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Longarm Guide · 2026
Rates below come from published price sheets at longarm studios across the US, surveyed August 2026 — not guesses, and not one shop's menu.
Professional longarm quilting is priced by the square inch: multiply your quilt top's width by its length, then by the rate. Edge-to-edge quilting — one repeating design across the whole top — runs $0.015–$0.035 per square inch at most US studios, with the bulk of quotes landing right around 2–2.5 cents. That puts a throw at roughly $65–$105 and a queen at $146–$243 for the quilting itself, before batting and shipping. Custom work, where the quilter designs unique motifs for each part of your quilt, starts around $0.05 per square inch and climbs from there.
One repeating design stitched across the whole top. The everyday default, and what almost every mail-in studio is built around.
In practice: Most quotes land at 2 – 2.5¢
Two or three designs in different zones — one for the blocks, another for the borders — without full custom planning.
In practice: Commonly ~3 – 3.5¢
Unique motifs designed for each part of the quilt. Takes several times longer to plan and stitch, and is priced accordingly.
In practice: Heirloom/show work can reach $0.15 – $0.25
Not sure which style your quilt needs? See edge-to-edge vs. semi-custom vs. custom explained.
| Quilt Size | Square Inches | Edge-to-Edge | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby (36″ × 52″) | 1,872 | $30 – $47* | $66 – $131 |
| Throw (60″ × 70″) | 4,200 | $63 – $105 | $147 – $294 |
| Twin (70″ × 90″) | 6,300 | $95 – $158 | $221 – $441 |
| Full (84″ × 90″) | 7,560 | $113 – $189 | $265 – $529 |
| Queen (90″ × 108″) | 9,720 | $146 – $243 | $340 – $680 |
| King (110″ × 108″) | 11,880 | $178 – $297 | $416 – $832 |
Quilting only, at $0.015–$0.025/sq in (edge-to-edge) and $0.035–$0.07/sq in (custom). *Small quilts usually hit the studio's minimum charge instead. Run your own numbers in the longarm cost calculator.
The per-square-inch rate is only part of the invoice. Ask for an itemized quote so you're comparing studios on the same basis — a 2¢ rate with paid batting, thread, and shipping can cost more than a 3¢ all-inclusive package.
| Item | Typical Cost | Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum charge | $30 – $75 | Small quilts are billed at the minimum even when the per-square-inch math comes out lower. |
| Batting | $10 – $60 | By size and type (80/20 blend vs. wool vs. bamboo). Most studios sell it by the inch off wide rolls; many let you supply your own. |
| Thread | Usually included | A few studios add $5 – $15 or charge per bobbin; ask if it isn't on the rate sheet. |
| Backing prep / seaming | $10 – $20 | Charged when your backing needs piecing or squaring before it can be loaded. |
| Machine binding | $0.10 – $0.25 / linear inch | Roughly $40 – $95 for a queen. Hand-finished binding costs more. |
| Rush fee | +25 – 50% or $25 – $75 flat | Some studios sell a formal fast-track tier instead — often the better deal. |
| Return shipping (mail-in) | $15 – $30 | A growing number of mail-in studios bundle it in — check the mail-in directory for all-inclusive pricing. |
A 90″ × 108″ queen top, mailed to a studio for edge-to-edge quilting at $0.022 per square inch: about $214 for the quilting, $40 for 80/20 batting, and $20 return shipping — roughly $274 total, plus your cost to ship it there (~$20 via USPS Priority). Budget $250–$300 all-in for a mailed-in queen, or subtract the shipping for local drop-off.
For edge-to-edge quilting, roughly $146–$243 for the quilting itself (9,720 square inches at $0.015–$0.025 per square inch). Add batting (~$30–$45) and return shipping if mailing it in, and a realistic all-in figure is $200–$300. Custom quilting on the same quilt runs $340–$680 and up.
You're paying for machine time on equipment that costs $10,000–$40,000, plus the quilter's skill and the non-stitching work: consulting on design and thread, loading and basting your quilt onto the frame, tension testing, trimming, and packing. A queen quilt ties up the machine for hours even on a computerized edge-to-edge design.
Most longarmers set a floor — commonly $30–$75 — so that loading a small project onto the frame is still worth their time. A baby quilt's per-square-inch math might come to $28, but you'll pay the $50 minimum. If you have several small quilts, ask whether they can be loaded and billed together.
Batting: almost always available for purchase, usually off wide rolls priced by the inch, and most studios also accept your own (packaged batting only — some decline hand-me-down or repurposed batting). Backing: you supply it, sized at least 4 inches larger than the top on every side; many studios sell wide backing fabric too.
No — tipping isn't customary. Longarmers are skilled professionals who set their own rates. The gestures that actually matter: pay promptly, credit them by name when you show or share the quilt, leave a review, and come back with your next top.
Early fall at the latest. Turnaround runs 2–6 weeks most of the year, but queues stretch from October through December as gift quilts pile up. Many studios post cutoff dates for Christmas delivery — if you miss one, look for a studio with a paid rush or fast-track tier.