I would buy 2-3 yards.

2 yards, I dont like buying any smaller than that.

minium 1 yard..
if i have a coupon..2 yards!

A yard if I like it a lot. 3 yards if I think it will be used for a border.

I buy at least 3 yards if I really like it and at least a yard if it appeals to me.

Sometimes when I buy collections I will buy more of one fabric so it can be the focus and then 2 or 3 others of lesser yardage--so they can work together real good.

That's why I have tubs and tubs of fabric.
Most of the time I buy because I like it and not because I have a project in mind.

Chris

I don't usually buy less than a yard, if I really love it I try and buy 3+ yds :D:D:D

I buy one to two yards, unless - like others have said, I actually visualize using it more than in a square.

When I'm looking at fabrics if I find several pieces that play well together I will buy 1-2 yards of each. If it's something I really like and it's only one fabric I'll buy 3-4 yards. It's no fun to find a quilt you want to make and some fabric in your stash only to find that you are just shy of what you need and it's no longer available. I'm trying to learn from those mistakes.

I just bought a yard of 2 different fabrics. Don't know what I'm going to do with them, but I couldn't LIVE without them 8->

I usually buy a metre of one that I think would be a focus fabric (more if it is on sale). Then I get half a metre and 20cm cuts of fabric to go with it but not always at the same time.