Guide
How much binding do I need?
Add up all four sides of the quilt, add 12″ for corners and joining, and divide by the length one strip gives you (about 40″ after the diagonal joins). Round up. A 90″ × 108″ queen has a 396″ edge, so it needs 11 strips of 2½″ binding, which is ⅞ yd of fabric.
The calculation
- Perimeter. 2 × (width + length). Queen: 2 × (90 + 108) = 396″.
- Add 12″ for corners and the join: 408″.
- Strips. A strip is about 42″ long, and each diagonal join uses up one strip width, so each extra strip adds about 39½″ (2½″ binding). 408″ needs 11 strips.
- Fabric. 11 × 2½″ = 27½″, so buy ⅞ yd with a little extra for straightening the edge.
Binding chart
Questions
How wide should I cut binding strips?
2½″ is the most common for double-fold binding. 2¼″ gives a slimmer, snugger edge and suits thin cotton batting. Cut wider (2¾″) for thick or wool batting.
Why add 12″?
You lose a little at each mitred corner and need tails at the start and end to join the binding neatly. 10–12″ covers it.
Do I need bias binding?
Only for curved or scalloped edges. Straight-grain strips cut across the width of fabric work for square quilts and use less fabric.
Updated November 9, 2026