Picking a block is the fun part. Working out how many blocks you need for a quilt that actually fits the bed is where most of us reach for a calculator. This quilt block size chart does that math for you. Find your quilt size, pick your block size, and you get the layout, the total block count, the size of the pieced top, and the border that brings it to the finished size. Below the main chart you'll find cut sizes for squares, half-square triangles, quarter-square triangles and flying geese, plus a free two-page printable to keep by your cutting mat.
What’s In This Post:
How Many Quilt Blocks Do You Need?
Each cell shows blocks across × blocks down, with the total in brackets. Blocks are set side by side with no sashing. Add the border to all four sides and every layout lands within 6" of the target size.
| Quilt size | 6" blocks | 8" blocks | 9" blocks | 10" blocks | 12" blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib / Baby36 × 52" | 6 × 9 (54)top 36 × 54"no border | 4 × 6 (24)top 32 × 48"+ 2" border | 4 × 6 (24)top 36 × 54"no border | 3 × 5 (15)top 30 × 50"+ 2" border | 3 × 4 (12)top 36 × 48"+ 2" border |
| Throw / Lap50 × 65" | 8 × 11 (88)top 48 × 66"no border | 5 × 7 (35)top 40 × 56"+ 4½" border | 5 × 7 (35)top 45 × 63"+ 2" border | 5 × 7 (35)top 50 × 70"no border | 4 × 5 (20)top 48 × 60"+ 2" border |
| Twin70 × 90" | 12 × 15 (180)top 72 × 90"no border | 9 × 11 (99)top 72 × 88"no border | 8 × 10 (80)top 72 × 90"no border | 7 × 9 (63)top 70 × 90"no border | 5 × 7 (35)top 60 × 84"+ 3½" border |
| Full / Double85 × 90" | 14 × 15 (210)top 84 × 90"no border | 10 × 11 (110)top 80 × 88"+ 2" border | 9 × 10 (90)top 81 × 90"+ 2" border | 9 × 9 (81)top 90 × 90"no border | 7 × 7 (49)top 84 × 84"+ 2" border |
| Queen90 × 100" | 15 × 17 (255)top 90 × 102"no border | 11 × 12 (132)top 88 × 96"+ 2" border | 10 × 11 (110)top 90 × 99"no border | 9 × 10 (90)top 90 × 100"no border | 7 × 8 (56)top 84 × 96"+ 2" border |
| King110 × 100" | 18 × 16 (288)top 108 × 96"+ 2" border | 13 × 12 (156)top 104 × 96"+ 2" border | 11 × 10 (110)top 99 × 90"+ 5" border | 11 × 10 (110)top 110 × 100"no border | 9 × 8 (72)top 108 × 96"+ 2" border |
How to read it: making a queen quilt with 10" blocks? Set 9 blocks across and 10 down. That's 90 blocks, a 90" × 100" top, and no border needed.
All sizes are finished, in inches, before binding. For a California king, use the king row and add one more row of blocks. Want a different size? The quilt size calculator works out any width, length and block size.
The Quilt Math Behind The Chart
Use these formulas for any size the chart doesn't cover:
- Blocks across: quilt width ÷ block size, rounded.
- Blocks down: quilt length ÷ block size, rounded.
- Blocks needed: blocks across × blocks down.
- Top size: number of blocks × block size, in each direction.
- With sashing: (blocks × block size) + (blocks + 1) × sashing width.
- Final size: top size + 2 × border width.
- On point: block size × 1.414. A 12" block set on point is about 17" across.
- Cut a block: finished size + ½". A 12" finished block is cut 12½".
Finished Size vs. Cut Size
Patterns list blocks by finished size, the size once the block is sewn into the quilt. You cut bigger to allow for ¼" seams on every side. Here is the size of the square to cut for each finished unit. For extra accuracy, cut ⅛" to ¼" larger and trim to size.
| Finished unit | 1" | 1½" | 2" | 2½" | 3" | 3½" | 4" | 4½" | 5" | 6" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squareadd ½" | 1½" | 2" | 2½" | 3" | 3½" | 4" | 4½" | 5" | 5½" | 6½" |
| Half-square triangle2 at a time, add ⅞" | 1⅞" | 2⅜" | 2⅞" | 3⅜" | 3⅞" | 4⅜" | 4⅞" | 5⅜" | 5⅞" | 6⅞" |
| Quarter-square triangle4 at a time, add 1¼" | 2¼" | 2¾" | 3¼" | 3¾" | 4¼" | 4¾" | 5¼" | 5¾" | 6¼" | 7¼" |
Flying Geese Cut Sizes
A flying geese unit finishes twice as wide as it is tall. The no-waste method uses 1 large square for the geese and 4 small squares for the sky, and makes 4 units at once. Stitch and flip makes 1 unit from a rectangle and 2 squares.
| Finished goose | No-waste method (makes 4) | Stitch and flip (makes 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 2" | 1 square at 3¼" + 4 squares at 1⅞" | 2½ × 1½" rectangle + 2 squares at 1½" |
| 1½ × 3" | 1 square at 4¼" + 4 squares at 2⅜" | 3½ × 2" rectangle + 2 squares at 2" |
| 2 × 4" | 1 square at 5¼" + 4 squares at 2⅞" | 4½ × 2½" rectangle + 2 squares at 2½" |
| 2½ × 5" | 1 square at 6¼" + 4 squares at 3⅜" | 5½ × 3" rectangle + 2 squares at 3" |
| 3 × 6" | 1 square at 7¼" + 4 squares at 3⅞" | 6½ × 3½" rectangle + 2 squares at 3½" |
| 4 × 8" | 1 square at 9¼" + 4 squares at 4⅞" | 8½ × 4½" rectangle + 2 squares at 4½" |
| 6 × 12" | 1 square at 13¼" + 4 squares at 6⅞" | 12½ × 6½" rectangle + 2 squares at 6½" |
Which Block Sizes Divide Evenly?
This shows the finished unit size when a block is drafted on a grid, with the square to cut. A dot means the unit falls off the ⅛" marks on your ruler, so choose another grid or block size.
| Block | 2 × 2 | 3 × 3 (nine patch) | 4 × 4 | 5 × 5 | 6 × 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6" | 3" cut 3½" | 2" cut 2½" | 1½" cut 2" | · | 1" cut 1½" |
| 8" | 4" cut 4½" | · | 2" cut 2½" | · | · |
| 9" | 4½" cut 5" | 3" cut 3½" | 2¼" cut 2¾" | · | 1½" cut 2" |
| 10" | 5" cut 5½" | · | 2½" cut 3" | 2" cut 2½" | · |
| 12" | 6" cut 6½" | 4" cut 4½" | 3" cut 3½" | · | 2" cut 2½" |
| 15" | 7½" cut 8" | 5" cut 5½" | 3¾" cut 4¼" | 3" cut 3½" | 2½" cut 3" |
| 16" | 8" cut 8½" | · | 4" cut 4½" | · | · |
Tips For Planning Your Quilt
- Measure the bed first. Mattress depth and how far you want the quilt to hang change the target size more than anything else.
- Check finished vs. cut sizes. Most sizing mistakes come from mixing the two.
- Allow for shrinkage. Quilting and washing pull a quilt in a little, so many quilters add an inch or two to the target.
- Use a border to fine-tune. If your blocks come up short, a border closes the gap without another row of blocks.
- Plan the backing too. Once you know the top size, the quilt backing calculator tells you how much fabric to buy.
Download Your Free Quilt Block Size Chart
Keep these charts at your cutting table. Download the free two-page PDF below, open it, choose Print, and set the scale to 100% or Actual Size on letter paper. Slip the pages into sheet protectors so they last.
Download the Quilt Block Size Chart (PDF)
