Calculator
Quilt Backing Calculator
How much backing fabric for any quilt size — both 44″-wide and 108″-wide options, with piecing requirements.
Backing Yardage by Quilt Size
| Quilt Size | 44″ fabric | 108″ fabric |
|---|---|---|
| Baby / Crib | ~3 yds | ~1.75 yds |
| Throw / Lap | ~4.5 yds | ~2.25 yds |
| Twin | ~5.5 yds | ~2.75 yds |
| Full / Double | ~6.5 yds | ~3 yds |
| Queen | ~8 yds | ~3.5 yds |
| King | ~9.5 yds | ~4 yds |
Backing is cut 4″ larger on all sides than the quilt top. Add 10% for safety.
44″ vs 108″ Backing Fabric
44″-Wide Fabric
- More fabric choice — thousands of prints available
- Lower cost per yard
- Requires piecing for most quilts wider than 40″
- Seam on back (can be decorative)
108″-Wide Fabric
- No seams on back (clean look)
- Fewer total yards needed
- Higher cost per yard
- Limited print selection (mostly solids and tone-on-tones)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much backing fabric do I need for a queen quilt?
A queen quilt (90×108") needs approximately 8 yards of 44"-wide backing fabric, pieced from 3 lengths sewn side by side. If using 108"-wide wide-back fabric, you need only 3.5 yards with no piecing required.
How do I calculate quilt backing yardage?
Add 8" to both the quilt width and height (4" on each side) for the backing size. For 44"-wide fabric: count how many widths you need to cover the backing width (each width = ~40" after trimming selvages), then multiply by the backing length. Divide total inches by 36 for yards.
What is wide-back quilt fabric?
Wide-back fabric is quilting cotton woven at 108" (90", 118", or 120" widths are also common). It eliminates the need to piece a quilt backing from multiple widths of standard 44"-wide fabric. It costs more per yard but saves time and reduces total yardage needed by about 30–40%.
Do I need to pre-wash quilt backing fabric?
Many quilters pre-wash backing fabric to preshrink it and remove sizing. Cotton fabric can shrink 2–5% when first washed. If your quilt top is pre-washed, the backing should be too, or the finished quilt may pucker unevenly after the first wash.