Quilt Size Guide: How Big Should My Quilt Be?
There is no single correct size for a quilt. A bed quilt depends on the mattress, how far you want the quilt to hang over the sides, and whether it tucks under the pillows. Here is how to work it out for your own bed.
Measure the mattress
Measure the top of the mattress, width and length, and its depth. Mattress sizes vary between makers and depths vary a great deal, so your own tape measure beats any chart.
Choose a drop
The drop is how far the quilt hangs down each side and at the foot. A drop roughly equal to the mattress depth just covers the mattress; a longer drop covers a box spring or bed frame too. A 12 inch drop is a common starting point for a modern mattress.
Decide on a pillow tuck
If the quilt will fold over and under the pillows, add 10 to 20 inches to the length. If it sits below the pillows, add nothing.
The formula
- Quilt width = mattress width + 2 x drop
- Quilt length = mattress length + drop (at the foot) + pillow tuck
Sizes with a 12 inch drop
| Bed | Mattress (in) | No tuck | 10 in tuck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin | 39 x 75 | 63 x 87 | 63 x 97 |
| Full | 54 x 75 | 78 x 87 | 78 x 97 |
| Queen | 60 x 80 | 84 x 92 | 84 x 102 |
| King | 76 x 80 | 100 x 92 | 100 x 102 |
| California king | 72 x 84 | 96 x 96 | 96 x 106 |
Worked example: a queen mattress is 60 x 80 inches. With a 12 inch drop, the width is 60 + 24 = 84 inches and the length is 80 + 12 = 92 inches, so the quilt is 84 x 92 inches. Add a 10 inch pillow tuck and it becomes 84 x 102.
Quilts that aren't for beds
Baby quilts, throws and wall hangings have no fixed standard. Commonly used finished sizes are about 36 x 52 inches for a baby quilt and 50 x 65 inches for a throw, but choose whatever suits the person and the use: a throw for a tall adult on a sofa might be longer, a stroller quilt smaller.
Allow for shrinkage
Quilting draws a quilt in, often by a few percent, and washing a quilt made from unwashed cotton shrinks it further. If the finished size really matters, plan the top a little larger.
Frequently asked questions
Should a quilt touch the floor?
Usually not. A drop that reaches the floor collects dust and gets stepped on. Measure from the top of the mattress to a little above the floor and use that as your maximum drop.
How do I size a quilt for a bed with a footboard?
A footboard stops the quilt hanging at the foot, so reduce or remove the drop from the length while keeping it on the width. Measure inside the footboard to check.
What size block layout fits my target size?
Divide the target width and length by your finished block size (plus any sashing). If the numbers don't come out whole, adjust with borders rather than odd part-blocks. For example, 12 inch blocks laid 7 across give 84 inches, the queen width above.
Is a pillow tuck necessary?
Only if you like the look of the quilt wrapping the pillows. Many people use separate pillow shams and skip the tuck, which also makes the quilt quicker to make.
Use the chart
The quilt size chart recalculates every bed size for your own drop and pillow tuck. Record your bed measurements and target size on the size reference page of The Quilt Planner.
Related tool: open the calculator.