Quilt Batting Size Guide
Find which standard batting size to buy for your quilt top, plus a loft and batting type guide.
1 Quilt Top Size
Batting types compared
Cotton: Breathable, natural, shrinks slightly on first wash (gives a vintage crinkled look). Easy to quilt through. Best for everyday quilts.
Polyester: Lightweight, doesn't shrink, very affordable. High loft options available. Can be warm in summer. Best for comforters and decorative quilts.
Cotton/Poly blend (80/20): The most popular choice. Combines cotton's breathability with poly's stability. Minimal shrinkage. Works for most quilts.
Bamboo: Silky, breathable, eco-friendly. Excellent drape. More expensive. Great for baby quilts and garments.
Wool: Extremely warm, breathable, and naturally moisture-wicking. Easy to hand quilt. More expensive. Best for cold-weather bed quilts.
Overhang recommendations
For a wall hanging: 2–3" overhang. For a lap quilt: 4–6" overhang. For a bed quilt that needs to reach the mattress edge: 8" or more. The calculator adds your chosen overhang to each of the four sides when finding the minimum batting size needed.