Quilt Calculator

Standard quilt sizes (UK/US): Cot/Crib 90×120cm (35×47in). Throw 130×170cm (50×60in). Twin/Single 175×230cm (66×88in). Full/Double 200×220cm (78×88in). Queen 230×230cm (90×90in). King 270×245cm (108×98in). Add 6-12 inches to bed dimensions for proper drape. Custom sizes: measure mattress depth × 2 + bed surface area + drape allowance.

Block-based quilts: divide finished size by block dimensions (e.g. Twin 66×88 inches with 12-inch blocks = 5.5×7.3 blocks → 6×7 = 42 blocks). Trim or design extras as needed. Whole-cloth quilts: 1-piece backing fabric, no block math. Hybrid (panels + borders): more complex calculation, requires planning each section's fabric requirements separately.

For each block, calculate: pieces needed × pattern repeat. A 12×12 inch block with 4 squares of fabric A: each square is 4×4 finished (need ~4.5×4.5 cut for seam allowance). 4 squares × 4.5 = 18 inches per row of fabric A; with 42 blocks needing fabric A: 18 × 42 / 44 (typical fabric width) = ~17 yards.

Quick rule of thumb: 1 yard fabric (44 inches wide) ≈ 12 12-inch squares (with seam allowance). For a 42-block quilt: roughly 3.5 yards per major fabric. Add 20% for cutting waste, mistakes, fixing errors. Most patterns specify exact yardage; calculators help when designing custom or substituting fabrics. Backing: full quilt back = quilt size + 4-6 inches all sides for binding/binding allowance.

Quilt layers: Top (decorative pieced fabric) + Batting (insulating layer) + Backing (single piece or pieced underside). Each layer: same dimensions as finished top + 4-6 inches each side for quilting movement. Batting types: cotton (warm, dense), wool (very warm, breathable), bamboo (cool, eco), polyester (cheap, lightweight, machine wash), blends (most practical for everyday use).

Binding: edge-finish strip around all 4 sides. Calculate: total perimeter + 10-15 inches for corners and joining. Standard 2.5-inch wide bias strip cut from fabric. A 50×60-inch throw: 220-inch perimeter + 12 = 232 inches. From 44-inch fabric: 232 / 44 = 6 strips. Yardage: 6 × 2.5 = 15 inches = ~half yard. Use the [Yarn Weight Converter](/yarn-weight-converter) for knitted alternatives, [Fabric Cost Calculator](/fabric-cost-calculator) for budget planning.

Beginner quilt (simple block patterns, throw size): 20-40 hours hand-pieced + 10-20 hours machine-quilting + 5-10 hours binding. Total: 35-70 hours. Intermediate (more complex blocks, queen size): 40-80 hours pieced + 20-40 hours quilted + 10 hours bound. Advanced (curved piecing, applique, original design): 100-200+ hours.

Long-arm quilters charge £100-400+ for professional machine-quilting. Many quilters do simple stippling at home (faster, less precise) and reserve long-arm services for elaborate quilting. Hand-piecing is purely traditional: 4-6x slower than machine but yields heirloom quality. Most modern quilters use machines for piecing and either home machine or long-arm for quilting.