How much fabric for a quilt: backing, binding, borders and batting

Updated October 31, 2026 · Fernhart Labs · sources at the end

Short answer

It depends on the part of the quilt. For a queen quilt (90" × 95"): the backing takes 8¼ yd of 42" fabric (three panels) or 2¾ yd of 108" wide-back, the binding takes ¾ yd (ten 2½" strips), and the batting must be at least 98" × 103".

The quilt top depends on the pattern: count the strips you cut across the fabric's usable width (about 40") and round each fabric up to the next ⅛ yard. The table below gives backing and binding for every standard size.

Backing and binding for every standard size

Finished sizes are the standard chart sizes from the quilt sizes guide. Backing allows 4" beyond the top on every side, as longarm quilters ask; binding is 2½" double-fold, straight grain, with 12" extra for joins.

Backing and binding for standard quilt sizes, rounded up to the 1/8 yard
Quilt (finished)	Backing, 42" fabric	Backing, 108" wide-back	Binding, 2½" strips
Crib / baby (36" × 52")	2 1/2 yd (2 panels, seams across)	1 1/4 yd	5 strips: 3/8 yd
Throw / lap (50" × 65")	3 1/4 yd (2 panels, seams across)	1 5/8 yd	7 strips: 1/2 yd
Twin (68" × 86")	5 1/4 yd (2 panels, seams lengthwise)	2 1/8 yd	8 strips: 5/8 yd
Full / double (84" × 90")	7 3/4 yd (3 panels, seams across)	2 5/8 yd	9 strips: 5/8 yd
Queen (90" × 95")	8 1/4 yd (3 panels, seams across)	2 3/4 yd	10 strips: 3/4 yd
King (108" × 95")	8 5/8 yd (3 panels, seams lengthwise)	3 1/4 yd	11 strips: 7/8 yd

Computed with Quiltsmith's own cutting engine: 42" usable backing width, 1" lost at each backing seam (½" seams pressed open), 108" wide-back, 40" usable width for strips, all rounded up to the next ⅛ yard. "Seams across" means the panels run side to side, which uses less fabric for some sizes.

How the backing is worked out

Add 4" on every side of the finished top: a 60" × 80" top needs a 68" × 88" backing.
Divide the backing width by the fabric's usable width (about 42" once the selvages are off) and round up: that is the number of panels if the seams run lengthwise. Allow about 1" for each seam.
Try the other direction too (panels running across the quilt) and keep whichever needs less fabric.
Multiply the panels by the length each one must be, then round up to the ⅛ yard. For 68" × 88": two 88" panels = 176" = 5 yd.
Or buy wide-back (108"): one piece as long as the backing's shorter side, if the other side fits within 108".

How the binding is worked out

Perimeter of the quilt: 2 × (width + length).
Add 10–20" for the joins and the final overlap (we use 12").
Divide by 40" (the usable width of a strip) and round up: that is the number of strips.
Multiply by the strip width (2½" is the usual double-fold width) and round up to the ⅛ yard.

Example: a 56" × 70" quilt has a 252" perimeter; + 10" = 262"; ÷ 40 = 6.55, so 7 strips, 17½" of fabric, which you buy as ½ yd (18"). For bias binding, cut one square of side √(binding length × strip width) and cut it into a continuous bias strip.

Borders

Butted borders: the side borders are as long as the top; the top and bottom borders are the width plus two border widths. Cut strips across the fabric and join them end to end.
Mitred borders: each strip is the side length plus two border widths plus a few inches extra (4–6" in published guides).
Long borders without joins: cut them lengthwise (along the selvage); you then need as much fabric as the longest border.

The quilt top

The top is where patterns differ. The reliable way is the one quilting patterns use: list every piece, group pieces of the same height into strips cut across the usable width (about 40"), count the strips for each fabric, then add their widths and round up to the ⅛ yard. A small cushion (5–10 %) covers a mis-cut. Quiltsmith does exactly this from your block and layout, fabric by fabric.

Batting

Batting also needs about 4" beyond the top on every side, so a queen top of 90" × 95" needs 98" × 103": wider than a 90" × 108" queen package, so buy king or batting by the yard. The quilt sizes guide lists the packaged sizes.

Questions

How much fabric do I need for a queen size quilt backing?

For a 90" × 95" queen, about 8¼ yards of 42" fabric sewn as three panels, or 2¾ yards of 108" wide-back, allowing 4" beyond the top on every side.

How much fabric for quilt binding?

Perimeter plus about 12", divided by 40", gives the number of 2½" strips; multiply by 2½" and round up. A throw (50" × 65") takes 7 strips, ½ yard; a queen takes 10 strips, ¾ yard.

How much extra should the backing be?

4" on every side (8" added to each dimension) is what longarm quilters ask for. If you quilt it yourself on a domestic machine, a smaller margin is often enough; check with your quilter.

What is the usable width of quilting fabric?

Quilting cotton is sold 42–45" wide; after trimming the selvages and squaring up, about 40" is the usual planning figure for strips, and about 42" for backing panels.

Why round up to the 1/8 yard?

Shops cut fabric in ⅛ yard steps (4½"), so the length you need is rounded up to the next step. Adding a small cushion protects you against a mis-cut or shrinkage.

How much fabric for a quilt top?

It depends on the pattern: add up the strips you cut for each fabric across about 40" of usable width. A cutting plan per fabric, like Quiltsmith's, gives the exact figure.

Quiltsmith: Quilt Designer

Quilt designer and quilting calculator: cutting plan and yardage.

Quiltsmith works this out for your actual quilt: pick a block and a size, and it lists every strip and subcut per fabric, the yardage rounded to the ⅛ yard (or fat quarters when they are cheaper), the backing in both seam directions and as wide-back, the batting and the binding, with a printable cutting sheet.

Coming to Google Play

Sources

Quilted Joy, How much backing fabric do I need (4" beyond the top on every side) quiltedjoy.com
APQS, Attacking scrappy backs (a 4" margin on each side for longarm quilting) apqs.com
Utah State University Extension, Binding a Quilt (perimeter + 10", divided by 40" of usable width) extension.usu.edu
Missouri Star Quilt Co., How to figure yardage for quilt binding (perimeter + 15–20", 40" strips) missouriquiltco.com
National Quilters Circle, How to calculate binding (40" usable width) nationalquilterscircle.com
Rocky Mountain Sewing, How to make continuous bias binding rockymountainsewing.com
Cottage Quilting, How to sew perfect mitered corners on quilt borders (side + 2 × border + 4–5") cottagequiltingonline.com
Missouri Star Quilt Co., Quilt sizes chart: every standard size from crib to king missouriquiltco.com

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