Quilt Binding Calculator
Enter your quilt size and strip width, and this free calculator gives you the total binding length, the number of strips to cut, and the exact yardage to buy. It accounts for diagonal joins, selvage trim, and the extra you need at the corners.
Binding yardage for common quilt sizes
Calculated with this tool using 2.5" strips on standard 42" usable-width quilting cotton:
| Quilt size | Dimensions | Binding length | Strips | Yardage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 36 × 52" | 186" | 5 | ⅜ yd |
| Throw | 50 × 65" | 240" | 7 | ½ yd |
| Twin | 70 × 90" | 330" | 9 | ⅝ yd |
| Queen | 90 × 95" | 380" | 10 | ¾ yd |
| King | 108 × 108" | 442" | 12 | ⅞ yd |
How the calculator works
- Length first. Binding length is the quilt perimeter plus 10" for mitered corners and joining the ends.
- Usable strip length. Each selvage-to-selvage strip loses about 1" to selvage trim and one strip width to its diagonal join, so a 2.5" strip on 42" fabric yields about 38.5" of usable binding.
- Strips and yardage. Total length divided by usable length gives the strip count. Strip count times strip width, rounded up to the next ⅛ yard, is what you buy.
Binding questions, answered
How much binding fabric do I need for a quilt?
Add up the quilt perimeter plus 10 extra inches for corners and joining, then divide by the usable length of each strip. For a 60 by 80 inch quilt with 2.5 inch strips on 42 inch fabric, that is 8 strips and about five eighths of a yard.
What width should I cut quilt binding strips?
2.5 inches is the most common width for double-fold binding and gives a comfortable quarter inch finished edge. Quilters who like a tighter, slimmer binding cut 2.25 inches. Wider strips like 2.75 suit thicker battings.
How do I calculate binding length?
Binding length equals the quilt perimeter plus about 10 inches: twice the width plus twice the length, plus the extra for mitering corners and joining the ends. A 60 by 80 quilt needs 280 plus 10, so 290 inches of finished binding.
Why join binding strips with diagonal seams?
A diagonal join spreads the seam allowance across the width of the binding instead of stacking it in one spot, so you avoid a bulky lump on the quilt edge. Each diagonal join uses roughly one strip width of fabric, which this calculator accounts for.
Do I need bias binding or straight-grain binding?
Straight-grain binding, cut selvage to selvage, is fine for quilts with straight edges and is what this calculator assumes. Choose bias binding when the quilt has curved edges or scalloped borders, or when you want maximum durability on a heavily used quilt.
This is one of seven calculators inside Makerly.
The free version does one job well. Inside Makerly, the calculators work together: enter your quilt size once and backing, batting, binding, borders, on-point, yardage, and a full printable cut list all update from the same numbers.
- Save every quilt as a project, with its numbers attached
- Design the quilt first in the Block Designer, then let the math follow
- Track your fabric stash so you know what you already own
- Works in your browser and on iPhone and Android, always in sync
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