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Quilt Binding Calculator

Binding goes all the way round the quilt, plus a little for the corners and the joins. Enter the quilt size, your extra length and the usable length of one strip to know how many strips to cut.

Strips to cut

7

276 in needed (264 around + 12 extra) · 4 in left over

How it works

  1. Enter the quilt width and height in one unit.
  2. Enter the extra length for corners and joins (a common choice is about 12 in).
  3. Enter the usable length of one strip, after trimming its ends.
  4. Read the total length and the number of strips, then copy the summary.

What people use it for

  • Cutting the strips before sewing

    Know how many strips to cut across the width of the fabric.

  • Comparing quilt sizes

    See how much longer the binding gets when the quilt grows from throw to double.

  • Buying fabric

    Multiply the number of strips by the strip width to get the length of fabric, then convert it to yards or metres.

Questions

What is the formula?
Length needed = 2 × (width + height) + extra length. Strips = length needed ÷ usable strip length, rounded up. A 60 × 72 in quilt with 12 in extra and 40 in strips needs 276 in, so 7 strips.
How much extra should I add?
The tool does not impose a value: it takes yours. Many quilters add roughly 10 to 12 inches for the corners and for the diagonal joins between strips; follow your own pattern if it says otherwise.
What is the usable length of a strip?
The length left after trimming the ends, for example a 42 in wide fabric trimmed to about 40 in.
Does it give the fabric to buy?
No, only the strips. Multiply the count by your strip width, and add a margin for straightening the fabric.