Quilt Sizes Chart & Complete Guide

Choosing the right quilt size is crucial for your project's success. Whether you're making a cozy baby quilt or a luxurious king-sized bedspread, this complete guide has all the dimensions you need.

Standard Quilt Sizes Chart

Understanding Quilt Dimensions

Why Quilts Are Bigger Than Mattresses

Standard quilt sizes are significantly larger than the mattresses they cover. This extra fabric serves several purposes:

• Side Drop: Covers the mattress depth (typically 10-15 inches)
• Decorative Overhang: Drapes attractively over the sides
• Pillow Coverage: Extends above the mattress to cover pillows
• Bottom Drop: Reaches toward or past the footboard

Calculating Your Perfect Quilt Size

To determine your ideal quilt dimensions:

1. Measure your mattress: Length, width, and depth
2. Add drop length: Add 15-20 inches to width for side drop
3. Add top extension: Add 10-15 inches to length for pillow tuck
4. Consider bed style: Platform beds need less drop than traditional beds

Detailed Size Breakdown

Baby & Crib Quilts (36" × 52")

Best for: Cribs, strollers, play mats, wall hangings

Fabric needs: 2-3 yards total for top, 1.5 yards backing, ⅜ yard binding

Tips: Perfect beginner project. Consider washability and softness. Avoid buttons or embellishments for safety.

Lap & Throw Quilts (50" × 65")

Best for: Couches, chairs, end-of-bed accents, gifts

Fabric needs: 3-4 yards total for top, 3.5 yards backing, ½ yard binding

Tips: Extremely popular gift size. Quick to make compared to bed quilts. Great for using bold patterns.

Twin Quilts (70" × 90")

Best for: Twin beds, guest rooms, kids' rooms, college dorms

Fabric needs: 5-6 yards total for top, 5.5 yards backing, ⅝ yard binding

Tips: Consider twin XL (70" × 95") for dorm beds which are typically longer.

Full/Double Quilts (85" × 90")

Best for: Full-size beds, older homes, antique beds

Fabric needs: 6-8 yards total for top, 7.5 yards backing, ¾ yard binding

Tips: Less common than queen but still widely used. Same length as twin but 15 inches wider.

Queen Quilts (90" × 95")

Best for: Queen beds (most common bed size in US)

Fabric needs: 7-9 yards total for top, 8.5 yards backing (pieced), ¾ yard binding

Tips: Most popular bed quilt size. Backing requires piecing (horizontal or vertical seam). Perfect balance of size and manageability.

King Quilts (110" × 95")

Best for: King beds, statement pieces, heirloom quilts

Fabric needs: 9-12 yards total for top, 10 yards backing (pieced), 1 yard binding

Tips: Large project requiring patience. Consider using a wider backing fabric (108" wide) to avoid piecing. Quilting requires a large space or longarm machine.

Batting & Backing Requirements

Batting Sizes

Batting should be 4-6 inches larger than your quilt top on all sides. Standard prepackaged batting sizes:

• Crib: 45" × 60"
• Twin: 72" × 90"
• Full: 81" × 96"
• Queen: 90" × 108"
• King: 120" × 120"

Backing Fabric Guidelines

Backing should also be 4-6 inches larger than your quilt top on all sides. For quilts wider than 40 inches (most quilts), you'll need to piece your backing:

• Standard fabric width: 42-44 inches
• Wide backing: 108 inches (available for large quilts)
• Piecing direction: Horizontal for wide quilts, vertical for long quilts
• Seam allowance: Use ½ inch seams when piecing backing

Custom Quilt Sizes

While standard sizes work for most projects, many quilters prefer custom dimensions:

When to Go Custom

• Deep mattresses: Pillow-top or memory foam beds need extra drop
• Unique beds: Antique beds, RVs, boats have non-standard sizes
• Design constraints: Block sizes might not fit standard dimensions evenly
• Personal preference: Want more or less overhang
• Wall quilts: Designed for display rather than bed coverage

Calculating Custom Sizes

For a custom quilt size:

1. Measure mattress: W" × L"
2. Measure mattress depth: D"
3. Add side drop: W + (2 × desired drop) + 2"
4. Add top/bottom: L + top tuck + bottom drop + 2"

Example: For a thick queen mattress (60" × 80" × 16" deep) with 18" side drop:
Width: 60 + (2 × 18) + 2 = 98"
Length: 80 + 12 + 18 + 2 = 112"
Custom quilt size: 98" × 112"

Design Your Quilt with Perfect Dimensions

Stop guessing and start designing with confidence. Quiltler 3 lets you:

• Set any custom quilt dimensions
• Visualize your design before cutting fabric
• Automatically calculate fabric, batting, backing, and binding
• Export detailed cutting instructions
• Save multiple projects and sync across devices

Related Quilting Resources

• Quilt Fabric Calculator - Calculate exact yardage for any quilt size
• How to Design a Quilt - Complete step-by-step guide
• Best Quilt Design App - Discover Quiltler 3 features
• Quilt Gallery - Get inspired by beautiful designs