Quilt Yardage Calculator
Get exact fabric yardage for quilt tops, backing, and binding, from baby to king. Enter dimensions and number of colours for a per-fabric breakdown.
Select Quilt Size
Total fabric needed
10yards
60″ × 72″ finished
1.25 yards per colour × 4 colours
- Throw Quilt: 60″ × 72″ finished.
- 5 × 6 = 30 blocks (12″ finished, 12.5″ cut).
- 4 fabric colours — 8 blocks per colour.
- 3 blocks fit across 44″ fabric width.
- Includes 15% cutting waste overage.
- Backing: 4.5 yards (2 widths, seamed).
- Binding: 0.5 yards (2.5″ double-fold, straight grain).
How This Quilting Calculator Works
Quilting requires three separate fabric calculations (top, backing, and binding), each with different rules. Our calculator handles all three and breaks down the top yardage by colour count so you know exactly how much of each fabric to buy.
Quilt Top
Total surface area divided by usable fabric width (42" for quilting cotton), then split evenly across your chosen number of colours.
Backing
Quilt dimensions plus 4 inches on each side for quilting shrinkage. Wide quilts need seamed backing or 108" wide-back fabric.
Binding
Perimeter plus 20 inches for corners and joining, cut into 2.5-inch strips from 42-inch fabric.
Fabric Yardage by Quilt Size
Baby Quilt (36" × 52")
The smallest standard quilt and a popular first project. Needs 1.5–2 yards for the top, 1.75 yards for backing, and 0.5 yards for binding. At 42-inch fabric width, the backing fits in a single width with no seaming required.
Throw Quilt (50" × 65")
A couch quilt or lap blanket. Needs 3–4 yards for the top and 3.5 yards for backing. At 50 inches wide, the backing requires seaming two widths of 42-inch fabric, or you can use a single width of 108-inch wide-back fabric (about 2 yards).
Twin Quilt (60" × 80")
Covers a single bed with some overhang. Needs 4–5.5 yards for the top and 5 yards for backing. Backing must be seamed from regular-width fabric.
Queen Quilt (90" × 108")
The most popular quilt size. Needs 7.5–10 yards for the top and 8 yards for backing. Backing requires seaming three widths of 42-inch fabric, or you can use 108-inch wide-back fabric (about 3.25 yards). Use our complete quilt fabric guide for detailed breakdowns.
King Quilt (108" × 108")
The largest standard size and a significant fabric investment. Needs 10–13 yards for the top and 9.5 yards for backing. Wide-back fabric is strongly recommended to avoid a centre seam. Binding needs 1 full yard.
Quilt Size Reference Chart
Standard quilt sizes with approximate yardage for 42-inch quilting cotton. For a printable version, see the complete quilt yardage chart.
| Size | Dimensions | Top Fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby | 36″ × 52″ | 1.5–2 yd | 1.75 yd | 0.5 yd |
| Throw | 50″ × 65″ | 3–4 yd | 3.5 yd | 0.5 yd |
| Twin | 60″ × 80″ | 4–5.5 yd | 5 yd | 0.75 yd |
| Full | 80″ × 90″ | 6–7.5 yd | 7.5 yd | 0.75 yd |
| Queen | 90″ × 108″ | 7.5–10 yd | 8 yd | 0.75 yd |
| King | 108″ × 108″ | 10–13 yd | 9.5 yd | 1 yd |
What Affects Quilt Fabric Yardage
Number of Colours and Design Complexity
A two-colour quilt and a ten-colour quilt use roughly the same total yardage. The difference is how it is divided. But complex designs with many small pieces generate more cutting waste. A simple strip quilt wastes less fabric than an intricate paper-pieced pattern. Budget an extra 10% for complex designs.
Fabric Width
Standard quilting cotton is 44–45 inches wide, with about 42 inches usable after selvedge trimming. This width determines how many strips or blocks you can cut per row. If using home decor fabric at 54 inches, you get more usable width per yard and need less total yardage.
Directional Prints
If your fabric has a one-way design (like animals that face one direction), you cannot rotate pieces freely. This limits how you can lay out pattern pieces and typically adds 10–15% extra fabric. Stripes and plaids that must be matched across seams also add waste.
Shrinkage
Quilting cotton shrinks 3–5% in the first wash. Many quilters pre-wash all fabrics before cutting. If you pre-wash, account for the shrinkage in your purchase by buying 5% more than the calculator suggests. See the shrinkage rates by fibre.
Quilting Fabric Buying Tips
Buy from the same collection or dye lot
Fabrics from the same designer collection are colour-coordinated. If mixing collections, check colours in natural light. Fluorescent store lighting distorts colour.
Fat quarters vs. yardage
Fat quarters (18" × 22") are great for scrappy quilts. But for designs with long strips or large pieces, yardage off the bolt gives more usable fabric per dollar. 4 fat quarters ≈ 1 yard, but with less cutting flexibility.
Consider wide-back fabric for backing
108-inch wide-back fabric eliminates seaming on the quilt back. It costs more per yard but you need fewer yards, and the finish is cleaner. Especially worthwhile for queen and king quilts.
Always round up each colour separately
Round each individual fabric to the nearest quarter yard, not the total. This prevents you from being short on one specific colour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want the exact formulas? See our calculation methodology.
Related Quilting Guides
How Much Fabric for a Quilt?
Complete guide by quilt size and design
Quilt Yardage Chart
Printable reference for all quilt sizes
Cotton Fabric Yardage Guide
Quilting cotton widths and shrinkage
Fabric Shrinkage Guide
Pre-wash or buy extra?
What Is Pattern Repeat?
How directional prints affect yardage
Fabric Conversion Chart
Yards to meters, fat quarters to yardage
Other Fabric Calculators
For a general baseline before quilt-specific inputs, check the project total planner.
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