How it works
Required finished strip length = 2 × (width + height) + tail allowance. Joined strip length = n × WOF − (n−1) × join loss.
— BINDING / FREE ONLINE TOOL
Quilt binding calculator: strips and yardage.
Calculate exactly how many straight-grain strips you need from the quilt perimeter, your preferred cut strip width, WOF and join loss.
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● YOUR CUTTING PLANLOCAL CALCULATION · V2
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DEFAULT EXAMPLE
60 × 80 in, 12 in tail allowance, 43 in WOF, 2½ in strip width and join loss → 292 in binding, 8 strips and ⅝ yd fabric.
✳ Verifiable cut layout⊞ No cloud upload↔ Real fabric width✓ Print-friendly
— UNDER THE STITCHES
Clear math. Better cuts.
Understand the calculation before cutting into fabric.
From measurements to fabric
Enter total extra binding length once, plus the length lost per join. Cut the resulting strips across the full fabric width and join the ends.
What it does not assume
Bias binding is a different cutting geometry and is NOT calculated here. Do not apply these results to bias tape or strips.
— THE WORKED EXAMPLE
Start with something familiar.
60 × 80 in, 12 in tail allowance, 43 in WOF, 2½ in strip width and join loss → 292 in binding, 8 strips and ⅝ yd fabric.
— PRACTICAL MEASUREMENT GUIDE
Straight-grain quilt binding: strip count and fabric yardage
Work from the quilt perimeter, add the intended finishing tail once, subtract the usable length consumed by diagonal strip joins, then count how many full WOF strips are required.
Why 8 strips are needed in the worked example
For a 60 × 80 inch quilt the perimeter is 2 × (60 + 80) = 280 inches. Add a 12-inch finishing tail allowance for a required joined length of 292 inches. With 43-inch full-width strips and 2.5 inches lost at each join, 7 strips give only 286 inches; 8 strips give 326.5 inches.
At a cut strip width of 2.5 inches, eight strips use 20 inches of fabric along the bolt. That is 20 ÷ 36 = 0.5556 yards before rounding, so an eighth-yard purchase increment gives ⅝ yard.
What the strip width does—and does not—control
Cut strip width controls the fabric run length across the roll. The diagonal join-loss input separately controls usable binding length. Changing strip width alone does not change the quilt perimeter or the number of joins. Enter the width you will actually cut, accounting for your preferred binding finish.
These are straight-grain, full-WOF strips. Bias strips cut diagonally across fabric require a separate geometry model; do not use this calculator for bias tape or curved-edge binding.
Before you buy or cut
Measure the actual usable bolt width, ensure the fabric print is suitable for straight-grain strips, and check whether your join allowance differs from the sample. The result shows physical strip rectangles and rounded purchase length, rather than assuming area alone can produce the strips.
— COMMON QUESTIONS
A little clarity goes a long way.
What is strip join loss?
A diagonal join consumes usable length. Specify the effective loss at each connection.
Is this a bias binding calculator?
No. It calculates straight-grain strips only.
Can I change binding width?
Yes; cut width and join loss are independent editable inputs.