Free Quilt Calculator

Eight essential calculators — fabric, binding, backing, borders & more

Quilt Binding Calculator

Find the exact yardage needed for quilt binding. Enter your quilt dimensions, binding strip width, and fabric width to calculate the number of cross-grain strips and total fabric required for a perfect double-fold binding.

Binding

Calculates binding length and fabric. Standard binding strip is 2.5" wide for double-fold binding. The extra 12" accounts for mitered corners and joining strip ends.

All calculations show the exact fabric needed based on your inputs — they do not include extra for cutting errors. Consider adding 5–10% to any yardage figure. Standard quilting cotton WOF is 44".

How It Works

  1. Calculate the quilt perimeter: 2 × width + 2 × length.
  2. Add 12 extra inches to account for mitered corners and joining the strip ends.
  3. Divide the total by the usable fabric width (WOF − 0.5\") to find the number of strips to cut.
  4. Multiply strip count × strip width to get total fabric inches, then round up to the nearest ⅛ yard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What width should my binding strips be?
The standard for double-fold binding is 2.5" wide, which produces a ⅜"–½" finished binding. For a slightly wider binding with more visual presence, use 3" strips.
Do I cut binding on the bias or straight grain?
Straight-grain (cross-grain) binding is more economical and works well for square-cornered quilts. Bias binding is better for curved edges and wears more gracefully over time, but uses significantly more fabric.
Why add 12 extra inches to the perimeter?
The extra 12" accounts for mitered corners (about 2–3" each) and leaving enough length to overlap and join the binding ends neatly without running short.
How do I calculate binding for a quilt with curved edges?
For curved edges, measure the actual perimeter with a flexible tape measure or a piece of string. Use that total measurement as your binding length and work backward: divide by the usable fabric width to find how many strips you need, then multiply strips × strip width and convert to yards.

Related Calculators

Backing CalculatorBorder CalculatorShapes & HST CalculatorYardage Calculator