I buy 5-8 yards,usually lean toward 8 Yd.s. If I am making a scrappy I have remants and leftover pieces I use for those. I usually buy for matchy matchy and want to have enough for main pieces and I usually buy for background and backings too. White and off white I may buy 10 yd.s, if there is enough on the bolt. I hate to plan a certain quilt and find I don't have enough or don't have enough colors to go with it.