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How Much Fabric for a Quilt?
Yardage estimates for every quilt size — top fabric, backing, binding, and total. Choose your quilt size to get the full breakdown.
Fabric Yardage by Quilt Size
| Quilt Size | Top Fabric | Backing (44″) | Binding | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby / Crib(40″×52″) | ~3 yds | ~3 yds | ~0.5 yds | ~7 yds |
| Throw / Lap(60″×72″) | ~5 yds | ~4.5 yds | ~0.65 yds | ~10 yds |
| Twin(66″×88″) | ~6 yds | ~5.5 yds | ~0.75 yds | ~12 yds |
| Full / Double(80″×96″) | ~7.5 yds | ~6.5 yds | ~0.8 yds | ~15 yds |
| Queen(90″×108″) | ~9 yds | ~8 yds | ~0.9 yds | ~18 yds |
| King(108″×108″) | ~11 yds | ~9.5 yds | ~1 yds | ~21.5 yds |
Estimates assume a 2-color quilt, 44″-wide fabric, 1/4″ seams. Add 10–15% for cutting waste. Does not include batting.
Detailed Breakdown by Size
What Affects Quilt Yardage?
Number of fabrics
A 2-color quilt needs roughly equal amounts of each fabric. A scrappy quilt with 30+ fabrics needs much less per fabric but the same total. Fat quarter bundles work well for scrappy quilts.
Block size
Larger blocks have less total seam allowance waste than smaller blocks, so a quilt made of 12-inch blocks uses slightly less fabric than the same quilt in 4-inch blocks — though the difference is modest.
Sashing and borders
Sashing strips and borders can add 1–2 yards to the total fabric needed, depending on width. Wide borders (4–6") add significantly more than narrow sashing (1–2").
Backing fabric width
Using 108"-wide backing fabric (wide back) requires fewer yards than 44"-wide fabric because no seams are needed. It typically costs more per yard but saves time and reduces the total yardage by 30–40%.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much fabric do I need for a queen quilt?
A queen quilt (90×108") needs approximately 9 yards of fabric total for the quilt top (4.5 yards per color for a 2-color quilt), 8 yards of 44"-wide backing fabric, and 0.9 yards for binding — about 18 yards total before adding batting.
How many yards of fabric for a throw quilt?
A throw quilt (60×72") needs approximately 5 yards for the quilt top (2.5 yards per color), 4.5 yards of backing fabric, and 0.65 yards for binding — about 10 yards total.
Do I need more fabric for the backing?
Yes. The quilt backing must be 4–8 inches larger than the quilt top on all sides to allow for shifting during quilting. Most quilts wider than 40 inches require pieced backing from multiple widths of 44"-wide fabric. Using 108"-wide wide-back fabric eliminates seams and reduces total yardage needed.
How do I calculate quilt yardage?
For the quilt top, multiply the finished quilt dimensions, divide by 1,296 (36" per yard squared), and multiply by 1.15 for waste. For backing, add 8" to each dimension, then calculate how many widths of 44" fabric are needed. For binding, divide the quilt perimeter by 40 (usable strip length), multiply by the strip width (2.5"), divide by 36.
Need a more detailed cut list?
The full fabric calculator breaks down yardage by fabric type with a complete cut list for any block size and layout.