boring part. For each store below we read its own shipping and returns pages on Oct 31, 2026 and wrote down what they actually say. Policies change, so check the linked pages before you order.
How this list works: it’s written for people sewing clothes in the US. The order is roughly how broadly useful each shop is for a garment sewist, not a strict score. The best shop for you depends on what you’re making. No store paid to be included.
The quick comparison
| Store | Best for | Free US shipping | Return unwashed cut fabric? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mood Fabrics | Sheer range and designer fabrics | Over $150 (contiguous US) | No: fabric and cut items are final |
| Stonemountain & Daughter | Curated independent shop, sample cuts | Over $95 with code FREESHIP | Yes, 30 days, 20% cutting/restocking fee |
| Blackbird Fabrics | Curated modern garment basics | Over $150 USD | No: final sale once cut |
| Style Maker Fabrics | Garment fabric with styling ideas, fast dispatch | No ($9.95 flat ground) | Yes, 30 days, 1 yd+, less shipping |
| Cali Fabrics | Big designer-deadstock selection | Over $99 (Economy, contiguous US) | Yes, 30 days in received condition; 15% fee if shipping was free |
| Fabric Mart Fabrics | Bargains and clearance | No ($9.99 flat, contiguous US) | Yes, 30 days, less original shipping |
| Harts Fabric | A long-running independent with deep basics | Over $100 with code FREESHIP | Cuts over 1 yd, 30 days, 25% fee + shipping |
| The Fabric Lot | Garment knits and selvedge denim | Over $75 | Yes, 14 days, if unused and unwashed |
| Merchant & Mills | Linen, oilskin and their own patterns (UK) | Over $300 (DHL) | No: cut lengths are excluded |
| Spoonflower | Custom-printed fabric | Varies; see checkout | No: final sale (print flaws excepted) |
The ten stores
New York & Los Angeles · ships across the US and abroad
Mood Fabrics
Best for the widest range of fashion fabric, including designer deadstock
If you need something specific, like a wool crepe in a certain navy or a silk for linings, Mood is the likeliest place to have it. The trade-off is that every cut is final, so order swatches first when the color matters.
- Free US shipping
- Orders over $150, contiguous US and DC. The paid Mood Insider membership includes free shipping.
- Processing & transit
- Most orders are processed within 72 hours (another Mood page says 1–2 business days); ground delivery 1–7 business days after shipping. Some product lines take longer.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Not returnable. Fabrics, trims, special orders and anything cut to size can't be returned or exchanged. Unopened whole items and notions can go back within 30 days, less shipping.
Pros
- Enormous catalog across every fiber and weight
- Ships to all 50 states, APO/FPO and internationally
- Swatches available, and Mood itself recommends them
Cons
- No returns on cut fabric
- Free-shipping threshold is high
- The sheer size of the catalog can be hard to browse
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: shipping policy, returns
Berkeley, California · independent
Stonemountain & Daughter
Best for a thoughtful independent selection, and 1/8-yard sample cuts
A family-run Berkeley shop with a site that’s easy to browse by fabric type. The 1/8-yard sample cut is the useful bit: it runs the full width of the bolt, enough to test drape and do a wash test before you commit.
- Free US shipping
- Domestic orders over $95 with code FREESHIP.
- Processing & transit
- Orders ship in 2–3 business days by USPS Priority, then 2–4 days in transit.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Within 30 days, if unmarked, uncut and unwashed. 20% cutting and restocking fee. No returns on sale items, remnants or 1/8-yard swatches.
Pros
- 1/8-yard sample cuts to test before buying
- Designer deadstock alongside staple garment fabrics
- Returns are possible on cut yardage
Cons
- Not shipping to the EU or UK at the moment
- Deadstock is limited to what is in stock
- 20% fee on returns
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: FAQ & return policy
Vancouver, Canada · ships to the US
Blackbird Fabrics
Best for curated, modern garment basics you'll reach for again and again
Blackbird is a good fit if you’d rather choose from a short list of well-described fabrics than dig through thousands. It’s metric: 2½ yards is about 2.3 meters, so round up to the next half meter.
- Free US shipping
- US orders over $150 USD ship free by Canada Post. Duties and tariffs are already included in US prices.
- Processing & transit
- Ships within 5 business days (sales can push it to 3 weeks); US delivery 4–8 business days tracked, or 4–7 expedited.
- Returns on cut fabric
- All sales are final once fabric is cut. Mistakes on their end are fixed. Swatches are recommended.
Pros
- Tightly edited range aimed at garment sewing
- No surprise duties for US buyers
- Clear product notes and swatches
Cons
- Final sale once cut
- Sold by the ½ meter, so convert your yardage
- Longer transit from Canada
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: shipping & returns, FAQ
A smaller shop with a strong garment focus. The flat $9.95 rate means you won’t pad your cart to hit a threshold, and the one-day dispatch is the fastest on this list.
- Free US shipping
- No free-shipping threshold listed: $9.95 flat US ground, or $6 for a single pattern or small notions.
- Processing & transit
- Ships within 1 business day; arrives in 3–7 days.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Within 30 days, less shipping. At least 1 yard, unwashed and uncut. No returns on cut trim. Cancellations can carry a restocking fee of up to 10%.
Pros
- Very fast dispatch
- Flat, predictable shipping
- Returns allowed on unwashed yardage
Cons
- No free shipping on large orders
- Smaller catalog than the big stores
- Cut trim is final
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: shop policies
Modesto, California (plus a San Francisco shop)
Cali Fabrics
Best for a large, fast-changing designer-deadstock selection
Cali’s homepage is mostly “Designer Deadstock” listings when we looked. Prices can be good, but stock moves, so buy enough for the project in one go.
- Free US shipping
- Free Economy Shipping on eligible orders over $99, contiguous US.
- Processing & transit
- Guaranteed to ship within 5 business days, often within 24 hours. Pickup in Modesto or San Francisco. Ships to Canada, the UK, much of Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Within 30 days of the order date, in the exact condition received. 15% restocking fee if the order shipped free. No returns on items you've cut or washed, clearance, swatches, or international orders.
Pros
- Big selection of designer deadstock
- Reasonable free-shipping threshold
- Ships to many countries
Cons
- Restocking fee on free-shipping returns
- Deadstock sells out and may not come back
- No international returns
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: shipping policy, return policy
Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Fabric Mart Fabrics
Best for bargain hunting, with deep sales and clearance
When we checked, the homepage listed 740 knits and 1,100 wovens, plus a running sitewide sale. It’s a great place to buy muslin and practice fabric without overthinking it.
- Free US shipping
- No threshold listed: $9.99 flat shipping in the contiguous US, or $14.99 expedited. Ships to the US and Canada only.
- Processing & transit
- Standard delivery is typically 3–10 business days in the contiguous US. Expedited ($14.99) moves your order to the front of the line.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Within 30 days, uncut and unwashed, minus the original shipping. Fabric sold 'as is' can't be returned.
Pros
- Large knit and woven catalog
- Constant sales and clearance sections
- Returns allowed on unwashed yardage
Cons
- Standard shipping can take up to 10 business days
- US and Canada only
- 'As is' fabric is final
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: shipping rates, return policy
Santa Cruz, California · since 1969
Harts Fabric
Best for a long-running independent with a deep range of basics
Harts is a solid all-rounder for garment and quilting basics. Do read the returns policy before ordering small cuts, though: anything 1 yard or under can’t go back.
- Free US shipping
- Domestic orders over $100 with code FREESHIP. Otherwise flat rates from $8.99 (under $74.99) to $14.99 (over $150).
- Processing & transit
- Processing 1–2 business days. Ships within the US only.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Cuts over 1 yard only, with a return authorization within 30 days. 25% restocking fee plus shipping; must be uncut and unwashed. No returns on patterns or special orders.
Pros
- Quick processing
- Clear, published flat rates
- Decades of fabric-shop experience
Cons
- 25% restocking fee is the steepest here
- US only
- Short cuts (1 yd or less) are final
Los Angeles, California
The Fabric Lot
Best for garment knits (jersey, French terry, fleece, rib) and selvedge denim
A small shop with a narrow focus: when we counted its catalog, most of it was jersey, fleece, French terry, rib and denim. If you’re sewing sweatshirts, tees or jeans, that focus is useful. If you want silk, wool or prints, look elsewhere.
Disclosure: The Fabric Lot is owned by someone connected to this site.- Free US shipping
- Domestic orders of $75 and up, the lowest threshold on this list.
- Processing & transit
- Processing 1–3 business days; 2–4 days in transit within California, 2–7 elsewhere in the US. Local LA pickup on request.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Request within 14 days. Fabric cut to your ordered yardage can be returned if unused, unwashed and not cut further. Buyer pays return shipping on change-of-mind returns.
Pros
- Deep in hoodie and tee knits, with matching rib
- Selvedge denim, including Japanese selvedge
- Accepts returns on unwashed cut yardage
Cons
- Much smaller catalog: about 116 products when we checked
- 14-day window is shorter than several stores here
- Few wovens beyond denim and linen
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: shipping policy, refund policy
United Kingdom · ships internationally
Merchant & Mills
Best for linen, oilskin and waxed cloth, plus their own patterns
Worth knowing about for a special project, like a linen work jacket or a waxed-cotton bag, rather than for everyday basics. Budget for duties, which are added at checkout, if you’re in the US.
- Free US shipping
- US orders over $300 ship free by DHL. Otherwise $27.75 (samples $1.50). Duties are shown separately at checkout on the US site.
- Processing & transit
- Ships from Rye, UK, tracked. Delivery windows vary by destination; see the page.
- Returns on cut fabric
- Cut lengths are excluded from the 14-day cancellation right, so cut fabric is effectively final.
Pros
- Distinctive linens and heavier cloths
- Patterns designed to go with the fabric
- Ships worldwide
Cons
- US duties are added at checkout
- Cut fabric is final
- International shipping adds cost and time
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: shipping & returns
Print-on-demand · US-based
Spoonflower
Best for custom-printed fabric: your own design, or one from independent artists
Not a regular fabric store, but the answer when you need a print that doesn’t exist yet. Order a test swatch on the base fabric you plan to use; the same design looks very different on jersey and on cotton poplin.
- Free US shipping
- Varies by order and promotion; check the estimate at checkout.
- Processing & transit
- Made to order, so production time comes before shipping. Check the current estimate at checkout.
- Returns on cut fabric
- All sales are final. Print flaws or defects can be reported within 30 days of shipment. Orders can only be cancelled within 1 hour.
Pros
- Any print you can imagine, on several base fabrics
- Swatches let you test a print before a full order
- Supports independent designers
Cons
- Final sale
- Made to order, so slower than stocked fabric
- Base fabric choice matters a lot, so swatch first
Checked Oct 31, 2026 on: help center
Also worth knowing: Etsy and local shops
Etsy has many small fabric sellers, from deadstock resellers to people dyeing their own. Each shop sets its own shipping and return rules, so read them listing by listing, and check reviews for notes on whether colors match the photos.
Your local shop, if you still have one, beats every store above on one thing: you can touch the fabric. Many independents also sell online.
How to shop for fabric online without regrets
- Order swatches for anything where color, drape or weight really matters. Several stores above sell them.
- Compare gsm, not ounces. Ounces can be per square yard or per linear yard. See our hoodie fabric guide.
- Check the width. It changes how much you need. Our hoodie yardage chart shows how much.
- Read the return policy before checkout, not after. As the table shows, “can I return cut fabric?” ranges from no to yes-within-30-days.
- Buy a little extra for prewash shrinkage, and buy enough in one order. Deadstock and dye lots may not come back.
Common questions
What is the best online fabric store?
It depends on what you sew. For sheer range, Mood. For a curated independent experience, Stonemountain & Daughter or Blackbird. For bargains, Fabric Mart. For garment knits and denim, The Fabric Lot. For custom prints, Spoonflower.
Where can I buy fabric now that Joann has closed?
Online, the big-catalog stores (Mood, Fabric Mart, Cali Fabrics) cover the most ground. For higher-quality garment fabric, try the independents on this list, and check whether there’s a local shop near you.
Can you return fabric bought online?
Sometimes. Of the ten stores here, Stonemountain, Style Maker, Cali, Fabric Mart, Harts and The Fabric Lot accept returns of unwashed, uncut yardage under conditions (fees, time limits, minimum lengths). Mood, Blackbird, Merchant & Mills and Spoonflower treat cut fabric as final.
When did you check these policies?
On October 31, 2026, on each store’s own pages (linked under each entry). If a policy has changed since, the store’s page wins.
