Quilt Numbers

Quilt Size Calculator for Any Bed (Queen, King, Twin, Full)

By Tam Vu · Updated

On this page
  1. The formula
  2. Mattress sizes
  3. Quilt sizes for three common drops
  4. Choosing the drop
  5. Next steps
  6. Sources

There is no single "standard" queen or king quilt size: pattern makers and shops each use their own. What is standard is the mattress. Start from the mattress, add how far you want the quilt to hang down the sides and the foot (the drop), and you get a size that fits your bed.

Quilt size for your bed

Measure your own mattress if you can: thick pillow-top mattresses need a longer drop to cover the sides. Mattress sizes below follow the industry's voluntary guideline, which allows about half an inch either way.

The formula

  • Width = mattress width + 2 × drop (the quilt hangs down both sides)
  • Length = mattress length + drop (it hangs over the foot) + pillow tuck, if you want one

Example: a queen mattress is 60 × 79.5 in. With a 12 in drop: width = 60 + 2 × 12 = 84 in, length = 79.5 + 12 = 91.5 in.

Mattress sizes

MattressWidth (in)Length (in)
Twin38.574.5
Twin XL38.579.5
Full / Double53.574.5
Queen6079.5
King7679.5
California King7283.5

Source: International Sleep Products Association voluntary dimensional guideline (U.S./Canada), as listed in Wikipedia, Bed size

These are the U.S. and Canadian sizes in the International Sleep Products Association's voluntary guideline. Real mattresses can be about half an inch larger or smaller.

Quilt sizes for three common drops

All sizes are finished quilt width × length in inches, with no pillow tuck.

Mattress 10 in drop 12 in drop 15 in drop
Twin 58.5 × 84.5 62.5 × 86.5 68.5 × 89.5
Twin XL 58.5 × 89.5 62.5 × 91.5 68.5 × 94.5
Full / Double 73.5 × 84.5 77.5 × 86.5 83.5 × 89.5
Queen 80 × 89.5 84 × 91.5 90 × 94.5
King 96 × 89.5 100 × 91.5 106 × 94.5
California King 92 × 93.5 96 × 95.5 102 × 98.5

Choosing the drop

  • Measure it. Hold a tape at the top edge of the mattress and measure down to where you want the quilt to stop. That number is your drop.
  • Deep mattresses need more. The drop has to cover the mattress side before it hangs below it, so measure on your own bed.
  • Tuck under the pillows? Add the extra length in the pillow box rather than to the drop, so the sides stay the length you measured.

Next steps

Once you know the finished size, use it to work out the backing, binding and batting.

Sources

  • Mattress sizes: International Sleep Products Association voluntary dimensional guideline for the U.S. and Canada, as listed in Wikipedia, Bed size.
  • Quilt sizes: computed with the formula above.