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Sashing and Border Calculator: Strip Counts, Cut Lengths and Yardage for Quilts

Last updated Researched from specs, manuals and owner reviews We earn from qualifying purchases
Quick answer

Sashing strips are cut 1/2 inch wider than finished and as long as the unfinished block. Thirty 12 inch blocks set 5 by 6 with 2 inch sashing and cornerstones need 71 strips cut 2 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches and 42 cornerstones. With 3 and 5 inch borders the quilt finishes 88 x 102 inches.

Sashing is the fabric strips between quilt blocks, and borders are the frames around the outside. Enter your block layout, sashing width and up to two borders. The calculator counts every strip, gives the cut sizes and yardage, and shows the size of the finished quilt.

Your layout

Finished

Finished; 0 for none

Your results

Finished quilt size

88 x 102 in

Center with sashing 72 x 86 in, 30 blocks

Sashing strips71 cut 2 1/2 x 12 1/2 in
Cornerstones or long strips42 squares cut 2 1/2 in
Sashing fabric1 3/4 yd (+ 1/4 yd cornerstones)
Border 19 strips x 3 1/2 in, 7/8 yd
Border 210 strips x 5 1/2 in, 1 5/8 yd
Total fabric4 1/2 yd

Machines that handle this quilt comfortably

Baby, crib and wall quilts fit through almost any machine. A good computerized machine with a walking foot and wide table is plenty.

Prices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

How do you calculate sashing for a quilt?

There are two common sashing layouts, and they count strips differently. The worked example uses 30 blocks of 12 inches set 5 across and 6 down with 2 inch finished sashing.

Framed sashing with cornerstones

Every block is surrounded by sashing, including the outside edges, and a cornerstone sits at every crossing.

  1. Horizontal strips: blocks across x (rows + 1) = 5 x 7 = 35.
  2. Vertical strips: blocks down x (columns + 1) = 6 x 6 = 36. Total: 71 strips.
  3. Cut size: sashing width + 1/2 by block size + 1/2, so 2 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches.
  4. Cornerstones: (columns + 1) x (rows + 1) = 6 x 7 = 42, each cut 2 1/2 inches square.
  5. Yardage: cut 12 1/2 inch wide strips across the fabric and subcut them every 2 1/2 inches. Each strip gives 16 pieces, so 71 pieces take 5 strips, 62.5 inches, or 1 3/4 yards. The cornerstones take 3 strips 2 1/2 inches wide, 1/4 yard.
  6. Center size: 5 blocks x 12 + 6 strips x 2 = 72 inches wide, and 6 x 12 + 7 x 2 = 86 inches long.

Sashing without cornerstones

Short strips go between blocks in each row, and one long strip goes between rows, with no sashing around the outside. The same layout needs 24 short strips cut 2 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches and 5 long strips cut 2 1/2 x 68 1/2 inches. The long strips are longer than the fabric is wide, so they are joined from 9 width-of-fabric strips. The center measures 68 x 82 inches and uses 1 3/8 yards.

How do you calculate border strips and yardage?

This calculator uses butted borders, the most common method: sides first, then top and bottom. Each border adds twice its width to both dimensions of the quilt.

  1. Side borders: 2 strips cut 3 1/2 inches wide (3 inches + 1/2) and as long as the unfinished center, 86 1/2 inches.
  2. Top and bottom borders: 2 strips as long as the center width plus both side borders, 72 + 6 + 1/2 = 78 1/2 inches.
  3. Strips to cut: total length 330 inches, divided by about 39 1/2 usable inches per joined strip, rounds up to 9 strips, which is 7/8 yard.
  4. Second border: repeat on the bigger quilt. The 5 inch border is cut 5 1/2 inches wide, sides 92 1/2 inches and ends 88 1/2 inches: 10 strips, 1 5/8 yards.

The finished quilt is 72 + 6 + 10 = 88 inches wide and 86 + 6 + 10 = 102 inches long. All together, sashing, cornerstones and both borders take 4 1/2 yards if each is a different fabric.

How much sashing do common layouts need?

With 2 inch finished sashing, here is how the two layouts compare. Framed sashing with cornerstones makes the quilt 4 inches bigger in each direction than inner-only sashing.

Sashing for common block layouts, 2 in sashing
LayoutBlocksWith cornerstonesCenter sizeWithout cornerstonesCenter size
3 x 3 of 12 in blocks 9 24 strips, 16 stones, 3/4 yd 44 x 44 6 short, 2 long, 5/8 yd 40 x 40
4 x 5 of 12 in blocks 20 49 strips, 30 stones, 1 1/2 yd 58 x 72 15 short, 4 long, 7/8 yd 54 x 68
5 x 6 of 12 in blocks 30 71 strips, 42 stones, 1 3/4 yd 72 x 86 24 short, 5 long, 1 3/8 yd 68 x 82
5 x 7 of 10 in blocks 35 82 strips, 48 stones, 1 3/4 yd 62 x 86 28 short, 6 long, 1 1/4 yd 58 x 82
6 x 7 of 12 in blocks 42 97 strips, 56 stones, 2 1/2 yd 86 x 100 35 short, 6 long, 2 yd 82 x 96
7 x 8 of 12 in blocks 56 127 strips, 72 stones, 2 7/8 yd 100 x 114 48 short, 7 long, 2 3/8 yd 96 x 110
8 x 8 of 10 in blocks 64 144 strips, 81 stones, 2 5/8 yd 98 x 98 56 short, 7 long, 2 3/8 yd 94 x 94

How much fabric does a quilt border take?

Borders around a 60 x 72 inch center, 5 by 6 blocks of 12 inches with no sashing. Crosswise yardage assumes strips joined end to end; lengthwise yardage is enough to cut the longest border in one piece.

One border around a 60 x 72 in center
Border widthCut widthStrips (crosswise)Crosswise yardageLengthwise yardageQuilt size
2 in 2 1/2 in 7 1/2 yd 2 1/8 yd 64 x 76
3 in 3 1/2 in 8 7/8 yd 2 1/8 yd 66 x 78
4 in 4 1/2 in 8 1 yd 2 1/8 yd 68 x 80
5 in 5 1/2 in 8 1 1/4 yd 2 1/8 yd 70 x 82
6 in 6 1/2 in 8 1 1/2 yd 2 1/8 yd 72 x 84
8 in 8 1/2 in 8 2 yd 2 1/8 yd 76 x 88

Lengthwise yardage is often more fabric for narrow borders, but the leftover width is still usable for binding or backing. For wide borders on big quilts, cutting lengthwise can be close to the same amount and avoids joining seams entirely.

Measure through the middle

Quilt tops stretch at the edges. Measure the length through the center and cut both side borders to that number, then ease the quilt to fit. Borders cut to the edge measurement tend to ripple.

Should you use sashing and cornerstones at all?

Sashing is optional, and it solves real problems. It separates busy blocks so each one reads clearly, makes the quilt bigger without making more blocks, and hides small size differences between blocks, since you can ease a block to a strip more easily than to another pieced block. Cornerstones go one step further: every row seam meets at a square, which makes lining up the rows much easier.

The cost is time and extra cutting. A 5 by 6 layout with cornerstones adds 71 strips and 42 squares to sew. For planning the blocks themselves, the quilt block size calculator works backward from a target size, and the blocks needed calculator counts blocks with sashing included. When the top is done, the quilt binding calculator and quilt backing calculator finish the plan.

Safety note: Rotary cutters are extremely sharp: close the blade guard whenever you set one down and cut away from your body. Irons can burn; unplug the iron when you step away.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate sashing strips for a quilt?

Cut each strip to the finished sashing width plus 1/2 inch, and to the unfinished block length. For a 5 by 6 layout of 12 inch blocks with framed sashing and cornerstones, count 35 horizontal and 36 vertical strips, 71 in all, each 2 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches, plus 42 cornerstones cut at 2 1/2 inches. That uses 1 3/4 yards of sashing fabric.

What are cornerstones in quilt sashing?

Cornerstones are small squares placed where sashing strips cross, cut the same size as the sashing width plus seam allowance. They make the sashing look like a lattice, help line up rows because every seam meets at a square, and use scraps. Without cornerstones, sashing is usually short strips between blocks and one long strip between rows.

How long should I cut quilt borders?

Measure the quilt top through the center, not the edges, and cut side borders to that length. Sew them on, then measure the width through the center including the new borders and cut the top and bottom borders. For this 72 x 86 inch center, the first 3 inch side borders are cut 86 1/2 inches long and the top and bottom 78 1/2 inches.

Should borders be cut on the lengthwise grain?

Long borders cut along the length of the fabric parallel to the selvage stretch less and need no joining seams, which helps a large quilt hang straight. The trade-off is fabric: the 5 inch outer border here needs 1 5/8 yards cut crosswise and pieced, but 2 5/8 yards to cut in one length. Crosswise strips joined with straight or diagonal seams are fine for most quilts.

How wide should sashing be?

Common finished sashing widths are 1, 1 1/2, 2 and 3 inches. A good starting point is about one sixth of the block size, so 2 inches for 12 inch blocks. Narrow sashing frames each block quietly, while wide sashing gives the eye a rest and makes the quilt bigger with fewer blocks. Try a few widths in the calculator and watch the final size change.

Do borders need to be the same width on all sides?

No. Different widths on the sides and the ends are a common way to hit an exact bed size, since most bed quilts are longer than they are wide. Most quilters keep the width equal on opposite sides so the quilt looks balanced. The calculator uses equal borders all around, so adjust one pair by hand if you need the length to change.

How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.