Backing and Binding Calculator ⋆ Quiltweb

Backing & Binding Calculator

Enter your finished quilt top dimensions below to calculate how much fabric you need. It will automagically appear in the boxes at the bottom of the page.

Quilt top size

Width (inches)

Length (inches)

Backing options

Fabric width

Extra margin per side

Binding options

Binding strip width

Binding fabric WOF

Backing fabric needed

—

yards

Backing size needed—

Number of panels—

Cut each panel—

⚠ Quilt width exceeds fabric width. Check your fabric selection.

Binding fabric needed

—

yards

Quilt perimeter—

Total strip length—

Strips to cut—

Strip width—

Note: All yardage is rounded up to the nearest ⅛ yard. Backing uses 40″ usable width for standard 44″ WOF fabric (after removing selvages and allowing for shrinkage). Binding includes 12″ extra for diagonal joins and finishing. Always buy a little extra — fabric is never sorry to be left over!

Here is a method of creating a backing with the seam on the diagonal, invented by John Flynn. This diagonal backing method works best when the backing size needed is no more than about 1½ times the usable width of your fabric. In Step One, you cut a diagonal line through the length of fabric amount given by the calculator. Slide one side down until you get the width of the quilt top plus 8-1/2″ for the longarmer and a seam allowance. Sew along the diagonal. Trim as shown.

Step one shows a rectangle labeled Length and Width of Fabric with a diagonal dashed line. Step two, using the Backing and Binding Calculator, displays the rectangle cut along the diagonal with a rotary cutter, and Trim here labels by the cut edges.

Diagonal Backing Calculator

Enter the size of your quilt top. This calculator automatically adds 4″ to each side for longarm quilting.

Quilt Top Width
Quilt Top Length
Usable Backing Fabric Width
Calculate

Enter your quilt top size, then click Calculate Backing.