Quilt size chart

How to size a quilt yourself

The chart is a starting point, not a rule. Quilts are sized to how they are used, and the same bed can take a quilt anywhere from "sits on top of the duvet" to "reaches the floor." Three numbers decide it:

1. The mattress top — width by length, from the chart above.
2. The drop — 8" to 12" per side for a quilt over a dust ruffle, 16" to 20" to reach the box spring. Add the same at the foot.
3. The pillow tuck — another 6" to 10" of length if the quilt goes over the pillows.

A queen with a 10" drop and no pillow tuck is therefore 60 + 20 = 80" wideand 80 + 10 = 90" long. Deeper mattresses need more drop: measure yours rather than trusting the standard, because pillow-top mattresses can be six inches taller than the figure in any chart.

Turning a size into a block grid

Once you have a target size, the block layout follows. Divide by your finished block size, then let the sashing and borders absorb the remainder — that is usually easier than forcing the blocks to come out exact. A 90" × 100" queen in 10" blocks with 2" sashing is roughly a 7 × 8 grid, with borders making up the difference.

The quilt size calculator runs this in both directions: give it a grid and it returns the finished size, or work backwards from the size you want.

Batting, backing, and binding for your size

• Backing calculator — yardage with the fewest seams, in either orientation.
• Batting calculator — whether your package or roll actually covers it.
• Binding calculator — strips and yardage at any strip width.
• Quilt yardage calculator — all three at once, from one size.
• Batting sizes chart — every package, and the top it covers.

Common questions

What is the standard size of a queen quilt?

About 90" x 100". A queen mattress is 60" x 80", and a quilt adds roughly 12" to 15" of drop on each side plus a pillow tuck at the top.

How much bigger than the mattress should a quilt be?

Add 8" to 12" per side for a quilt that sits on top of a bed with a dust ruffle, or 16" to 20" per side if you want it to reach the box spring. Add another 6" to 10" to the length if the quilt covers the pillows.

What size is a throw quilt?

Around 50" x 65", though throws are the least standardized size of all — anything from 45" x 60" to 60" x 72" is sold as a throw. Pick a size that suits the sofa rather than a chart.

Does a queen batting package fit a queen quilt?

Often not. Queen packaged batting is 90" x 108", which covers a top up to about 82" x 100" once you allow 4" of overhang per side. A 90"-wide queen top needs king batting or a cut from a 120" roll. The chart above flags this for every size.

How many blocks do I need for each quilt size?

Divide the quilt dimensions by your finished block size, then account for sashing and borders. A 90" x 100" queen in 10" blocks with 2" sashing works out to roughly a 7 by 8 grid, with the borders making up the difference.