Where to Buy Technical Fabric by the Yard
If you need technical fabric by the yard, start with the job the material has to do. A fabric for a backpack shell, a boat cushion, a stage mask and an equipment cover may look similar on a screen, but the useful specifications are different.
NY Tarp’s current catalog includes CORDURA® nylon, ballistic nylon, Sunbrella® fabrics, packcloth, ripstop, mesh, camouflage and NyCo fabrics, Duvetyne, commando cloth and specialty barrier materials. Some listings are sold by the linear yard. Others are fixed cuts, bolts, rolls, panels or finished sizes. Check the sales unit on the exact product page before ordering.
Browse all fabric by the yard or use the guide below to narrow the catalog by application.
Choose the Fabric by Application
| What you are making | Good place to start | What to verify before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacks, pouches and sewn gear | CORDURA®, packcloth or mesh | Denier, finished weight, coating, width and cut format |
| Luggage, tool bags and equipment cases | Ballistic nylon or 1000D CORDURA® | Weave, abrasion points, stiffness, coating and sewing setup |
| Outdoor cushions, marine upholstery or shade | The exact Sunbrella® product line and pattern code | Intended use, width, care, finish and color code |
| Stage masking, drape and studio light control | Duvetyne or commando cloth | Weight, width, opacity, cut format and fire-treatment documentation |
| Lightweight covers, liners and field projects | Ripstop nylon | Fiber, denier, grid construction, coating and weather exposure |
| Ventilation, pockets, drainage and separators | Nylon or polyester mesh | Fiber, opening size, thickness, stretch and edge treatment |
| ESD, barrier or cleanroom textile work | Specialty fabric matched to documentation | Test method, lot documentation, handling and intended-use requirements |
The material family is only the first decision. The finished specification matters more than the category name.
CORDURA® Fabric for Bags, Backpacks and Equipment
CORDURA® is a family of branded performance fabrics, not one universal cloth. The official CORDURA® Classic specification describes high-tenacity nylon 6,6 constructions in several yarn sizes, including 500D and 1000D, with woven, coated and laminated options. Those options do not all behave the same way.
NY Tarp currently lists:
- 500D CORDURA® nylon, 60 inches wide
- 1000D CORDURA® nylon with a urethane-coated back, 60 inches wide
- 1000D black CORDURA® as a fixed three-yard bolt
- 500D Coyote Brown CORDURA® as a fixed six-yard cut
500D is often the first comparison point for bags, pouches and gear where bulk and weight matter. A 1000D construction uses a heavier yarn and may be preferable where abrasion reserve and structure matter more. Denier alone does not tell you the finished fabric’s weight, tear strength, coating, hand or water behavior.
For a more careful comparison, read 500D vs 1000D CORDURA® and the official CORDURA® Classic fabric reference.
Ballistic Nylon for Cases, Luggage and Heavy-Duty Bags
Ballistic nylon is usually considered when a project needs a dense, abrasion-focused shell: luggage, tool bags, equipment cases, reinforced panels or other high-wear sewn goods.
The current NY Tarp catalog includes 1050D ballistic nylon and 1680D ballistic nylon. They are not interchangeable simply because both use the word “ballistic.” Compare the weave, fiber, finished weight, coating, stiffness and actual project load.
If you are choosing between material families, use CORDURA® vs ballistic nylon. For denier-specific questions, see 1050D vs 1680D ballistic nylon.
Sunbrella® Fabric for Outdoor and Marine Work
Sunbrella® makes different fabrics for upholstery, marine canvas, shade and related outdoor uses. The brand name alone does not establish that every pattern is suitable for every application.
NY Tarp’s marine and outdoor fabric collection currently lists Sunbrella® colors and patterns such as Black 6008-0000, Pacific Blue 6001-0000, Jockey Red 6003-0000, Hemlock Tweed 4751-0000 and Walnut Brown Tweed 6018-0000.
For replacement work, use the exact product or pattern code when one is available. A color name is not a complete specification, and screen color is not a dependable match for physical fabric. Sunbrella’s own material library separates marine upholstery from other marine and shade products, so confirm the intended use before a large order.
Compare Sunbrella® marine and upholstery fabric, review the NY Tarp Sunbrella® color and specification guide, and consult Sunbrella’s official marine upholstery information.
Duvetyne and Commando Cloth for Stage and Studio Work
Duvetyne and commando cloth are used for masking, drape, backgrounds and light-control work in theaters, schools, studios, film sets and events. Selection depends on more than the word “black.”
Check:
- finished weight;
- width and cut length;
- opacity in the actual lighting setup;
- how the cloth will be hung or rigged;
- whether the project requires current fire-treatment documentation.
NY Tarp’s theater and studio collection contains yardage, fixed cuts and finished panel formats. Do not assume the same sales unit or certification applies to every listing. The Duvetyne vs commando cloth guide explains the main selection points.
Ripstop, Mesh, Camouflage and Specialty Fabrics
Some projects need less bulk, more airflow or a specific documented function.
Ripstop and camouflage fabrics
Ripstop describes a reinforcing-grid construction. It does not by itself tell you the fiber, denier, coating, weight or waterproofness. NY Tarp’s military and tactical fabric collection includes lightweight nylon, NyCo, poly/cotton and camouflage listings in both yardage and fixed-cut formats.
Confirm the base cloth separately from the camouflage pattern. For example, a NyCo ripstop and a 70D nylon ripstop can share a visual pattern while behaving very differently in sewing, wear and moisture.
Mesh fabrics
Mesh should be selected by fiber, opening size, thickness, stretch, edge treatment and load. An open 4 mm polyester mesh, a dense spacer mesh and a 7 mm hex mesh do different jobs even when they appear in the same collection.
Use the mesh selection guide before choosing material for pockets, ventilation panels, drainage, separators or structural support.
Barrier and ESD materials
Names such as “anti-static,” “ESD” or “barrier” describe an intended function, not a universal performance level. Specification-sensitive work needs the exact construction, test method, lot documentation, handling instructions and compatibility with the finished product.
Read how to evaluate barrier, ESD and specialty fabrics before treating a category label as a performance guarantee.
What “Fabric by the Yard” Actually Means
A linear yard is 36 inches measured along the roll at the fabric’s listed width. If a fabric is 60 inches wide, one linear yard is a piece approximately 36 by 60 inches before any usable-width allowance.
Not every NY Tarp listing uses that unit. Current examples include:
- a fixed three-yard bolt of black 1000D CORDURA®;
- a 2.6-yard continuous piece of MultiCam OCP NyCo ripstop;
- a ten-yard roll of black 7 mm polyester hex mesh;
- Duvetyne and commando cloth in yardage, fixed lengths and panel formats.
If one continuous piece matters, confirm it before ordering. Quantity alone does not prove that multiple units will ship as one unbroken cut.
Read how to order fabric by the yard for sales-unit, width, cut and return questions.
What to Check Before Ordering Technical Fabric
Use this checklist on the exact product page:
- Sales unit: linear yard, fixed cut, bolt, roll, panel or finished size.
- Width: use the listed width and allow for selvage or unusable edges.
- Fiber and construction: nylon, polyester, acrylic, cotton blend, weave, knit, mesh or laminate.
- Denier or weight: useful for comparison, but not a stand-alone strength rating.
- Coating and finish: PU coating, DWR, laminate, backing or other treatment.
- Color or pattern code: especially for Sunbrella®, camouflage and replacement work.
- Documentation: required for fire-retardant, ESD, barrier or specification-controlled projects.
- Cut continuity and returns: confirm before a large or project-critical order.
- Quantity allowance: include seams, hems, pattern layout, testing and mistakes.
The fabric spec-sheet guide explains how to read these fields together.
Buy Technical Fabric in New York or Order Online
NY Tarp & Company is based in Jamaica, Queens, New York. The online catalog is organized by application so buyers can compare bag and equipment fabrics, marine and outdoor materials, military and tactical fabrics, stage cloth, tarps and specialty products without searching through a general craft-fabric catalog.
For a standard listed material, start with the full fabric catalog. For larger quantities, freight, a custom cover or a project that does not fit a standard listing, send NY Tarp the material, dimensions, quantity and intended use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy technical fabric by the yard?
NY Tarp sells multiple technical-fabric families online, including CORDURA®, ballistic nylon, Sunbrella®, ripstop, mesh, camouflage fabrics and stage cloth. Check the exact product page because some items are sold by the yard while others are fixed cuts, rolls, bolts or panels.
Is CORDURA® fabric waterproof?
No, not automatically. CORDURA® is a family of fabrics, and water behavior depends on the specific construction, coating, finish, seams and finished product. Read the exact specification rather than relying on the brand name or denier.
Should I choose 500D or 1000D CORDURA®?
Start with the project’s wear points, target weight, stiffness and sewing setup. 500D is often considered where lower bulk matters; 1000D may suit projects that prioritize abrasion reserve and structure. Compare the finished specifications, not denier alone.
Is ballistic nylon the same as CORDURA®?
No. They can overlap in uses, but they are not two grades of the same fabric. Compare the exact fiber, weave, weight, coating and intended use for each product.
Can any Sunbrella® fabric be used for a boat cover?
Do not assume so. Sunbrella® has different product lines for marine upholstery, marine canvas, shade and other uses. Match the exact pattern or product code to the intended application.
Does NY Tarp have a blanket minimum order for fabric?
Do not assume one rule applies to the entire catalog. Minimums, increments and cut formats can vary by product. Check the current listing or ask NY Tarp before ordering.
Start with the Project, Then Choose the Fabric
The quickest way to choose technical fabric is to name the likely failure first: abrasion, tearing, sunlight, moisture, light transmission, airflow, puncture or a documentation requirement. Then compare the exact material specification and sales unit.