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Quilt Batting Calculator

Batting takes less overhang than backing. At 5 cm per side that is 160 × 210 cm, an area of 3.36 m². Cutting it as large as the backing leaves a thick fold that catches under the foot.

Your numbers

Batting area

3.36m²

Cut width

160cm

Cut length

210cm

Formula

Batting area = (Quilt width + 2 × Overhang per side) × (Quilt length + 2 × Overhang per side) ÷ 10000

Batting is sold in named sizes set in inches — crib, twin, queen. Buying it by the roll lets you join offcuts: butt the edges together rather than overlapping and zigzag them so the loft stays even. Cotton batting shrinks 3–5% in the wash.

What to enter

InputDefaultAccepted range
Quilt width (cm)The finished quilt across, once bound.1501 and up
Quilt length (cm)The finished quilt along, once bound.2001 and up
Overhang per side (cm)Extra beyond each edge, absorbing shift while quilting.50 and up

Step by step

FormulaBatting area = (Quilt width + 2 × Overhang per side) × (Quilt length + 2 × Overhang per side) ÷ 10000
With the default numbersBatting area = (150 + 2 × 5) × (200 + 2 × 5) ÷ 10000
AnswerBatting area = 3.36 m²

Quick reference table

Results when only Quilt width (cm) changes and everything else stays put.

Quilt width (cm)Batting area (m²)Cut width (cm)Cut length (cm)
751.7985210
1132.58123210
1503.36160210
2254.93235210
3006.51310210

What each result means

ResultAt default values
Batting area (m²)The batting area, a little wider than the quilt on every side.3.36
Cut width (cm)The width to cut — finished size plus allowance.160
Cut length (cm)The length to cut, finished length plus allowance.210

Common mistakes

Batting is sold in named sizes set in inches — crib, twin, queen. Buying it by the roll lets you join offcuts: butt the edges together rather than overlapping and zigzag them so the loft stays even. Cotton batting shrinks 3–5% in the wash.

Glossary

Quilt width
The finished quilt across, once bound.
Quilt length
The finished quilt along, once bound.
Overhang per side
Extra beyond each edge, absorbing shift while quilting.
Batting area
The batting area, a little wider than the quilt on every side.
Cut width
The width to cut — finished size plus allowance.
Cut length
The length to cut, finished length plus allowance.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How is Quilt Batting Calculator calculated?

Batting area = (Quilt width + 2 × Overhang per side) × (Quilt length + 2 × Overhang per side) ÷ 10000 — Batting takes less overhang than backing. At 5 cm per side that is 160 × 210 cm, an area of 3.36 m². Cutting it as large as the backing leaves a thick fold that catches under the foot.

Q. Can you walk through an example?

With Quilt width 150cm, Quilt length 200cm, Overhang per side 5cm, the answer is Batting area 3.36m².

Q. What do I need to enter?

Enter Quilt width, Quilt length, Overhang per side. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.

Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?

Changing only Quilt width (cm) moves the answer to Quilt width (cm) 75 → Batting area (m²) 1.79 and Quilt width (cm) 300 → Batting area (m²) 6.51. The table below lays out five steps.

Q. How are the numbers rounded?

Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.

Q. Anything to watch out for?

Batting is sold in named sizes set in inches — crib, twin, queen. Buying it by the roll lets you join offcuts: butt the edges together rather than overlapping and zigzag them so the loft stays even. Cotton batting shrinks 3–5% in the wash.

Related calculators

Materials differ in density and absorption. If your label states a figure, use it — the defaults here are only common values.