How to Calculate Quilt Batting and Backing Costs
Before you cut a single piece of fabric, knowing your material costs keeps your quilting budget on track. Batting and backing are often the most expensive line items in any quilt project, and the yardage math changes significantly depending on quilt size and fabric width. This calculator handles the arithmetic so you can focus on the creative work.
What Goes Into the Cost Estimate
Three materials make up the bulk of finishing costs for most quilts:
- Batting — the insulating middle layer, typically sold by the yard in widths of 96" or 120". The calculator adds an 8-inch overhang (4" per side) to ensure full coverage and safe quilting margins.
- Backing fabric — the back of your quilt. Backing is sold in two common widths: 44/45" standard quilting cotton and 108" wide backing fabric. Wider backing costs more per yard but requires far fewer yards and eliminates piecing seams. The calculator shows costs for both so you can compare.
- Binding — the strips that finish the raw edge. Binding yardage is calculated from the quilt perimeter plus seam allowances for joining strips and mitering corners.
Standard Quilt Sizes
- Twin: 60" x 80" — fits a twin bed with minimal drop
- Full: 80" x 96" — covers a full/double mattress
- Queen: 90" x 108" — the most common size for bed quilts
- King: 108" x 108" — requires the most material of any standard size
Tips for Buying Batting and Backing
Batting is available in polyester, cotton, wool, and blended fills. Cotton batting shrinks slightly after the first wash, giving quilts that classic crinkled look. Polyester batting stays lofty, dries faster, and costs less. Wool batting is warm and breathable but is the most expensive option.
For backing, 108" wide fabric is almost always more economical for queen and king quilts because it eliminates the need to piece multiple fabric widths together. For twin quilts or smaller, standard 44/45" quilting cotton is often the better value. Always compare price-per-yard alongside total yards needed rather than looking at unit price alone.
Add 10–15% to your final yardage estimate when buying if your fabric is directional, has a large repeat, or if you want extra for future repairs.