Plan straight borders, cut widths and the size your quilt will become.
Your measurements
A saved plan is on this browser.
Your cutting plan
Ready when you are
Measurements changed. Calculate again to update your plan.
Measure your fabric. We'll work out the plan.
Enter your dimensions, then select Calculate. Or use the example to see a plan take shape.
Measure through the middle in more than one place. A border cut to an averaged measurement helps avoid wavy edges.
Convert a known length
A measurement reference, separate from your cutting plan. It converts length only; fabric width is not needed.
Measure first, then add the border
Quilt border calculator
Use the current unfinished outer-edge dimensions. Choose how much finished width to add on every side.
The first pair fits the measured quilt. The second pair includes the first pair's finished additions.
Cut strips with seam allowances included. Join each run separately, trim to its stated length and attach in the chosen order.
See the measurements at work
Short illustrated examples for the decisions around this tool.
Sew the first pair, then measure the second
Press the center and measure through its middle without stretching it. Compare nearby measurements; a large mismatch needs attention before a border is attached. For sides-first assembly, sew and press the sides before measuring across for the ends.
Worked example below. These fixed measurements are not your calculated cutting plan. This manual offcut-sharing layout uses five strips. For these same dimensions, the calculator allocates eight separate full-width strips across the four border runs; it does not share offcuts.
Sew the sides, then remeasure for the ends
Current raw-edge center: 40 1/2 x 52 1/2 in.
3 in finished border + two 1/4 in allowances = 3 1/2 in cut width.
First pair: two 3 1/2 x 52 1/2 in sides. Second pair: two 3 1/2 x 46 1/2 in ends, after remeasurement.
Final raw edge: 46 1/2 x 58 1/2 in. Seam-line design size: 46 x 58 in.
Top and bottom cover the side-border ends
Sides first; square butted corners, no cornerstones or miters.
Assembled raw edge
Sewn join
Dashed lines are the actual joins in the modeled assembly. The sewn center between them is 40 x 52 inches; its original raw edges supplied the seam allowances. Planned second-pair lengths must be checked against the sewn work.
Share the fifth strip in this manual layout
Five strips, each 3 1/2 x 42 in, use 17 1/2 in along the fabric.
Each side: 42 + 11 - 1/2 = 52 1/2 in. Each end: 42 + 5 - 1/2 = 46 1/2 in.
Cut the four extensions from strip five
From left: 11 in, 11 in, 5 in, 5 in, then 10 in unused.
A prepared side after its straight splice
1/4 in on each joined edge; 1/2 in total take-up.
Cut extension boundary
Straight join
Unused fifth-strip remainder
This is an explicit manual offcut-sharing plan for the example, outside the calculator's conservative separate-run allocation. It is feasible, not a universal optimum. Squaring, diagonal splices and print matching are not included.
The five-strip illustration deliberately shares 11, 11, 5 and 5 in extensions from one strip. It is a manual offcut-sharing plan. The calculator allocates separate full-width strips to each border run, so its conservative purchase can be larger. It does not optimize shared offcuts.
Check the width gap and length gap separately
Use matching measurement stages: measured raw-edge center and desired raw-edge top before quilting. Divide the width increase between the two sides, and the length increase between the two ends. A single border width cannot reach every rectangular target.
Worked example below. These fixed measurements are not your calculated cutting plan. This two-width border worksheet differs from the calculator, which supports one uniform width around the quilt.
Check width and length increases separately
Raw-edge target: 60 1/2 x 80 1/2 in; raw-edge center: 48 1/2 x 62 1/2 in.
Side addition: (60 1/2 - 48 1/2) / 2 = 6 in finished; cut 6 1/2 in wide.
End addition: (80 1/2 - 62 1/2) / 2 = 9 in finished; cut 9 1/2 in wide.
Sides first: prepared side length 62 1/2 in; remeasure before preparing the 60 1/2 in ends.
Two side widths and two end widths
6 in finished sides; 9 in finished top and bottom.
Assembled raw edge
Sewn border join
The final raw edge is 60 1/2 x 80 1/2 inches; its seam-line design size is 60 x 80 inches. The stitched center between the border joins is 48 x 62 inches. This is a pre-quilting construction plan, not desired bed coverage or a washed-size prediction.
Uniform six-inch borders leave six inches of length
Uniform 6 in finished borders: 60 1/2 x 74 1/2 in raw edge.
Target: 60 1/2 x 80 1/2 in raw edge.
Width reaches the target; length is 6 in short.
Compare the actual planned outline with the target
Top edges align for this dimensional comparison.
Top with uniform 6 in borders
Required raw-edge target
48 x 62 in sewn center between border joins
The solid top and the dashed target share one scale. Equal-width borders cannot reach both target dimensions in this example. A target smaller than the center cannot be reached by adding borders; a zero increase needs no border on that axis.
This manual worksheet needs 6 in finished side borders and 9 in finished end borders. The calculator above supports one uniform width all around; it does not calculate this two-width arrangement. Remeasure the sewn work before cutting the second pair, and allow separately for any splices.
Enter the unfinished outer-edge size of the top at this stage. Measure flat through the center rather than stretching an outside edge.
What does finished border width mean?
It is the visible addition after seams. A 3-inch finished border with quarter-inch seams needs a 3 1/2-inch cut strip.
Are mitered corners included?
No. This plan is for straight butt-joined borders attached one pair at a time. Mitered corners need extra length.
Can offcuts reduce the yardage?
Possibly. This plan allocates full-width strips separately to each of the four border runs. It does not share offcuts between runs or allow for print matching.
