Free printable graph paper, made to measure

Quilt Binding Calculator

Enter the quilt size and strip width to see how much binding you need, how many strips to cut and how much fabric to buy.

60 x 80 in quilt with 2 1/2 in straight-grain binding
The quilt binding calculator works out how much binding a quilt needs and how many fabric strips to cut to make it. Enter your quilt’s width and length, choose a strip width and fabric width, and the tool shows the binding length, the number of strips, and the fabric to buy. It runs in your web browser, is free, and needs no sign-up or download. Results update as you type, and nothing you enter is uploaded. You can calculate straight-grain strips or continuous bias binding, in inches or centimetres, on a phone or a computer. It works for a baby quilt or a king-size bed quilt, whether you already have fabric or are shopping for it.
Quilt binding calculator example

How to use the quilt binding calculator

  1. Under Measure in, choose inches or cm.
  2. Enter the Quilt width and Quilt length of your finished top. Or tap a size button: Baby, Throw, Twin, Full, Queen or King.
  3. Choose a Binding strip width (cut): 2, 2 1/4, 2 1/2 (default), 2 3/4 or 3 in, or type a custom width.
  4. Set the Usable fabric width: 40, 42 (default) or 44 in, or a custom width. Use the width left after you remove the selvages.
  5. Check Extra for corners and joins. It is 10 in by default; add more if you like a long tail for joining the ends.
  6. Under Grain, choose Straight grain (default) or Bias (continuous).
  7. Read the results: the binding length, the number of strips to cut, and the fabric to buy. Follow the cutting plan shown on the page.

If you only know the bed size, tap one of the approximate size buttons first, then change the numbers to the measured top. When you are happy with the numbers, use Print or Download PDF to get a one-page result sheet. Choose your paper size under Page and print settings, such as US Letter or A4. To come back to the same calculation later, use Copy link, which saves your current inputs in the page address.

How much binding do I need for a quilt?

The binding is the strip that wraps around the outside edge of the quilt, so the length you need is based on the quilt’s perimeter. The perimeter is 2 × (width + length). You then add extra length for the mitred corners and for joining the ends of the strip together.

For a 60 × 80 in quilt, the perimeter is 2 × (60 + 80) = 280 in. Add the default 10 in of extra length and you need 290 in, which is 8.06 yd or 736.6 cm of binding. Measure the width and length of the finished top, since the binding goes around its outer edge.

How to calculate binding yardage?

Straight-grain binding is cut as strips across the fabric width and joined end to end with diagonal seams. The first strip gives you the full usable width. Each strip after that adds the usable width minus the strip width, because each diagonal join uses up about one strip width. Keep adding strips until their total length covers the binding you need.

Using the default settings, the usable width is 42 in and the strips are 2 1/2 in wide. The first strip gives 42 in, and each added strip gives 42 − 2.5 = 39.5 in. Seven strips total only 279 in, which is short of 290 in. Eight strips give 318.5 in, so you cut 8 strips and make 7 diagonal seams.

Fabric needed is the number of strips × the strip width. Eight strips at 2 1/2 in need 20 in of fabric. The tool rounds this up to the next 1/8 yard, which is 5/8 yd (0.6 m).

When calculating binding for a quilt, measure the finished top through the middle as well as along the edges, and use the larger figure. Wash, press and trim the selvages before you measure the usable width: if your fabric is narrower than the width you entered, the tool may need one more strip.

Examples made with this generator

60 x 80 in quilt with 2 1/2 in straight-grain binding
60 x 80 in quilt with 2 1/2 in straight-grain binding
60 x 80 in quilt with continuous bias binding
60 x 80 in quilt with continuous bias binding
Queen quilt (90 x 108 in) with 2 1/4 in strips
Queen quilt (90 x 108 in) with 2 1/4 in strips

Frequently asked questions

How many strips for quilt binding do I need for a Queen quilt?

A Queen quilt is about 90 × 108 in. With 2 1/4 in strips and the default 10 in of extra length, you need 406 in of binding. That takes 11 strips, which is 24.75 in of fabric, or 3/4 yd.

How wide should binding strips be?

2 1/2 in is the most common cut width for double-fold binding on bed quilts, and the finished binding shows about 3/8 to 1/2 in on the front. Choose 2 1/4 in for a narrower binding, which is popular with thinner batting. Choose 2 3/4 in or 3 in for thick batting.

How much fabric for bias binding do I need?

Bias binding is cut from one square of fabric. The area is the binding length × the strip width. The side of the square is the square root of that area, rounded up to the next 1/2 in, plus one strip width. With the default 290 in of binding and 2 1/2 in strips, the area is 725 sq in. The square root is about 27 in, so the square is 27 + 2 1/2 = 29 1/2 in, or 7/8 yd (0.8 m). Bias binding also stretches well around curved or scalloped edges.

What if my fabric is not 40, 42 or 44 inches wide?

Type your own number into the custom usable width field. Measure after you remove the selvages, because the selvage edges cannot be used for strips. A narrower width gives fewer usable inches per strip, so you will need more strips.

Can I enter fractions or use centimetres?

Yes. Number fields accept decimals and fractions such as 2 1/2 or 2½. Inch results are shown as mixed fractions to the nearest 1/8 in, and centimetre results are shown to one decimal place.

Do I need to measure my quilt exactly?

Not for a rough plan. The size buttons are approximate, so use them to get an estimate. For an exact result, measure your quilt top and enter those numbers.