Free quilting calculators
Measure once. Cut with confidence.
Free quilting calculators for binding, backing, batting, HSTs, strip piecing, and whole-quilt fabric, plus plain-English guides. Cut with confidence.
- Six tools, no sign-up
- Works on your phone
- Nothing tracked or saved
Pick a tool
The six calculators
Binding
How much binding fabric do I need?
Open the calculator →BackingBacking Yardage
How much backing fabric, and which way to seam it?
Open the calculator →HSTHalf-Square Triangle
What size square do I cut for my HSTs?
Open the calculator →Strip piecingStrip Piecing
How wide do I cut, and how much fabric per strip?
Open the calculator →BattingBatting Size
What size batting do I need to buy?
Open the calculator →Whole quiltQuilt Fabric
How much fabric for the whole quilt top?
Open the calculator →Plain-English help
Quilting guides
How Wide Should Quilt Binding Be?
The short answer is 2½ inches for most quilts — but the right width depends on your batting loft, seam allowance, and whether you finish by hand or machine.
Read the guide →BindingBias vs. Straight-Grain Binding: Which Should You Use?
Straight-grain binding is the economical workhorse for square quilts; bias binding stretches around curves and wears more evenly. Here's how to choose.
Read the guide →BindingHow to Join Binding Strips with a Diagonal Seam
Joining binding strips with a 45-degree diagonal seam spreads the bulk so no lump lands on the edge of your quilt — here's the simple step-by-step.
Read the guide →BackingPieced Quilt Backs: Ideas and How Much Yardage You Need
Most quilts are wider than a bolt, so the back has to be pieced — why you seam it, how to pick the thriftiest seam direction, and a few backs worth showing.
Read the guide →BackingWide-Back Fabric vs. Piecing Your Own Backing
Wide-back fabric backs most quilts with no seam, but piecing your own is cheaper and lets you use any print — here's how to decide and compare the yardage.
Read the guide →BackingHow Much Backing Overhang Do You Really Need?
Your backing has to be bigger than the top — 4 inches of overhang per side for longarm, 2 to 3 for a home machine — and skimping can ruin a finished quilt.
Read the guide →No spreadsheet required
Stop redoing the math on the back of an envelope.
Six calculators, all the formulas explained, and a growing library of guides — free, forever, and they work on your phone at the fabric shop.
Open the calculators