How Much Batting for a King Quilt
King batting is the one supply where buying the wrong size wastes the most money. A standard 108 by 108 inch king top needs a batt that overhangs on every side, and the off-the-shelf king precut is sized exactly for that. Here is how the numbers work and when a queen precut will leave you short.
The King Precut Is 120 by 120 Inches
The standard precut king batting measures 120 inches by 120 inches. Lay it under a 108 by 108 inch top and you get (120 − 108) ÷ 2 = 6 inches of overage on every side. That is a comfortable margin for basting, quilting, and trimming, and it is why most king quilts simply call for a king batt off the shelf. Compare this with the queen size guide to see how the overage shrinks as quilts get bigger.
Will a Queen Precut Fit a King?
No, and this is the most common king batting mistake. A queen precut is only 90 by 108 inches. The length (108) matches the king top, but the width (90) falls 18 inches short of the king's 108-inch width. You would have to piece a second batt into the side, which creates a visible seam through the middle of the quilt. Buy the king precut or cut your own from a wide roll instead.
Cutting Your Own from a Roll
If you buy batting on a wide roll, plan a 116 by 116 inch piece for 4-inch overage, or 124 by 124 inches if your longarmer wants 8-inch overage. A 108-inch roll gives about 104 inches of usable width, so a 116-inch backing width needs two panels. The table shows the yardage for a 116 by 116 inch cut.
| Batting source | Cut | Side overage |
|---|---|---|
| Precut king (120×120) | Buy as-is | 6" |
| Precut queen (90×108) | Won't cover | — |
| 108" roll, pieced | 116×116 (2 panels, 6.5 yd) | 4" |
| 90" roll, pieced | 116×116 (2 panels, 6.5 yd) | 4" |
Shrinkage and Fiber Choice
Batting shrinks, and on a king quilt that shrinkage is spread across a large area. Cotton batting shrinks about 3 to 5 percent, an 80/20 cotton-poly blend about 2 to 3 percent, polyester under 1 percent, and wool 0 to 3 percent. Prewashing a batt is uncommon, but if your finished king will be washed often, keep the full 6-inch overage (or more) so shrinkage never pulls the batt inside the quilt edges. Low-loft cotton or an 80/20 blend quilts flat on a longarm, while high-loft polyester or wool gives a puffier, warmer drape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size batting do I need for a king quilt?
A standard 108 by 108 inch king quilt is covered by a precut king batting that measures 120 by 120 inches, leaving about 6 inches of overage on every side. If you cut your own from a roll, plan a 116 by 116 inch piece for 4-inch overage.
Will a queen precut batting fit a king quilt?
No. A queen precut is 90 by 108 inches, and a king top is 108 by 108 inches. The queen width of 90 inches falls 18 inches short of the king width, so it will not cover the quilt even though the lengths match.
How much overage should batting have on a king quilt?
Aim for 4 to 8 inches per side. A 120 by 120 inch king precut gives 6 inches per side, which suits most quilting. If your longarmer wants 8 inches per side you need a 124 by 124 inch custom cut, because the standard king precut stops at 6 inches of overage.
Does king batting shrink after washing?
It can. Cotton batting shrinks about 3 to 5 percent, an 80/20 cotton-poly blend about 2 to 3 percent, polyester under 1 percent, and wool 0 to 3 percent. Prewashing the batt is not usual, but plan a little extra overage if you expect heavy washing.