Quilt backing calculator with seam comparison
Compare vertical and horizontal backing seams, include overhang and seam allowance, and round the required fabric up to your buying increment.
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Connect borders, backing and binding in one saved project. See seam diagrams and a separate-fabric shopping list before you cut.
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Quilt project calculator: backing, binding and borders
Use one set of quilt dimensions for backing, binding and an optional border. Compare seam directions and print a separate-fabric shopping list.
A 4-inch border creates a 56 × 68-inch finished quilt. Four inches backing overhang gives a 64 × 76-inch target. At 42 inches usable backing width and ½-inch seam allowance per edge, the vertical plan needs two 76-inch cuts: 4.22 yards before extras. A 10% allowance rounded to quarter yards becomes 4.75 yards. The border uses six 4½-inch strips; binding uses seven 2½-inch strips under the default joining rules.
Try the worked example, or explore our quilt backing seams: compare both directions.
Made for a real task
Separate fabric quantities. Extra allowance is applied before rounding. Pattern matching and quilter requirements need their own check.
Read how this site works for the calculation approach, limitations and how to report a problem.