Quilt Binding Strips Calculator

About this calculator

Binding is the folded strip of fabric that wraps and finishes the raw edges of a quilt sandwich. To figure out how much you need, add the quilt’s perimeter (2×length + 2×width) plus extra for the four mitered corners and a joining tail, then divide by the usable width of fabric — typically about 40–42 inches after trimming selvages — to get the number of strips to cut.

Strip width matters too: quilters commonly cut 2.25″ strips for standard double-fold binding or 2.5″ for a slightly fuller look, and that width also sets how much yardage each strip consumes. Quilters and pattern designers use this math to buy the right amount of binding fabric before starting a project, avoiding a fabric-store trip mid-quilt, and this calculator turns your quilt size and strip width into a strip count and total fabric needed.