Quilt Binding Calculator
Zero Waste & No Sign-up: Calculate exactly how much fabric you need for quilt binding. Enter your quilt size and strip width to find the required yardage and number of strips.
How to Use the Binding Calculator
Enter the quilt's width and height, your binding strip cut width — 2-1/2 inches is the common standard, 2-1/4 inches gives a tighter finish — and your fabric's width. The calculator returns the total binding length, the number of strips to cut, and the yardage to buy.
The total length is the quilt's perimeter plus a 12-inch margin for turning the four corners and joining the two ends of the binding loop. Dividing by the fabric width and rounding up gives the strip count, and yardage is the strip count times the cut width, rounded up to the next eighth of a yard. A 60 x 80 inch quilt bound with 2-1/2 inch strips from 44-inch fabric needs 292 inches of binding — seven strips and just 1/2 yard of fabric.
Strips for a standard rectangular quilt can be cut on the straight grain and joined end to end with diagonal seams to spread the bulk. Reserve bias-cut binding for curved or scalloped edges, where its stretch lets the strip follow the curve — and note that bias cutting consumes noticeably more fabric than this straight-grain estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide should I cut my binding strips?
The most common widths are 2.25 inches for a delicate finish or 2.5 inches for a more traditional, sturdy binding. Both are used for double-fold (French) binding.
What is the difference between straight and bias binding?
Straight binding is cut along the grain (selvage to selvage), while bias binding is cut at a 45-degree angle. Bias is more flexible and necessary for quilts with rounded corners.
How much extra length do I need for joining binding?
Our calculator adds 12 inches to the total perimeter. This provides enough overlap to neatly join the ends using a mitered seam for a continuous look.