Quilt Backing Calculator for Yardage
Work out the backing fabric for a quilt. Enter the finished quilt size and the overhang you want on each side, and get the backing size and yardage to buy.
How to calculate quilt backing
- Enter the finished quilt width and length in inches.
- Set the overhang per side and your usable fabric width.
- Read the backing size, widths to seam and total yards, then copy it.
Examples
60 by 80 inch quilt with a 4 inch overhang on 44 inch fabric
Quilt 60 x 80 in, overhang 4 in, fabric 44 in
Backing 68 x 88 in, 2 widths, about 4.8889 yards
Frequently asked questions
How much backing fabric do I need for a quilt?
Add the overhang to each side of the quilt to get the backing size. If the backing is wider than the fabric, seam full widths together, then divide the running length by 36 for yards.
How much overhang should the backing have?
Longarm quilters usually want about 4 inches of backing on every side. For home machine or hand quilting 2 to 3 inches is often enough. Check with your quilter first.
Why does the backing need to be pieced?
Most quilting cotton is only about 44 inches wide, so any quilt wider than that needs two or more fabric widths seamed together to make a backing big enough.
Can I use extra-wide backing fabric?
Yes. Wide backing comes in 108 inch widths, so set the fabric width to 108 and most quilts need just a single width with no seam at all.
Does this include batting or binding?
No. It sizes only the backing. Batting needs a similar overhang, and binding yardage depends on the perimeter and strip width, which are separate calculations.
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