Quilt Binding Calculator
Enter your quilt size and strip width. You get the number of strips to cut and how much fabric to buy.
How the quilt binding calculator works
Binding length is the distance around the quilt plus some extra for mitered corners and the final join. That is 2 × (width + length) + about 12".
Each width-of-fabric strip gives about 40" after the selvages are trimmed, minus a little for each diagonal seam. Divide the binding length by that and round up to get the number of strips. Multiply the strip count by the strip width for the yardage. 2 1/2" strips are the most common; 2 1/4" gives a slimmer binding.
For bias binding, the calculator gives the size of one square to cut into a continuous bias strip.
Questions
How many binding strips for a queen quilt?
A 90" × 108" queen needs about 408" of binding, which is 11 strips at 2 1/2" wide, or about 7/8 yard of fabric.
What width should I cut binding strips?
2 1/2" is the standard for a double-fold binding. Use 2 1/4" for a narrow binding or thin batting, and 2 3/4" for thick batting or wool.
How much fabric do I need for bias binding?
Multiply the binding length by the strip width and take the square root. That is the size of the square to cut. The calculator adds 1" so you have room to trim.