What this calculator does
Batting, the soft middle layer of a quilt, is sold two ways. Most shops stock pre-cut packages in bed sizes, and many also sell it by the yard off a wide roll. The packages are easy, but the names are misleading: a "twin" batting is much bigger than a twin quilt pattern, and a "crib" batting covers many lap quilts. This calculator compares your quilt against the common package sizes and picks the smallest one that covers it in either direction.
If nothing fits, or you buy off the roll, it also shows how many yards you need from 90, 96 and 120 inch wide rolls.
How to use it
- Enter the finished size of your quilt top in inches.
- Set the extra per side. The calculator adds it to every edge.
- Pick the package in the result, or the roll length for the width your shop sells.
The math
batting needed = (width + 2 × extra) × (length + 2 × extra)
package fits if its short side ≥ your short side and its long side ≥ your long side
off the roll = the side that doesn't fit across the roll ÷ 36, rounded up to 1/8 yd
Package batting can be turned, so we compare short side with short side and long with long. A 60 × 72 inch quilt needs 68 × 80 inches of batting. A crib package (45 × 60) is too small, so the answer is a twin package at 72 × 90.
Common batting package sizes
| Package | Size | Covers a top up to (4″ extra) |
|---|---|---|
| Craft | 34 × 45″ | 26 × 37″ |
| Crib | 45 × 60″ | 37 × 52″ |
| Twin | 72 × 90″ | 64 × 82″ |
| Full / Double | 81 × 96″ | 73 × 88″ |
| Queen | 90 × 108″ | 82 × 100″ |
| King | 120 × 120″ | 112 × 112″ |
Sizes are typical for major US brands and vary slightly. Always check the package.
Tips
Let it relax. Packaged batting comes folded tight. Unfold it a day before you baste, or toss it in a dryer on low for a few minutes, so the creases drop out.
Keep the leftovers. The strip trimmed off a twin batting after a throw quilt is often big enough for a table runner or a set of placemats.
Questions people ask
How much bigger than the quilt top should batting be?
Batting should be a little bigger than the top but smaller than the backing. 4 inches extra per side matches what most longarm quilters ask for. If you quilt at home, 2 to 3 inches per side is enough.
Are batting package sizes the same for every brand?
Close, but not identical. A queen package is usually 90 × 108 inches and a king 120 × 120, but some brands sell a 96 × 108 queen or a 120 × 124 king. Check the label against the size the calculator says you need.
Can I piece batting together?
Yes. Butt the two straight edges together without overlapping and join them with a wide zigzag stitch, or use a fusible batting tape. This is a good way to use up large leftovers.
Which batting is best for a first quilt?
An 80/20 cotton-polyester blend is forgiving: it does not shift much, needles easily and keeps its shape after washing. 100% cotton gives a flatter, crinkly look after washing and shrinks a little, so allow for that.