Quilting calculator
Quilt Binding Calculator: Strips and Yardage
How many binding strips to cut and how much fabric to buy for straight-grain binding at any strip width, with a chart by quilt size.
Your quilt
Binding fabric to buyExample: 84 in × 92 in quilt
3/4 yd
10 strips, 2 1/2 in wide, cut across the fabric and joined with diagonal seams.
- Quilt perimeter
- 352 in
- Binding needed
- 362 in
- Pieced length
- 377 1/2 in (15 1/2 in spare)
- Strips
- 10
Rounded up to the next 1/8 yd. Works for fabric down to 38 1/2 in usable width.
Binding shopping list
- Binding fabric (40 in usable) 3/4 yd
- Cut 10 strips × 2 1/2 in
Binding by quilt size
| Quilt | Strips | Fabric | Binding length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crib36 × 52 in91.4 × 132.1 cm | 5 | 3/8 yd | 186 in472.4 cm |
| Baby36 × 56 in91.4 × 142.2 cm | 6 | 1/2 yd | 194 in492.8 cm |
| Throw / lap50 × 65 in127 × 165.1 cm | 7 | 1/2 yd | 240 in609.6 cm |
| Twin63 × 87 in160 × 221 cm | 9 | 5/8 yd | 310 in787.4 cm |
| Twin XL70 × 95 in177.8 × 241.3 cm | 9 | 5/8 yd | 340 in863.6 cm |
| Full / double78 × 87 in198.1 × 221 cm | 9 | 5/8 yd | 340 in863.6 cm |
| Queen84 × 92 in213.4 × 233.7 cm | 10 | 3/4 yd | 362 in919.5 cm |
| King100 × 92 in254 × 233.7 cm | 11 | 7/8 yd | 394 in1,000.8 cm |
| California king96 × 96 in243.8 × 243.8 cm | 11 | 7/8 yd | 394 in1,000.8 cm |
https://homedosh.com/quilt-binding-calculator/
How this is calculated
Binding goes once around the quilt: twice the width plus twice the length, plus extra length for joining the ends and turning the corners. Strips are cut across the fabric, selvage to selvage, and sewn end to end. A diagonal seam uses about one strip width of length, a straight seam 1/2 in. We count the fewest strips that reach the length you need, then buy strips × strip width, rounded up to the next 1/8 yd. If the spare length is short, we say so: a slightly narrower fabric would need one more strip.
Steps for your numbers
- Perimeter = 2 × (84 in + 92 in) = 352 in
- Binding length = 352 in + 10 in extra = 362 in
- Each 45° join uses 2 1/2 in, so 10 strips × 40 in − 9 × 2 1/2 in = 377 1/2 in
- Fabric = 10 × 2 1/2 in = 25 in → 3/4 yd
This is straight-grain binding. Bias binding for curved edges takes more fabric and is not covered here.
Questions and answers
How many binding strips do I need for a queen quilt?
For an 84 × 92 in quilt: 362 in of binding (perimeter plus 10 in), so 10 strips of 2 1/2 in from 40 in usable fabric, 3/4 yd.
How much binding for a throw quilt?
For a 50 × 65 in throw: 240 in, 7 strips, 1/2 yd.
2 1/4 or 2 1/2 in binding strips?
Missouri Star uses 2 1/2 in strips; narrower strips make a slimmer binding. For the queen example 2 1/4 in strips take 5/8 yd instead of 3/4 yd.
How much extra length should I add?
APQS adds 10 in to the perimeter for joining the ends and mitering the corners; Missouri Star adds 20 in. Both work with 40 in usable width. The calculator uses 10 in; change it under More options.
Does this work for bias binding?
No. This is straight-grain binding cut across the fabric. Bias binding for curved edges takes more fabric.
Sources
- APQS binding strip cutting chart: perimeter + 10 in, 40 in usable width
- Missouri Star: binding yardage, perimeter + 20 in, 40 in usable width, 2 1/2 in strips
- Fat Quarter Shop: quilt sizes guide
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C (inch, yard, meter)
Checked on 2026-11-03.