THE CUTTING TABLE
Quilt size chart: backing and binding yardage, crib to king
A queen quilt is 90 × 95 inches for a 60 × 80 inch mattress. With 42-inch-wide fabric and 4 inches of extra backing on every side, it needs 8.25 yards of backing and 0.75 yards for binding. The table gives the same figures for every standard size.
Standard quilt sizes and the fabric they need
| Size | Mattress (inches) | Quilt (inches) | Backing, 42-inch fabric | Binding, 2½-inch strips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 28 × 52 | 36 × 52 | 2.5 yards 2 panels cut 44 inches long |
0.375 yards 5 strips |
| Throw or lap | Not a bed size | 50 × 65 | 3.25 yards 2 panels cut 58 inches long |
0.5 yards 7 strips |
| Twin | 38 × 75 | 68 × 86 | 5.25 yards 2 panels cut 94 inches long |
0.625 yards 8 strips |
| Full (double) | 54 × 75 | 84 × 90 | 7.75 yards 3 panels cut 92 inches long |
0.625 yards 9 strips |
| Queen | 60 × 80 | 90 × 95 | 8.25 yards 3 panels cut 98 inches long |
0.75 yards 10 strips |
| King | 76 × 80 | 108 × 95 | 8.625 yards 3 panels cut 103 inches long |
0.875 yards 11 strips |
| California king | 72 × 84 | 102 × 100 | 9 yards 3 panels cut 108 inches long |
0.875 yards 11 strips |
Size source: Missouri Star Quilt Co, “Quilt Sizes Chart: Every Standard Size from Crib to King”, checked October 1, 2026. The publisher notes that its bed-quilt dimensions include a 10 to 12 inch drop on each side and a pillow tuck, so a quilt meant to sit on top of the mattress can be smaller. Throw and lap quilts have no mattress size; the publisher lists both at the same dimensions.
How the backing figure is worked out
The backing has to be larger than the quilt top so it can be loaded and quilted. The calculator adds the overhang to every side, so a 90 × 95 inch queen needs a backing rectangle of 98 × 103 inches. The calculator assumes 42 usable inches of fabric width after the selvages are trimmed, so a backing wider than that is pieced from full-width panels. Every seam between panels uses half an inch from each joining edge.
The calculator tries the panels running both ways and keeps whichever needs less fabric. For the queen, 3 panels running along the quilt's width, each cut 98 inches long, use 294 inches of fabric. That is 8.17 yards, bought as 8.25 yards. A directional print can rule out one of the two directions; the backing calculator lets you lock the direction.
How the binding figure is worked out
Binding runs around the whole edge, plus an allowance to close the ends. For the queen that is 2 × (90 + 95) + 10 = 380 inches. Strips are cut 2½ inches wide across 42 inches of fabric, and each diagonal join between strips uses one strip width of length. 10 strips joined with 9 seams give 397.5 inches, enough for the edge. 10 strips × 2½ inches is 25 inches of fabric, bought as 0.75 yards. The binding calculator takes any strip width.
When to change the defaults
Use your longarm quilter's own backing rule if they publish one; it may ask for more than 4 inches a side. Measure the usable width of your actual fabric and enter that instead of 42 inches. If you prewash, allow for shrinkage. Each link in the table opens the calculator with that size filled in so you can change any allowance.
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