Work out how big your bed quilt should be from the mattress size, the drop over the sides and an optional pillow tuck. The calculator fits whole blocks to that size and tells you the backing yardage, batting size and binding strips you need.
Last updated:
Bed
in
How far the quilt hangs over the sides. Mattress depth is often 10–16 in.
in
in
in
Extra length to fold over pillows; 0 for none.
Blocks & fabric
in
in
Extra backing and batting for quilting; long-arm quilters often ask for 4 in.
Enter your values to see the result.
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the Quilt Size Calculator
Choose the mattress size or enter a custom width and length in inches.
Set the drop (overhang on the sides and foot) and a pillow tuck if you want one.
Enter your finished block size and how to round the block count.
Pick the backing fabric width and the extra backing per side your quilter needs.
Read the finished size, block layout, backing yardage, batting size and binding, and copy them to your shopping list.
How the quilt size is calculated
Quilt width = mattress width + 2 × drop
Quilt length = mattress length + drop (foot) + pillow tuck (+ another drop if the quilt hangs at the head)
Blocks across = quilt width ÷ block size, blocks down = quilt length ÷ block size, rounded to whole blocks
Backing = finished quilt + 2 × overhang in both directions; batting is cut the same size
Backing yardage = panels × panel length ÷ 36, rounded up to the next ⅛ yard
Example: a queen mattress (60 × 80 in) with a 12 in drop and 10 in pillow tuck gives an ideal quilt of 84 × 102 in. With 12 in blocks that is 7 × 9 = 63 blocks and a finished quilt of 84 × 108 in. A backing with 4 in extra per side is 92 × 116 in, which from 40 in usable fabric is three 92 in panels: 276 in, or 7¾ yards.
Standard mattress and quilt sizes
Quilt sizes below use a 12 in drop on the sides and foot and a 10 in pillow tuck. Commercial quilt sizes vary between makers.
Bed
Mattress (in)
Quilt (in)
Quilt (cm)
Crib
28 × 52
52 × 74
132 × 188
Twin
38 × 75
62 × 97
157 × 246
Twin XL
38 × 80
62 × 102
157 × 259
Full / Double
54 × 75
78 × 97
198 × 246
Queen
60 × 80
84 × 102
213 × 259
King
76 × 80
100 × 102
254 × 259
California King
72 × 84
96 × 106
244 × 269
Crib quilts usually have no drop or tuck (a crib quilt of about 36 × 52 in is common), so set both to 0 for a crib or wall quilt.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate quilt size for a bed?
Quilt width = mattress width + 2 × drop. Quilt length = mattress length + drop at the foot + pillow tuck (add another drop if the quilt should also hang at the head). A queen mattress (60 × 80 in) with a 12 in drop and a 10 in tuck needs about 84 × 102 in.
What is a quilt drop?
The drop is how far the quilt hangs down over the edge of the mattress. A drop equal to the mattress depth (about 10–16 in) covers the mattress; a larger drop also covers part of the box spring or bed frame.
How many quilt blocks do I need?
Divide the quilt width and length by the finished block size and round to whole blocks. For an 84 × 102 in quilt with 12 in blocks you need 7 across and 9 down (rounded up), so 63 blocks and a finished size of 84 × 108 in.
How much backing fabric do I need?
Backing should be 3–4 in larger than the quilt top on every side. With 42–44 in cotton you sew panels together: divide the backing width by the usable fabric width (about 40 in), round up, and multiply by the backing length. A 92 × 116 in backing needs 3 panels of 92 in (horizontal seams), about 7¾ yards.
What size batting do I need?
Batting is usually cut to the same size as the backing, about 4 in larger than the quilt top on each side, so it does not come up short when the layers shift during quilting.
How many binding strips do I need?
Add the quilt's perimeter plus about 12 in for joining and mitring corners, then divide by 40 in (the usable width of quilting cotton) and round up. The calculator assumes 2½ in strips, the most common width for double-fold binding.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.