Crafts & Making
Quilt Binding Calculator
Estimate binding length, strip count and fabric yardage, including joins.
Enter your measurements
Results update as you type.
About this calculator
Enter the quilt's finished length and width, the cut width of your binding strips, the usable width of your fabric and the length lost at each join. The calculator adds the perimeter and any extra length, then works out how many strips are needed once joins are allowed for.
How to measure
- Measure the finished quilt length and width and add your chosen extra binding length.
- Use the actual usable fabric width and cut-strip width.
- Enter the loss per join for your joining method; a single strip has no join loss.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the quilt's finished size.
- Choose your cut strip width.
- Enter the usable fabric width.
- Allow for joins and extra length.
- Calculate for strips and fabric yardage.
Formula
Binding length = 2 × (length + width) + extra
Strips = ⌈(binding − join loss) ÷ (usable width − join loss)⌉, minimum 1
Usable binding = strips × usable width − (strips − 1) × join loss
Fabric length = strips × cut strip width
Assumptions
- Binding is cut across the fabric width and joined diagonally.
- One continuous binding strip is used around the perimeter.
- Joins reduce usable length by the amount you enter.
Common mistakes
- Using total bolt width instead of usable strip length.
- Forgetting binding tails and join loss.
- Treating strip length as the amount of fabric to buy across the bolt.
Worked example
Try it: press “Load example” above the form.
An 80 × 60 in quilt needs 300 in of binding; at 40 in per strip that is 8 strips, or 20 in of 2½ in fabric.
Limitations
No mitering technique, backing, batting or quilting design. Binding only.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra binding should I allow?
The perimeter alone excludes tails and joining. Enter a suitable extra length and join loss for the technique you will use; these are separate from strip width.
Can I use the full labelled fabric width?
Use the usable width after selvages and trimming. A shorter usable strip length can increase the whole strips required.
What does the worked example show?
An 80 × 60 in quilt needs 300 in of binding; at 40 in per strip that is 8 strips, or 20 in of 2½ in fabric.
Which assumptions should I check before using the result?
No mitering technique, backing, batting or quilting design. Binding only.
Sources
Sources explain the methods and any named product presets. Check your product label where coverage, yield or density differs.
- Omni: quilt binding
Perimeter and straight-strip workflow. The explicit joining-loss model and single-block quilt model are defined on this page.
Calculation documentation · Updated 2026-11-11 · Version 1.6.4. Estimates are planning aids. Confirm quantities, coverage and prices with your supplier before purchasing. Found an error? Report it.
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