Free tool

Quilt Calculator

Pick a quilt size, the block size and the border. The calculator works out how many blocks you need, and how much backing, batting and binding to buy - and pulls the quilt sandwich apart in 3D.

Standard quilt sizes

Quilt	Typical size	Mattress
Baby	36 x 52 in	-
Crib	45 x 60 in	28 x 52 in crib
Throw	54 x 70 in	-
Twin	70 x 90 in	39 x 75 in
Full / double	85 x 108 in	54 x 75 in
Queen	90 x 108 in	60 x 80 in
King	108 x 108 in	76 x 80 in

Sizes vary between pattern designers; these are common starting points that drape over the sides of a standard mattress.

How the backing and binding are worked out

Backing and batting are cut 4 inches larger than the quilt top on every side, which is what most long-arm quilters ask for and gives room to square up after quilting. The calculator seams panels of your backing fabric side by side or top to bottom, whichever uses less fabric. Binding is the quilt's perimeter plus 12 inches for corners and the join, cut in strips across the width of the fabric.

Questions

How much fabric do I need for a quilt backing?

Make the backing 4 in larger than the top on every side. For a 54 x 70 in throw that is 62 x 78 in, which with 42 in wide fabric is two panels - about 4 1/3 yards - or one length of 108 in wide backing.

How wide should I cut binding strips?

2 1/2 in is the most common for a double-fold binding on quilting cotton; 2 1/4 in gives a narrower, tighter binding.

What size batting do I need?

The same as the backing - about 4 in bigger than the top on every side. Batting is sold in packaged sizes (crib, twin, queen, king) or by the yard from a roll.