Quilt Sizes

How To Choose The Best Size

Quilt sizes vary greatly depending on whether you want your quilt to have a drop over three sides of the bed or not.

Also do you want your quilt to tuck under the pillow or go over the pillow? There is no right or wrong size when selecting the size for your quilt, just personal choice. One quilt that I made for a single bed (with a drop on three sides), I gave to a friend and she uses it on her queen bed. It looks great!!

If you are having trouble deciding what size to make your quilt, take into consideration the following factors:

1 - What size of bed you are making the quilt for?

2 - Do you want the finished quilt to fit entirely on the top of the bed or do you want the quilt to have a drop? A drop is the part of the quilt that hangs over the edge of the bed. There is no right or wrong choice here, it is personal preference.

3 - If you are wanting to have the quilt drop over the edge of the bed then check the thickness of your mattress to determine the length of the drop you will need. Standard mattresses are 8" to 12" thick but some of the newer mattresses can be up to 20" thick.

4 - Do you want your quilt to cover the pillows? Add 18” to the quilt’s length for pillow coverage or, measure an existing pillow from the tuck of the bedspread underneath the pillow, up and over to the back of the pillow. Add this measurement to the quilt’s length. My chart below allows 10" for the quilt to rest under a pillow.

5 - Will your quilt design have a central medallion or pattern? You may need to adjust your measurements to keep the central pattern from hanging over the edge of the bed or getting hidden by pillows.

6 - How densely will you quilt this top? Quilting shrinks a quilt top by up to 5%. Therefore allow up to 5% extra room in both width and length for shrinkage. Adding a slightly deeper outer border is a great way to accommodate this.


The following chart gives sample quilt sizes in inches

Measurements are approximate and given for standard US mattresses


(Width X Length)

Drops are on
3 sides

Crib
(28 x 52)

Lap
(54 x 72)

Twin
(39 x 75)

Double
(54 x 75)

Queen
(60 x 80)

King
(76 x 80)

with 10" drop
& 10" tuck

48 x 72

n/a

59 x 95

74 x 95

80 x 100

96 x 100

With 15" drop
& 10" tuck

n/a

n/a

69 x 100

84 x 100

90 x 105

106 x 105

With 20" drop
& 10" tuck

n/a

n/a

79 x 105

94 x 105

100 x 110

116 x 110



The following chart gives sample quilt sizes in cm


Measurements are approximate and given for standard European/Australasian mattresses


(Width X Length)

Drops are on
3 sides

Cot
(60 x 120)

Lap
(135 x 184)

Single
(92 x 190)

Double
(138 x 190)

Queen
(153 x 203)

King
(183 x 203)

w/ 25cm drop
& 25cm tuck

110 x 170

n/a

142 x 240

188 x 240

203 x 253

233 x 253

W/ 38cm drop
& 25cm tuck

n/a

n/a

168 x 253

214 x 253

229 x 266

259 x 266

W/ 50cm drop
& 25cm tuck

n/a

n/a

192 x 265

238 x 265

253 x 278

283 x 278


"Drop" - the part of the quilt that hangs over the edge of the bed

"Tuck" - the part of the quilt that goes under the pillow

You have now decided what size bed quilt to make and are wondering how much batting, backing fabric and binding fabric you will need to purchase to complete your quilt.

Following are guides to each quilt size. For a single bed quilt, double bed quilt, queen bed quilt, or king bed quilt you will find a guide with estimates of fabric and batting needed to complete your quilt.

Sign up for my newsletter below!

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please let others know. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.