Quilt Calculators

Quilt Binding Calculator

Calculate exactly how much binding you need for your quilt.

Quilt Binding Calculator

Regular binding strips are cut parallel to the selvage (along the width of fabric).

Standard width of quilting fabric is 42-44 inches

Standard binding width is 2.5 inches

About Quilt Binding

Regular Binding

Regular binding (also called straight-grain binding) is cut parallel to the selvage of the fabric. This type of binding works well for quilts with straight edges and is the most common binding method.

Bias Binding

Bias binding is cut at a 45° angle to the selvage of the fabric. This gives the binding more flexibility and stretch, making it ideal for quilts with curved edges. Bias binding is also more durable as the bias cut distributes wear more evenly.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your quilt's length and width in inches.
  2. Select whether you're using regular or bias binding.
  3. Adjust the fabric width if needed (standard is 42-44 inches).
  4. Adjust the binding strip width if needed (standard is 2.5 inches).
  5. Click "Calculate Binding" to get your results.

How Much Binding Do I Need?

The amount of binding fabric you need comes down to your quilt's perimeter, plus a little extra for turning corners and joining strips. Here's the math this calculator runs automatically:

  1. Find the perimeter. Add up all four sides: 2 × (length + width). A 60" × 80" throw has a perimeter of 280".
  2. Add corner allowance. Each of the 4 corners needs a small amount of extra binding to turn a clean miter — about 8-10" total.
  3. Add joining overlap. Strips are sewn together end-to-end, and the starting and ending tails overlap to finish the binding — add another 10-12".
  4. Convert to strips and yardage. Divide the total binding length by your usable fabric width to get the number of strips, then convert that strip count into yardage based on your chosen strip width.

So for that 60" × 80" throw: 280" perimeter + about 20" for corners and joins = roughly 300" of binding, cut into 2.5"-wide strips from standard 42" fabric — about 8 strips, or roughly 3/4 yard. This is exactly what happens when you calculate quilt binding with the tool above: enter your quilt's length and width and it runs this math for you, accounting for your specific strip width and fabric width.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want a decorative multi-color binding? Try our pieced binding planner to plan scrappy or gradient designs. For accurate block sizing, see the seam allowance guide. Not sure how wide your fabric is? Check our fabric width chart before calculating yardage.