Quilt Batting Calculator: Batting Size and Yardage
Work out batting before you cut. Enter your quilt top size, overhang and batting roll width, and see batting size, roll orientation and the smallest precut that fits, with the formula in steps.
Calculate your batting
Overhang is the extra backing beyond the quilt top on each side. Four inches on each side is a common starting point.
Batting joins are butt joins, edge to edge, with no fabric seam allowance lost. That is why this calculator has no seam allowance field, unlike the Backing Calculator.
This calculator works out straight pieced backing only. For diagonal piecing, use the Diagonal Pieced Backing Calculator.
Enter your measurements, then calculate.
| Batting size needed | |
| Orientation A, as entered | |
| Orientation B, rotated 90 degrees | |
| Chosen orientation | |
| Total batting length to cut | |
| Exact yardage | |
| Yardage to buy | |
| Smallest common pre-cut that fits |
How the calculator works
Step 1: Batting size needed
Batting width equals top width plus 2 times overhang. Batting length equals top length plus 2 times overhang. Overhang is added on each side, so it is counted twice. Batting is usually cut to the same size as backing, or a little smaller. Enter your desired batting overhang, not necessarily your backing overhang, if they differ.
Step 2: Orientation A, as entered
Orientation A keeps batting width across the roll width. Strips needed in orientation A equals batting width divided by roll width, rounded up to the next whole strip. Total length in orientation A equals strips needed times batting length.
Step 3: Orientation B, rotated 90 degrees
Orientation B rotates batting by 90 degrees, so batting length runs across the roll width. Strips needed in orientation B equals batting length divided by roll width, rounded up to the next whole strip. Total length in orientation B equals strips needed times batting width.
Step 4: Choose the orientation that uses less length
The calculator chooses the orientation with the smaller total length. If both orientations use the same total length, it chooses orientation A, as entered. Batting is usually non-directional, so rotating it to save yardage is usually fine. If your batting has a directional loft or a scrim side, follow the batting package directions instead of rotating.
Step 5: Yardage
Exact yardage equals total length chosen divided by 36 in inch mode. Yardage to buy is exact yardage rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard. In centimetre mode, metres to buy are rounded up to the nearest 0.1 metre. The unit toggle changes all inputs, outputs and rounding together.
Step 6: Pre-cut size, for comparison
The calculator also shows the smallest common pre-cut size that fits batting size needed, from Crib 45 by 60 inches, Twin 72 by 90 inches, Full 81 by 96 inches, Queen 90 by 108 inches, and King 120 by 120 inches. Pre-cut sizes vary by brand, so check the package size before buying. A pre-cut may be easier than cutting from a roll, but it may cost more per yard than roll yardage.
Assumptions, shown next to the result
Roll width is the nominal width entered above. Batting joins are butt joins, edge to edge, with no fabric seam allowance lost, unlike backing panels. No extra is added for cutting mistakes or shrinkage, beyond rounding yardage up. Loft and batting type do not change yardage, only thickness and quilting distance, so they are not inputs in this calculator.
Yardage chart by quilt size
This chart uses the same formula as the calculator: 4 inch overhang on each side, 90 inch batting roll width, yardage rounded up to the nearest 1/8 yard. Pre-cut sizes are common sizes, and they vary by brand, so check the package before buying.
| Quilt size | Top size | Batting size needed | Yardage to buy, chosen orientation | Smallest common pre-cut that fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby | 36 by 48 in | 44 by 56 in | 1.25 yards, rotated | Crib 45 by 60 in |
| Lap | 50 by 60 in | 58 by 68 in | 1.63 yards, rotated | Twin 72 by 90 in |
| Twin | 68 by 88 in | 76 by 96 in | 2.75 yards, as entered | Full 81 by 96 in |
| Full | 80 by 92 in | 88 by 100 in | 2.88 yards, as entered | Queen 90 by 108 in |
| Queen | 90 by 108 in | 98 by 116 in | 5.50 yards, rotated | King 120 by 120 in |
| King | 108 by 108 in | 116 by 116 in | 6.50 yards, as entered | King 120 by 120 in |
Chart yardage is a guide for the sizes shown. Your exact top size, overhang and roll width may give a different result. Use the calculator above for your own measurements.
Worked example, checked against the calculator
Top size 60 by 72 inches, overhang 4 inches on each side, batting roll width 90 inches.
Batting size needed: width 60 plus 8 equals 68 inches. Length 72 plus 8 equals 80 inches.
Orientation A, as entered: strips needed equals 68 divided by 90, rounded up, equals 1 strip. Total length equals 1 times 80, equals 80 inches. Exact yardage: 80 divided by 36 equals 2.22 yards. Yardage to buy: 2.25 yards.
Orientation B, rotated 90 degrees: strips needed equals 80 divided by 90, rounded up, equals 1 strip. Total length equals 1 times 68, equals 68 inches. Exact yardage: 68 divided by 36 equals 1.89 yards. Yardage to buy: 2.00 yards.
Chosen orientation: orientation B, rotated, because total length 68 inches is less than total length 80 inches. Yardage to buy: 2.00 yards, saving 0.25 yards compared with orientation A.
Pre-cut check: batting size 68 by 80 inches fits in Twin 72 by 90 inches, which is the smallest common pre-cut that fits. Check the package size before buying, because pre-cut sizes vary by brand.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate quilt batting?
Add overhang to both sides of your quilt top to get batting size. Then work out total batting length for both orientations, using roll width, and choose the orientation that uses less length. Convert total length to yardage, rounded up to the nearest eighth yard.
How much batting do I need?
It depends on quilt size, overhang and batting roll width. Use the calculator above with your top size, overhang and roll width. The result shows batting size, both orientations, total length and yardage to buy, and the smallest common pre-cut size that fits.
How much batting do I need for a queen quilt?
For a 90 by 108 inch top, with 4 inch overhang on each side, batting size needed is 98 by 116 inches. With 90 inch roll width, the calculator chooses the rotated orientation, with total length 196 inches, and yardage to buy 5.50 yards. A King 120 by 120 inch pre-cut also fits.
What is the difference between batting and backing?
Batting is the middle layer of the quilt sandwich, between the top and the backing. Backing is the bottom layer. Batting is usually cut to the same size as backing, or a little smaller, and it is joined edge to edge, without a fabric seam allowance, when it needs to be pieced.
Do I need extra batting for longarm quilting?
Yes, if a longarm quilter will quilt your top, ask how much overhang they need, and enter that number as overhang in the calculator. Do not guess, because longarm loading needs more room than home quilting.
Can I rotate batting to save yardage?
Usually yes, because batting is usually non-directional. The calculator checks both orientations and chooses the one that uses less length. If your batting has a directional loft or a scrim side, follow the batting package directions instead of rotating.
Related calculators
Quilt Backing Calculator
Backing fabric and yardage by quilt size and fabric width, with straight panels.
Calculate straight backing →Diagonal Pieced Backing Calculator
Backing pieced on the diagonal, for wide quilts and standard width fabric.
Calculate diagonal backing →Quilt Binding Calculator
Binding strips and yardage for the edge of any quilt.
Calculate binding →Quilt Border Calculator
Straight borders that frame your quilt top.
Calculate borders →Quilt Fabric Calculator
Total fabric for a quilt, broken down by piece.
Calculate fabric →Quilt Yardage Calculator
Pieces to yardage, in inches and yards, rounded so you buy enough.
Calculate yardage →Guide for this topic: How to Calculate Batting.