Calculating Quilt Binding Yardage Made Easy: Step-by-Step Formula
Getting ready to bind your quilt, but not sure how much fabric you’ll need?
Don’t worry — figuring out quilt binding yardage is easier than you might think!
With just a little simple math, you’ll be able to calculate precisely what you need without any guesswork.
In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the easy step-by-step method I use, and I’ve even put together a free printable binding formula sheet you can download to make the process even smoother.
Having everything written down on paper helps keep your project organized and accurate!
How to Measure Quilt Binding Yardage Instructions
Step 1: Measure Your Quilt
- Measure the width of your quilt and write that number down.
- Multiply the width by 2.
Example:
Width = 44 inches
44 × 2 = 88 inches - Measure the height of your quilt and write that number down.
- Multiply the height by 2.
Example:
Height = 39 inches
39 × 2 = 78 inches
Step 2: Calculate the Circumference
- Add the two numbers together:
88 + 78 = 166 inches - Add an extra 12 inches to account for binding seams and finishing:
166 + 12 = 178 inches
This final number is the total circumference of your quilt that will need to be bound.
Step 3: Determine How Many Strips to Cut
- Measure the width of your fabric.
(Most quilting cotton is between 42 to 45 inches wide. Always double-check your fabric!)
Example:
Fabric width = 45 inches
- Divide the circumference by the fabric width:
178 ÷ 45 = 3.95
Since you can’t cut a partial strip, round up to the next whole number.
In this case, you would round up to 4 strips.
(Or even 5 strips if you want a little extra, just to be safe!)
Step 4: Figure Fabric Yardage Needed
If you want to know how much fabric you’ll need:
- Multiply the number of strips by the strip width, which is usually 2.5 inches.
Example:
4 strips × 2.5 inches = 10 inches of fabric needed
Since 36 inches = 1 yard, you can see that 10 inches is much less than a yard.
Often, you can get your quilt binding from a single fat quarter or a fabric scrap you already have!
When cutting the strips, I recommend using a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, and a ruler.
This makes the job easier and you’ll get much straighter cuts than you would if you used a pair of scissors.
If you want to save time, frustration, and get even cuts every time, this cutting ruler from Creative Grids Stripology works like a charm.
If you plan to make a lot of binding or bias tape, I recommend it. (I finally bought one for myself, and I wish I’d gotten one sooner.)
Bonus Tip: Bias Binding vs Straight Grain Binding
If you’re binding a quilt with straight edges, you can cut your strips with the grain of the fabric.
It’s faster and wastes less fabric.
If you want your binding to be cut on the diagonal (also called bias binding), that’s a little different.
Bias binding is ideal if your quilt has curved edges or if you want a diagonal stripe effect along the edge of your quilt.
👉 I have a full, separate tutorial that shows you how to cut bias strips easily!
Quilt Binding Final Thoughts
Figuring out quilt binding yardage doesn’t have to be complicated.
Once you go through these simple steps a few times — and especially if you use the free printable formula sheet — it will start to feel like second nature.
A little bit of math now saves a lot of frustration later!
Watch the full video tutorial for all the best binding tips and tricks.
This video tutorial shows a very simple hack for matching the stripes when binding stsrips.
If you’re just getting started with quilting, be sure to check out the other tutorials in my Beginner Quilter Series.
I cover everything from setting up a quilt on a frame to sewing your quilt binding with simple, beginner-friendly methods.
YOUTUBE BEGINNER QUILTING SERIES
Happy quilting!
When we placed the quilt on the frame earlier, we made the backing fabric slightly larger than the top. So now we need to trim off that excess.
I like using a simple 5 lb hand weight placed on the ruler. This adds stability, especially when using the longer ruler.
