Quilt Sizes Chart: Crib, Throw, Twin, Queen, King

The formula: mattress plus drop

A bed quilt covers the top of the mattress and hangs down on both long sides and at the foot. The head end goes against the headboard, so it gets no drop. That gives two lines of arithmetic: width = mattress width + 2 x drop, and length = mattress length + 1 x drop.

Linda's Electric Quilters gives the same formula and a worked check: a 60" x 80" mattress with a 14" drop needs a quilt of at least 88" x 94". The same guide suggests adding 10" to 12" to the length for a quilt that tucks around the pillows. This page uses 10" for that tuck.

• Width = mattress width + 2 x drop.
• Length = mattress length + drop.
• Pillow tuck: add 10" to 12" to the length.

Standard mattress sizes

Sleep Foundation lists the width and length of each standard mattress and notes that the depth varies by maker and model, so there is no standard thickness. Measure the depth of your own mattress; it decides how long the drop must be to cover the sides.

Quilt size for each bed at a 12" drop

Each figure below is the mattress plus a 12" (30.5 cm) drop on both sides and the foot. The last column adds 10" to the length for a pillow tuck. For a different drop, change the 12 in the formula and work it again.

Typical finished quilt sizes

Quilt patterns and shops also use ranges that are not tied to one mattress. Linda's Electric Quilters lists these finished sizes. The ranges are wide because drop and pillow tuck differ from one quilter to the next, so treat them as a starting point and check them against the formula.

Worked example: a queen quilt with a pillow tuck

Start with the queen mattress, 60" x 80". Choose a 12" drop: the width is 60 + 2 x 12 = 84" and the length is 80 + 12 = 92". Add 10" for the pillow tuck and the finished quilt is 84" x 102" (213.4 x 259.1 cm).

The backing comes next. Missouri Star Quilt Co. adds 8" to both the length and the width of the top, so this backing is 92" x 110". The binding guide on this site cuts 2 1/2" strips for the perimeter plus 10": 2 x (84 + 102) + 10 = 382", or 10 strips from 40" of usable width, which is 3/4 yard.

Crib quilts and safe sleep

A crib-size quilt is a good first project, but it is not bedding for a sleeping baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists quilts, comforters and blankets among the soft objects and loose bedding that raise a baby's risk of suffocation and asks parents to keep them out of the baby's sleep space. Make a crib quilt for supervised play, a wall or the years after the crib, and label it that way if it is a gift.

What to check before you cut

Measure the mattress you will use, including its depth and any topper, because a drop shorter than the depth leaves the sides showing. Decide on the pillow tuck before you plan the rows. Then round the size to whole blocks: the quilt pattern generator on this site picks the blocks across and down that come closest to a target size and lists the yardage, binding and backing for that layout.

Common questions

What size is a queen quilt?

A queen mattress is 60" x 80". With a 12" drop the quilt is 84" x 92", or 84" x 102" with a 10" pillow tuck. Linda's Electric Quilters lists 90" x 108" as a common finished queen size, which allows a longer drop.

What size is a king quilt?

A king mattress is 76" x 80", so a 12" drop gives 100" x 92". Linda's Electric Quilters lists 108" x 108" to 110" x 110" as typical finished king sizes.

What size is a throw quilt?

Linda's Electric Quilters lists 50" x 65" to 60" x 72" for a lap or throw quilt, sized for one person on a sofa. It is not tied to a mattress, so no drop is added.

How much drop should a quilt have?

Enough to cover the side of the mattress, so measure its depth first. A drop that also covers a box spring or bed frame needs more. Then use width = mattress width + 2 x drop and length = mattress length + drop.

Can a quilt go in a baby's crib?

Not while the baby sleeps. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists quilts and blankets as soft bedding to keep out of a baby's sleep space. Use a crib quilt for supervised play or display.