Choosing a Size for Your Quilt

"One size fits all?" Not in quilting! Here's the basic information you need to choose the right size for your next quilt.

Flexible Sizes for Wall Quilts, Lap Quilts, and Table Toppers

Wall quilts. A wall quilt can be as large or small as you want to make it. If you know where you’re going to hang the quilt, measure your spot first to make sure the quilt fits it comfortably. Otherwise, the size you choose is a matter of taste. Just keep in mind that the larger you make the quilt, the heavier it will be and the more support it will need to hang properly.

Lap quilts. Like wall quilts, lap quilts can be whatever size you choose to make them. A drag-around quilt for a small child could be as small as one yard square, or 36” x 36”. (You can make a super-quick whole-cloth quilt by cutting a 36” square of cute children’s fabric, adding backing and quilting it.) A 40” x 60” lap quilt will comfortably cover an adult for a nap on the sofa. You may want to make your lap quilt longer or wider to accommodate a particular set of blocks.

Table Toppers. These quilts are made to add a decorative touch to a table, and their dimensions depend on the size and shape of your table. Some popular table topper sizes:

• Square card table: 36” x 36”: Table topper size 36” X 36”. Turn the quilt on the diagonal when you put it on the table.

• Dining table 42” x 54” (seats six): Table topper size 13” x 48”
• Dining table 42 x 72” (seats eight): Table topper size 13” x 72”

Making a bed quilt the proper size involves a number of factors:

1. How big is the mattress? If possible, measure it exactly. When measuring isn’t possible, use the mattress size chart below.
2. Will the quilt be a “topper” that fits entirely on top of the bed, or will it hang down over the edge? If so, how thick is the mattress? Standard mattresses are 8-12" thick, but new extra-thick mattresses with pillow tops can be up to 20” thick. Is there a box spring to cover also? Will the quilt just cover the depth of the mattress, or will it sweep the floor like a bedspread? Be sure to add enough extra width to make the overhang as deep as you want.
3. Do you need to allow space to cover pillows? If so, how deep are the pillows? If you can’t measure exactly, add 18” to the quilt’s length for pillow coverage. If it’s possible, make up the bed with a bedspread over the pillows, then use a tape measure to measure from the tuck of the spread underneath the pillows, up and over to the back of the pillows. Add this measurement to the quilt’s length.
4. Does your design feature 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.
5. How densely will you quilt this top? Quilting shrinks a quilt top. The more heavily you quilt the top, the more it will shrink. Allow up to 5% extra room in both width and length for shrinkage. Adding a slightly deeper outer border is a great way to do this.

U.S. MATTRESS SIZES

• Crib 28” x 52”
• Cot 30” x 75”
• Twin 39” x 75”
• Long Twin (common at colleges) 39” x 80”
• Double 54” x 74.5”
• Queen 60” X 80”
• King 76” x 80”
• California King 72” x 84”

U.S. QUILT SIZES

Commercial Comforter size (minimal overhang)

• Crib 36” x 54”. 45” x 60” is large enough for a “toddler” bed.
• Twin 65” x 88”
• Double 80” x 88”
• Queen 86” x 93”
• King 104” x 93”

Bedspread Size (longer overhang)

• Twin 81” x 107”
• Double 96” x 107”
• Queen 102” x 112”
• King 120” x 112”

Learn more about quilting:

Guide to quilt batting

Options for binding your quilt

How to sew a perfect quarter-inch seam