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How many yards of binding fabric for any quilt size. Quick reference table plus the step-by-step formula for custom sizes.
| Quilt Size | Yards |
|---|---|
| Baby / Crib | ~0.5 yds |
| Throw / Lap | ~0.55 yds |
| Twin | ~0.6 yds |
| Full / Double | ~0.65 yds |
| Queen | ~0.75 yds |
| King | ~0.85 yds |
Assumes 2.5″-wide strips cut from 44″-wide fabric. Add 10% for safety.
| Cut Width | Finished Width | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 2" | ~1/4" | Narrow, delicate look; less durable |
| 2.5" | ~3/8" | Standard double-fold; most common |
| 3" | ~1/2" | Wide binding; prominent finish; heavier quilts |
| Bias-cut 2.5" | ~3/8" | Curved edges, scalloped borders, durable finish |
A coordinating solid or a scrappy strip set both work well for binding.
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A queen quilt (90×108") needs approximately 0.75–0.85 yards of binding fabric. This gives you 10–11 strips of 2.5"-wide binding, enough to go around the 396" perimeter with a comfortable margin for joins and starting/ending tails.
The standard for double-fold binding is 2.5"-wide strips. This produces a binding that is approximately 3/8" wide on the front and back of the finished quilt. For a wider binding (1/2"), cut strips 3" wide. For narrow binding (1/4"), cut strips 2" wide.
Measure the quilt perimeter: (width + height) × 2. Add 10" for joining strips and starting/ending tails. Divide by 40 (the usable strip length from 44"-wide fabric) and round up to get the number of strips. Multiply strips × 2.5 (strip width), divide by 36 for yards. Add 10% safety margin.
Straight-grain binding is cut parallel or perpendicular to the fabric selvage. It is easier, uses less fabric, and works well for square-cornered quilts. Bias binding is cut at a 45° angle and has more stretch — it is ideal for curved edges like clamshell or scalloped borders, and for binding quilts that will see heavy wear since it distributes stress differently at fold points.
Yes. Many quilters use leftover strips from the quilt top to make a scrappy binding. Sew the strips end-to-end on the bias (45° angle joins), press the seams open, and press the whole strip in half lengthwise. The total length needed is the quilt perimeter plus 10".