Quilt Binding Calculator
Enter the quilt size and your binding strip width. The calculator adds up the perimeter, works out how many width-of-fabric strips to cut, and rounds the fabric up to what a shop will cut.
The formula
Worked example. a 60 × 80 in quilt needs 290 in of binding with 10 in extra; with 2.5 in strips joined diagonally on 42 in fabric that is 8 strips, 20 in of fabric, so buy 5/8 yd.
How to use it
- Measure the finished quilt width and length.
- Enter the strip width you cut for binding. 2.5 in (6 cm) is the most common for double-fold binding; 2.25 in gives a narrower finish.
- Choose how you join the strips. Diagonal seams spread the bulk but use more length per join.
- Keep the default extra for mitring corners and joining the ends, or add more for a first quilt.
Questions
Straight-grain or bias binding?
Straight-grain strips cut across the fabric width are standard for quilts with straight edges and use less fabric. Use bias binding for curved or scalloped edges; the continuous bias binding calculator covers that.
How wide should binding strips be?
For double-fold binding, 2.25 to 2.5 in (5.5 to 6.5 cm) suits most quilts with thin cotton batting. Thicker batting needs wider strips so the binding still wraps to the back.
Why add extra length?
Mitring the four corners and overlapping the two ends to join them uses about 10 in (25 cm). Too little extra is the most common reason to recut a strip.