SeeMyQuilt
Free calculator · Finishing

Quilt border calculator

Enter the size of the quilt center and the border width. You get strip counts, yardage and the new quilt size.

You need3/4 yd
  • 6 strips cut 4 1/2" wide, joined end to end
  • 232" of border in total
  • Quilt grows to 56" × 68"

How it is calculated

Border strips are cut 1/2" wider than the finished border. With butted corners the side borders are the length of the quilt center and the top and bottom borders span the new width.

Mitered borders need extra length: each strip is the side plus twice the border width plus about 4" for handling.

Measure the quilt through the middle, not along the edges, and cut the borders to that measurement. It keeps the quilt square.

Questions

How wide should a quilt border be?

A common guide is no wider than half the block size. A 12" block quilt looks balanced with a 4" to 6" border.

Should I cut borders lengthwise?

Lengthwise strips do not stretch and need no joins, but they take more fabric. This calculator assumes strips cut across the width and joined.

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