Home › Backing calculator › 40 × 60
How much backing fabric for a 40 × 60 quilt?
Crib size quilt, finished 40″ × 60″ (101.6 cm × 152.4 cm).
Buy
2 3/4 yd
of standard 42″–44″ quilting cotton — 2 panels × 48″ with 1 horizontal seam. Or 1 3/8 yd of 108″ wide backing (one piece, no seams — cut 48″). Metric: 2.5 m of 110 cm fabric.
How it's worked out
- Add 4″ on every side for quilting (long-arm quilters usually ask for 4″–5″): 40 + 8 = 48″ wide, 60 + 8 = 68″ long.
- Quilting cotton is 42″–44″ wide; after trimming selvages about 40″ is usable, and each seam takes 1″.
- Running the seams horizontally you need 2 widths of fabric, each 48″ long.
- 2 × 48″ = 96″ = 2.67 yards → round up to the next ⅛ yard: 2 3/4 yd.
Sewing the seams the other way (vertical) would take 2 panels × 68″ with 1 vertical seam = 3 7/8 yd , so horizontal seams save fabric.
Backing yardage with different overhang
| Extra per side | Backing size | 42″ fabric | 108″ wide | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2″ | 44″ × 64″ | 2 1/2 yd (2 panels) | 1 1/4 yd | 2.3 m |
| 3″ | 46″ × 66″ | 2 5/8 yd (2 panels) | 1 3/8 yd | 2.4 m |
| 4″ | 48″ × 68″ | 2 3/4 yd (2 panels) | 1 3/8 yd | 2.5 m |
| 5″ | 50″ × 70″ | 2 7/8 yd (2 panels) | 1 1/2 yd | 2.6 m |
| 6″ | 52″ × 72″ | 3 yd (2 panels) | 1 1/2 yd | 2.7 m |
Same quilt: binding & batting
- Binding for a 40 × 60 quilt: 6 strips of 2½″ → 1/2 yd.
- Batting: at least 48″ × 68″ — a Twin package fits, or 1 3/8 yd off a 96″ roll.
Try your own numbers
Quiltwell for iPhone, iPad & Android
Every quilt calculator in your pocket: borders, setting triangles, HSTs, saved projects and a fabric shopping list.
Every quilt calculator in your pocket: borders, setting triangles, HSTs, saved projects and a fabric shopping list.