Quilt sizes
Quilt Sizes by Bed: Dimensions, Backing and Binding
Common coverlet-style quilt sizes are about 36 x 52 inches for a crib, 50 x 65 for a throw, 68 x 90 for a twin, 83 x 90 for a full, 90 x 95 for a queen and 106 x 95 for a king. Each is the mattress plus a 15 inch drop on the sides and foot.
The table below gives every standard quilt size with the fabric it takes to finish: a queen quilt at 90 x 95 inches needs 8 1/4 yards of 42 inch backing and 11 binding strips, while a throw at 50 x 65 inches needs 3 1/4 yards and 7 strips.
| Quilt | Size (in) | Mattress | Backing 42 in | Backing 108 in | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini / Wall Hanging | 24 x 24 | n/a | 1 yd | 1 yd | 3 strips |
| Baby | 40 x 40 | n/a | 2 3/4 yd | 1 3/8 yd | 5 strips |
| Crib | 36 x 52 | 28 x 52 | 2 1/2 yd | 1 1/4 yd | 6 strips |
| Lap | 45 x 60 | n/a | 3 yd | 1 1/2 yd | 6 strips |
| Throw | 50 x 65 | n/a | 3 1/4 yd | 1 5/8 yd | 7 strips |
| Twin | 68 x 90 | 38 x 75 | 5 1/2 yd | 2 1/8 yd | 9 strips |
| Twin XL | 68 x 95 | 38 x 80 | 5 3/4 yd | 2 1/8 yd | 10 strips |
| Full / Double | 83 x 90 | 53 x 75 | 7 5/8 yd | 2 5/8 yd | 10 strips |
| Queen | 90 x 95 | 60 x 80 | 8 1/4 yd | 2 3/4 yd | 11 strips |
| King | 106 x 95 | 76 x 80 | 8 5/8 yd | 3 1/4 yd | 12 strips |
| California King | 102 x 99 | 72 x 84 | 9 yd | 6 1/8 yd | 12 strips |
Quilt sizes are not standardized, and published charts differ by several inches. Measure your mattress and pick the drop you like, or use the quilt size calculator. For the full chart with batting sizes, see the quilt size chart, and for the mattress dimensions behind these numbers, the mattress size chart.
Once the size is settled, the rest of the plan follows in order: work out how many blocks fill it on the quilt block size pages or start from precut fabric, then buy backing yardage and finally binding strips. If this is your first quilt, how to make a quilt for beginners walks through the whole sequence.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate quilt size?
Quilt width is the mattress width plus twice the drop, and quilt length is the mattress length plus one drop, plus 10 to 15 inches more if the quilt tucks over the pillows. A 60 x 80 inch queen mattress with a 15 inch drop gives a 90 x 95 inch quilt. Measure the drop you like on a blanket already on the bed rather than assuming 15 inches, because mattress depth alone ranges from 8 to 14 inches.
How big should a full size quilt be?
A full or double quilt is about 83 x 90 inches, enough to cover a 53 x 75 inch full mattress with a 15 inch drop on both sides and the foot. Published charts list anything from 80 x 90 to 90 x 100 inches, so patterns vary by several inches. Add 10 to 15 inches of length if you want to tuck it over pillows.
What is the most common quilt size to make?
Throw size, about 50 x 65 inches, is the size most quilters make most often: it fits a couch, needs no bed measuring and takes only 3 1/4 yards of 42 inch backing. Among bed quilts, queen at 90 x 95 inches is the most common, since the queen mattress is the most popular US size.
Do quilts shrink after the first wash?
Yes. Cotton quilts commonly shrink 3 to 5 percent in the first wash, so a 90 x 95 inch queen can come back from the dryer about 3 to 5 inches smaller in each direction. If an exact finished size matters, add 2 to 3 inches to the top before quilting, or prewash the fabric and the batting.
Researched from manufacturer specifications, owner manuals and verified owner reviews, not hands-on testing, and not professional advice. As an Amazon Associate, Cozy Stitchery earns from qualifying purchases.