Quilt Backing Calculator: Backing, Batting and Binding Yardage
Enter your quilt size and fabric width to get the backing yardage, the batting size and the binding yardage in one result. Inches and yards or centimetres and metres. Runs in your browser.
When to use this
- You have a finished quilt top and need to know how much backing fabric to buy.
- You want to compare piecing the backing from standard-width fabric with using wide backing fabric.
- You also need the batting size and the binding yardage before you go to the shop.
How to use
- Choose inches or centimetres, then enter the quilt width and length.
- Set the extra backing on each side and the usable fabric width, or keep the defaults.
- Enter the binding strip width, the binding fabric width and the extra length for corners and joins.
- Press Calculate fabric and read the buy list. Check the other seam direction in the steps table.
- Copy the buy list, download it as a CSV, or copy the link to keep this plan.
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Report a problem or suggest an improvement
Nothing is sent until you press Send. Your measurements are included only if you tick the box, and you can see the full report below first.
Examples
- 60 x 80 in quilt, 42 in fabric, 4 in extra per side: The backing is 68 x 88 in. Two 88 in panels joined lengthwise use 4.89 yd, so you buy 5 yd. Binding needs 290 in, which is 7 strips of 2.5 in, so you buy 1/2 yd.
- Same quilt on 108 in wide backing: One piece covers the width, so a single 88 in length is enough and there is no seam.
Understanding the result
The backing is the quilt plus the extra on every side. If the fabric is narrower than that, the tool joins whole-width panels with seams, tries seams along the length and across the width, and keeps the one that needs less fabric. The batting is the same size as the backing. The binding length is the distance round the quilt plus your allowance, cut into strips across the fabric width. Amounts are rounded up to the next 1/8 yard or 0.1 m.
Limitations
- Directional prints, panels and fabrics that must be matched across a seam are not planned. Add extra fabric for them.
- Backing with a centre seam placed off-centre, or a pieced or scrappy back, is not modelled.
- Binding cut on the bias needs more fabric than the straight-grain strips counted here.
- Quilt sizes, batting packs and fabric widths differ between shops. Check the label before you buy.
FAQ
How much backing fabric do I need for a quilt?
Add the extra on each side to the quilt width and length. If the fabric is wide enough, you need one length of the backing height. If not, you join panels, and each panel is as long as the backing. This tool works that out and rounds up to the next 1/8 yard.
Why does the tool compare two seam directions?
Joining panels along the length and across the width can use different amounts of fabric. The tool shows both and keeps the smaller one.
What size batting should I buy?
At least the size of the backing, so the batting reaches past the quilt top on every side. Batting is sold in set sizes, so pick the next size up.
How is the binding length worked out?
The distance round the quilt, plus an allowance for corners, joins and the overlap at the end, is divided by the usable fabric width to get the number of strips. Each strip is cut as wide as the binding strip width.
Do I need extra for shrinkage?
The tool adds none. If you pre-wash your fabric, or you know it shrinks, buy a little more. Fabric labels and your own tests are the best guide.
Is my quilt data saved anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser. The share link stores your numbers after the # sign, which is not sent to a server.
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