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Quilt Binding Calculator

The perimeter is 2 × (150 + 200) = 700 cm. Add one strip width at each of the four corners (6.4 × 4 = 25.6 cm) plus 25 cm for the diagonal joins and the closing overlap, giving 750.6 cm. Strips are cut across the fabric, and with 2 cm of selvedge trimmed each one runs 105 cm — hence eight strips.

Your numbers

Binding length

750.6cm

Strips to cut

8

Fabric needed

51.2cm

Formula

Binding length = 2 × (Quilt width + Quilt length) + 4 × Strip width + 25

A 2.5 in (6.4 cm) strip folded double and sewn with a 1/4 in seam finishes about 1 cm wide. Join strips on a 45° diagonal; square joins stack up thick and bunch at the corners.

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
Strip width (cm)Cut width of a binding strip — about four times the finished edge.6.42 and up
Fabric width (cm)The fabric width; if it is sold folded, enter the opened width.10710 and up

Step by step

FormulaBinding length = 2 × (Quilt width + Quilt length) + 4 × Strip width + 25
With the default numbersBinding length = 2 × (150 + 200) + 4 × 6.4 + 25
AnswerBinding length = 750.6 cm

Quick reference table

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

Quilt width (cm)Binding length (cm)Strips to cutFabric needed (cm)
75600.6638.4
113676.6744.8
150750.6851.2
225900.6957.6
3001,050.61170.4

What each result means

ResultAt default values
Binding length (cm)Binding to go round, including corners and joins.750.6
Strips to cutStrips to cut across the fabric width.8
Fabric needed (cm)Fabric length to buy, along the grain rather than across.51.2

Common mistakes

A 2.5 in (6.4 cm) strip folded double and sewn with a 1/4 in seam finishes about 1 cm wide. Join strips on a 45° diagonal; square joins stack up thick and bunch at the corners.

Glossary

Quilt width
The finished quilt across, once bound.
Quilt length
The finished quilt along, once bound.
Strip width
Cut width of a binding strip — about four times the finished edge.
Fabric width
The fabric width; if it is sold folded, enter the opened width.
Binding length
Binding to go round, including corners and joins.
Strips to cut
Strips to cut across the fabric width.
Fabric needed
Fabric length to buy, along the grain rather than across.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How is Quilt Binding Calculator calculated?

Binding length = 2 × (Quilt width + Quilt length) + 4 × Strip width + 25 — The perimeter is 2 × (150 + 200) = 700 cm. Add one strip width at each of the four corners (6.4 × 4 = 25.6 cm) plus 25 cm for the diagonal joins and the closing overlap, giving 750.6 cm. Strips are cut across the fabric, and with 2 cm of selvedge trimmed each one runs 105 cm — hence eight strips.

Q. Can you walk through an example?

With Quilt width 150cm, Quilt length 200cm, Strip width 6.4cm, Fabric width 107cm, the answer is Binding length 750.6cm.

Q. What do I need to enter?

Enter Quilt width, Quilt length, Strip width, Fabric width. 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 → Binding length (cm) 600.6 and Quilt width (cm) 300 → Binding length (cm) 1,050.6. 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?

A 2.5 in (6.4 cm) strip folded double and sewn with a 1/4 in seam finishes about 1 cm wide. Join strips on a 45° diagonal; square joins stack up thick and bunch at the corners.

Related calculators

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