44 − 1.5 in selvages − 2 in assumed width shrinkage/trimming = 40.5 in default net WOF. These deductions are editable planning examples; measure your own fabric after any washing. 108 in defaults to 104 in usable. A 4 in overhang is a starting point; ask your quilter. Net WOF is not deducted again.
Common cut widths: . Custom widths remain editable.
Perimeter 320 in + 12 in total corners/closure allowance = 332 in needed. 9 × 40.5 − 8 joins × 2.5 = 344.5 in open-chain length.
Cut height 22.5 in + 2 in explicit squaring buffer = 24.5 in before rounding upward to ⅛ yd. The final closure is covered by the 12 in working allowance. A diagonal join does not turn straight-grain strips into bias binding.
For curved or scalloped edges, cut real 45° rectangles from square fabric, discard the tapered ends, then join the rectangles diagonally. This conservative separate-strip plan is not a continuous-tube or minimum-waste estimate.
Cut 16 rectangles per square at 2.5 in perpendicular width. 16 strips total, 15 diagonal joins losing 2.5 in each. The 332.234 in open chain covers 332 in, including 12 in for corners and final closure.
Square cuts consume 32.25 in of bolt length; add 2 in squaring buffer before rounding upward to ⅛ yard. The actual square side is rounded up to a practical ⅛ in cutting mark and fits your measured WOF.
Coordinates are inches from each square’s lower-left corner. Mark the four corners, cut the parallel long edges at 45°, and remove the tapered outside pieces. Width is measured perpendicular to the strip.
| Square / strip | Cut length (in) | Four corners (x, y) in |
|---|---|---|
| 1 / 1 | 5.60838738653 | (28.2842712475, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 3.96572875254); (30.4822330470, 5.73349570550); (26.5165042945, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 2 | 10.6083873865 | (24.7487373415, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 7.50126265847); (30.4822330470, 9.26902961144); (22.9809703886, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 3 | 15.6083873865 | (21.2132034356, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 11.0367965644); (30.4822330470, 12.8045635174); (19.4454364826, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 4 | 20.6083873865 | (17.6776695297, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 14.5723304703); (30.4822330470, 16.3400974233); (15.9099025767, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 5 | 25.6083873865 | (14.1421356237, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 18.1078643763); (30.4822330470, 19.8756313292); (12.3743686708, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 6 | 30.6083873865 | (10.6066017178, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 21.6433982822); (30.4822330470, 23.4111652352); (8.83883476483, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 7 | 35.6083873865 | (7.07106781187, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 25.1789321881); (30.4822330470, 26.9466991411); (5.30330085890, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 8 | 40.6083873865 | (3.53553390593, 0.00000000000); (32.2500000000, 28.7144660941); (30.4822330470, 30.4822330470); (1.76776695297, 1.76776695297) |
| 1 / 9 | 40.6083873865 | (1.76776695297, 1.76776695297); (30.4822330470, 30.4822330470); (28.7144660941, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 3.53553390593) |
| 1 / 10 | 35.6083873865 | (1.76776695297, 5.30330085890); (26.9466991411, 30.4822330470); (25.1789321881, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 7.07106781187) |
| 1 / 11 | 30.6083873865 | (1.76776695297, 8.83883476483); (23.4111652352, 30.4822330470); (21.6433982822, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 10.6066017178) |
| 1 / 12 | 25.6083873865 | (1.76776695297, 12.3743686708); (19.8756313292, 30.4822330470); (18.1078643763, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 14.1421356237) |
| 1 / 13 | 20.6083873865 | (1.76776695297, 15.9099025767); (16.3400974233, 30.4822330470); (14.5723304703, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 17.6776695297) |
| 1 / 14 | 15.6083873865 | (1.76776695297, 19.4454364826); (12.8045635174, 30.4822330470); (11.0367965644, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 21.2132034356) |
| 1 / 15 | 10.6083873865 | (1.76776695297, 22.9809703886); (9.26902961144, 30.4822330470); (7.50126265847, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 24.7487373415) |
| 1 / 16 | 5.60838738653 | (1.76776695297, 26.5165042945); (5.73349570550, 30.4822330470); (3.96572875254, 32.2500000000); (0.00000000000, 28.2842712475) |
Use the listed order so shorter rectangles stay at the ends of each strip chain. Place strip ends at right angles with opposite diagonal seam slopes, sew the diagonal, trim the outside triangles and press seams open. One strip-width overlap is allowed per join. Test a sample before the complete project. Unused corner triangles and side offcuts receive no yield credit.
TRUE 45° BIAS BINDING CUTTING PLAN Cut 1 fabric square(s), each 32.25 in. 16 rectangles per square, 2.5 in perpendicular width. 16 strips; 15 diagonal joins losing 2.5 in each. Chain 332.234198184517 in; required 332 in including 12 in total for corners and final closure. Buy 1 yd, including 2 in additional squaring. Coordinates are inches from each square's lower-left corner. Mark all four corners and cut the parallel long edges at 45°. Remove the tapered outside triangles. Use the listed strip order, keeping shorter rectangles at the ends of each square's chain. Place each end pair at right angles, with opposite diagonal seam slopes; sew the diagonal overlap, trim the outside triangles and press seams open. Allow one strip-width of overlap per join. Sew a test join before batch cutting. No corner/offcut yield is credited. Square 1, strip 1: length 5.608387386532314 in; corners (28.284271247461902, 0); (32.25, 3.9657287525380998); (30.48223304703363, 5.733495705504469); (26.516504294495533, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 2: length 10.608387386532314 in; corners (24.748737341529164, 0); (32.25, 7.5012626584708375); (30.48223304703363, 9.269029611437205); (22.980970388562795, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 3: length 15.608387386532314 in; corners (21.213203435596427, 0); (32.25, 11.036796564403573); (30.48223304703363, 12.804563517369942); (19.445436482630058, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 4: length 20.608387386532314 in; corners (17.67766952966369, 0); (32.25, 14.572330470336311); (30.48223304703363, 16.34009742330268); (15.90990257669732, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 5: length 25.608387386532314 in; corners (14.142135623730951, 0); (32.25, 18.10786437626905); (30.48223304703363, 19.875631329235418); (12.374368670764582, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 6: length 30.608387386532314 in; corners (10.606601717798213, 0); (32.25, 21.643398282201787); (30.48223304703363, 23.411165235168156); (8.838834764831844, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 7: length 35.608387386532314 in; corners (7.0710678118654755, 0); (32.25, 25.178932188134524); (30.48223304703363, 26.946699141100893); (5.303300858899108, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 8: length 40.608387386532314 in; corners (3.5355339059327395, 0); (32.25, 28.714466094067262); (30.48223304703363, 30.48223304703363); (1.7677669529663707, 1.7677669529663707) Square 1, strip 9: length 40.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 1.7677669529663707); (30.48223304703363, 30.48223304703363); (28.714466094067262, 32.25); (0, 3.5355339059327395) Square 1, strip 10: length 35.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 5.303300858899108); (26.946699141100893, 30.48223304703363); (25.178932188134524, 32.25); (0, 7.0710678118654755) Square 1, strip 11: length 30.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 8.838834764831844); (23.411165235168156, 30.48223304703363); (21.643398282201787, 32.25); (0, 10.606601717798213) Square 1, strip 12: length 25.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 12.374368670764582); (19.875631329235418, 30.48223304703363); (18.10786437626905, 32.25); (0, 14.142135623730951) Square 1, strip 13: length 20.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 15.90990257669732); (16.34009742330268, 30.48223304703363); (14.572330470336311, 32.25); (0, 17.67766952966369) Square 1, strip 14: length 15.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 19.445436482630058); (12.804563517369942, 30.48223304703363); (11.036796564403573, 32.25); (0, 21.213203435596427) Square 1, strip 15: length 10.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 22.980970388562795); (9.269029611437205, 30.48223304703363); (7.5012626584708375, 32.25); (0, 24.748737341529164) Square 1, strip 16: length 5.608387386532314 in; corners (1.7677669529663707, 26.516504294495533); (5.733495705504469, 30.48223304703363); (3.9657287525380998, 32.25); (0, 28.284271247461902)
13 strips × 5 in per color. 100 starting squares per color; produces 100 finished units (0 spare).
Buy 1 ⅞ yd (1.875) per color, 1 color. Includes 2 in squaring per color. Square cut size includes two ¼ in seams.
These conventional starting formulas include no extra trim-down allowance. Sew a test unit; for trim buffers or Magic 8, use the existing HST calculator. Strip yield is floor(usable WOF ÷ cut size); offcuts are not nested.
QuiltCutCalc cutting plan Straight-grain binding 9 strips × 2.5 in; diagonal joins; 2 in squaring buffer: 0.75 yd Perimeter 320 in + 12 in working allowance = 332 in; chain 344.5 in Confirm the actual fabric and quilter requirements. Prices are editable examples, not market quotes.
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QuiltCutCalc cutting plan Straight-grain binding 9 strips × 2.5 in; diagonal joins; 2 in squaring buffer: 0.75 yd Perimeter 320 in + 12 in working allowance = 332 in; chain 344.5 in Confirm the actual fabric and quilter requirements. Prices are editable examples, not market quotes.
To calculate double-fold straight-grain quilt binding, find the perimeter as 2 × (width + length), add one total 12″ working allowance, and choose enough strips that their joined chain covers that length. With 40.5″ usable WOF and 2.5″ diagonal joins, n strips provide n × 40.5 − (n − 1) × 2.5 inches. Add the 2″ squaring buffer to the fabric purchase before rounding upward to ⅛ yard.
Binding protects a quilt’s exposed edges. Utah State University (USU) Extension’s binding guide and its double crosswise grain binding instructions describe folding a crosswise strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, for double-fold binding. USU suggests 2¼″ strips for a thin quilt or 2½″ for a thicker quilt in its binding guide. The finished visible width depends on batting, seam placement and the fold; a 2½″ cut does not guarantee a ⅜″ finish on both faces.
APQS’s bias binding chart includes a 12″ overlap allowance. Its guide to bias binding distinguishes bias-cut fabric from straight-grain strips. In the straight-strip model used here, a 45-degree diagonal join loses one strip width from the chain: 2.5″ for each join between 2.5″ strips. There are only n − 1 joins in the open chain. The 12″ allowance covers corners and final closure together; it is not an additional 12″ at every join, and the APQS chart is not the source of this model’s complete strip-yield equation.
The Crib example needs 5 strips, or 12.5″ of cutting length. With the 2″ buffer, it needs 14.5″ before rounding. A ⅜-yard purchase supplies only 13.5″, so the model buys 0.5 yd (½). For straight end joins rather than diagonal joins, use the calculator’s selected seam loss; do not keep the 2.5″ diagonal deduction.
Working on a curved or scalloped border that needs true 45-degree bias binding? Calculate Straight & Bias Binding Strips → The bias option uses its own square-cut strip construction, including joins and discarded corner triangles; it is not a continuous-tube optimizer, and area divided by strip width alone is not a cutting plan. You can also check package coverage in the Precut Batting Size Calculator →.
One yard is 36 linear inches. With no squaring allowance, 36 ÷ 2.5 yields 14 full width-of-fabric strips and 1 inch left over. If you reserve the 2-inch squaring buffer used by this calculator, only 13 full strips fit. Usable WOF determines each strip’s length, and diagonal joining reduces the length of the assembled chain.
Manufacturer and university guidance is linked for the specific techniques it supports. The calculations, sample prices, simulation and editable width assumptions are identified separately in the text.