QUILT PLANNING / BINDING
How many binding strips do I need?
For a rectangular quilt, start with the perimeter plus finishing allowance. Then find enough strips to cover that length after the joins consume fabric.
Worked example: 60 × 80 inches
The perimeter is 2 × (60 + 80) = 280 in. Add 12 in for corners and closing the loop to get 292 in. With 42 in usable strips cut 2½ in wide, each diagonal join loses 2½ in.
Seven strips provide 7 × 42 − 6 × 2.5 = 279 in, which is too short. Eight provide 8 × 42 − 7 × 2.5 = 318.5 in. Cut eight strips across the fabric: 8 × 2.5 = 20 in down the bolt, rounded to ⅝ yd.
Joined length = strips × usable length − (strips − 1) × loss per join
↔ Swipe or scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| Example quilt top | 2¼ in strips | 2½ in strips |
|---|---|---|
| Crib · 36 × 52 in | 5 strips · 3/8 yd | 5 strips · 3/8 yd |
| Throw · 50 × 60 in | 6 strips · 3/8 yd | 6 strips · 1/2 yd |
| Twin · 70 × 90 in | 9 strips · 5/8 yd | 9 strips · 5/8 yd |
| Queen · 90 × 100 in | 10 strips · 5/8 yd | 10 strips · 3/4 yd |
| King · 108 × 108 in | 12 strips · 3/4 yd | 12 strips · 7/8 yd |
Assumes 42 in usable strip length, diagonal joins that lose one strip width each, and 12 in finishing allowance. Widths are measured before folding. These figures apply to straight-grain strips only. Purchases round up to the next ⅛ yd. Sizes are examples, not bed-size standards. Shrinkage, print matching and additional squaring waste are excluded.
Keep two allowances separate
Join loss comes from connecting individual strips. Finishing allowance covers corners and closing the binding loop. This calculator includes both explicitly. Do not add a second joining allowance to the 12 in example unless you intend extra reserve.
What if I change the join?
A straight join loses twice the selected seam allowance. A diagonal join loses one cut strip width. Select the technique you will sew, and recalculate if the usable fabric width changes.
This method assumes equal-length straight-grain strips for a rectangular quilt. It does not calculate continuous bias binding or the perimeter of curved edges. See the grain-direction guide before applying it to another project.
Read our calculation methods and limits. Examples use the same arithmetic as the calculators and are planning estimates, not independently field-tested sewing instructions. Confirm allowances with your quilter.