Quilt Fabric Calculator
Calculates the yards of fabric needed for a quilt's backing and binding based on finished dimensions, batting overhang, and binding strip width. Ideal for quilters planning a new project before visiting the fabric store.
About this calculator
A quilt requires fabric beyond its finished dimensions: the backing and batting must extend past the quilt top on all sides (the overhang), and the binding must wrap around the entire perimeter. The backing yardage formula calculates the total area needed including overhang — (quiltLength + battingOverhang × 2) × (quiltWidth + battingOverhang × 2) — then divides by the fabric width to find how many fabric lengths are needed, rounding up. The binding calculation determines how many strips of width bindingWidth are needed to cover the full perimeter (quiltLength + quiltWidth) × 2, plus extra for joining seams, then converts that to yardage. Both results are expressed in whole yards (ceiling function) so you never buy less than you need.
How to use
Imagine a 60 × 80 inch quilt, 44-inch-wide backing fabric, a 3-inch batting overhang on each side, and a 2.5-inch binding strip. Backing: adjusted dimensions = (80 + 6) × (60 + 6) = 86 × 66 inches. Area = 5,676 in². Divide by fabric width: 5,676 / 44 ≈ 129 linear inches = ≈ 3.58 yards → round up to 4 yards. Binding: perimeter = (80 + 60) × 2 + 10 = 290 inches. Strips needed = 290 / 44 ≈ 6.6 → 7 strips. Each strip is 2.5 inches wide, so yardage = (7 × 2.5) / 36 ≈ 0.49 → round up to 1 yard. Total fabric needed: 4 yards backing + 1 yard binding.
Frequently asked questions
How much overhang should I add to quilt backing and batting?
Most quilters add 2–4 inches of overhang on each side of the quilt top for both the batting and the backing. This extra margin gives you room to adjust the quilt sandwich during basting and accounts for any shifting during the quilting process. A 3-inch overhang is a common default for machine quilting, while longarm quilters sometimes request 4–6 inches. Skimping on overhang is a leading cause of frustrating gaps at the edges of a finished quilt.
What width binding strips should I use for a standard quilt?
The most common binding strip width is 2.25 to 2.5 inches cut on the straight grain, which yields a finished binding of about 0.25 to 0.375 inches when folded double and sewn with a quarter-inch seam. Bias-cut binding uses slightly more fabric but stretches around curved edges and wears more slowly. Thicker batting may call for wider strips — up to 3 inches — so the binding fully wraps around the edge. Your calculator's bindingWidth field lets you set the exact strip width you prefer.
Why does the quilt fabric calculator round up to whole yards?
Fabric is sold in whole or half-yard increments at most shops, and you cannot purchase a fraction of a yard like 3.58 yards. Rounding up with the ceiling function ensures you always have enough material to complete the quilt without making a second trip to the store. It also provides a small built-in safety margin for cutting errors, seam variation, or fabric that gets cropped unevenly off the bolt. It is always better to have a few leftover inches than to fall short at the final step.