Your backing answer
You need 5 yards
2 panels, 1 vertical seam
Maybe grab a little extra, just in case.
- Backing size
- 68″ × 88″
- Each panel (2)
- 42″ × 88″
Pick a quilt off the shelf and its plan works out every yard for you.
How we worked it out
- Your quilt top is 60″ wide and 80″ tall.
- Add 4″ of overhang on every side, and your backing needs to cover 68″ × 88″.
- Cut 2 panels, each 42″ wide × 88″ long.
- Join side by side with vertical seams, using ½″ seam allowances. The joins consume 1″ in total; this is included in the panel count. Press seams open, then square to the backing size above.
- That's 176″ of fabric in all, or 5 yards.
- This plan prefers fewer seams, then less yardage. It assumes non-directional fabric; allow extra for shrinkage, squaring cuts, or matching a print. Confirm the overhang and seam direction with your longarmer before cutting.
Quilt backing yardage chart
42" usable fabric width · 4" overhang on every side · ½" seam allowance · Fewer seams first; yardage rounded up to ⅛ yard. These fixed examples don’t change with the calculator.
| Quilt | Quilt size | Backing needed | Cut panels | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby | 36" × 45" | 44" × 53" | 2 × 44" (H) | 2½ yards |
| Lap | 54" × 66" | 62" × 74" | 2 × 62" (H) | 3½ yards |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 78" × 98" | 2 × 98" (V) | 5½ yards |
| Queen | 90" × 100" | 98" × 108" | 3 × 98" (H) | 8¼ yards |
| King | 108" × 108" | 116" × 116" | 3 × 116" (V) | 9¾ yards |
Each cut panel is 42" wide; the chart gives its length. H means seams run horizontally across the quilt; V means vertically. Each join consumes 1" of combined panel width (½" from each edge). Sew, press seams open, then square to the backing size shown. This chart assumes non-directional fabric; allow extra for shrinkage, squaring and matching prints. Confirm your longarmer's overhang before buying. For a custom size or wider fabric, use stitchtale.com/calculators/quilt-backing.
Standard sizes vary from shop to shop, so no chart is universal. Measure your own top before cutting.
Before you cut
- Measure your actual quilt top. Measure usable fabric width after removing selvages; the width on a bolt label may be larger.
- Choose the overhang your quilter needs on each side. The default is 4 inches, but longarm requirements vary.
- Join panels with a ½-inch seam allowance and press seams open. Each join uses 1 inch of combined panel width, which is included in the panel count.
- This plan uses full-width panels and favors fewer seams, then less yardage when seam counts tie. Check print direction before cutting; allow extra for shrinkage, squaring and matching motifs.
The ½-inch seam habit is also explained in Quilter's Paradise's backing guide. Our plan compares full-width panels and favours fewer seams. It doesn’t piece scraps or plan diagonal backings.
Questions quilters ask
How much wider should quilt backing be than the quilt top?
The default is 4 inches of overhang on every side, making the backing 8 inches wider and taller than the quilt top. You can change it to match your longarmer's requirements. Confirm those requirements before buying or cutting.
Can I calculate backing with 108-inch-wide fabric?
Yes. Enter its measured usable width after removing selvages. Wide backing may cover your quilt in one piece. If joins are needed, the calculator allows for ½-inch seams and chooses the direction with fewer panels first. The standard-size chart on this page uses 42-inch usable fabric instead.
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