Twin XL Quilt Size Guide
A twin XL quilt is five inches longer than a twin quilt and exactly the same width. That one difference is enough to break the batting precut almost every twin project relies on. Here is the finished size, the full cut list, and the numbers that change.
Standard Twin XL Quilt Size
A twin XL mattress measures 38 by 80 inches. It keeps the 38 inch width of a regular twin and adds five inches of length, which is why college dorms and adjustable beds use it. Matching quilt: 70 by 95 inches. That is 38 inches of mattress plus 16 inches of drop per side, and 80 inches of mattress plus 15 inches at the foot.
| Twin XL size | Width × Length | Foot drop | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 58" × 90" | 10" | No tuck |
| Twin figure | 70" × 90" | 10" | Copied from twin |
| Standard | 70" × 95" | 15" | Matches twin drop |
| Generous | 81" × 111" | 21" | Pillow tuck |
What Changes When the Quilt Grows Five Inches
Less than you would expect, because most of the extra length is not enough to push a purchase into the next bracket. The binding does not move at all, and wide backing moves by a single quarter yard. The top fabric is the item that trips, and it trips for a reason worth knowing.
| Item | Twin 70" × 90" | Twin XL 70" × 95" |
|---|---|---|
| Top, 5" squares | 5.5 yd | 6 yd |
| Backing, pieced 42" | 5.5 yd | 5.75 yd |
| Backing, 108" wide | 2.75 yd | 3 yd |
| Batting cut | 78" × 98" | 78" × 103" |
| Twin 72" × 90" precut | 1" per side | 5" short |
| Binding, 2.5" strips | 9 | 9 |
The One Precut That Stops Working
Backing is straightforward. With 42 inch cotton you piece two panels cut 103 inches long, so 206 inches or 5.75 yards. With 108 inch wide backing the roll width covers the 78 inch cut and you buy the length instead: 103 inches, or 3 yards.
Batting is where twin XL differs from every other twin. The twin precut is 72 by 90 inches. On a regular twin that gives one inch of overage per side and ties the 90 inch length exactly. On a twin XL the same precut is five inches short of a 95 inch top, and against the 103 inch cut the overage rule calls for, it is 13 inches short. Move up to the queen precut at 90 by 108 inches and you get 6 inches per side and 2.5 inches at the foot. Cutting from a roll takes 103 inches, or 3 yards.
Binding for a 70 by 95 Inch Quilt
Perimeter is (70 + 95) × 2 = 330 inches. Add 24 inches for joining the ends and mitring four corners and you need 354 inches. Divide by 42 inches of usable width of fabric and you get 8.4, so cut 9 strips at 2.5 inches. Nine strips is 22.5 inches of fabric, which lands inside a 0.75 yard cut. The useful part: the twin figure of 70 by 90 needs 9 strips too, so a longer quilt costs nothing extra at the binding stage. Even the generous 81 by 111 version only climbs to 10 strips, still inside 0.75 yard.
Top Fabric for a Plain Patchwork Twin XL
For a grid of 5 inch finished squares you cut 5.5 inches and fit seven across a 42 inch width. A 70 by 95 top needs 14 columns and 19 rows, or 266 squares, which is exactly 38 strips. Thirty-eight strips at 5.5 inches is 209 inches, or 6 yards. The twin version needs 14 by 18 rows, or 252 squares and 36 strips, at 5.5 yards. Fourteen extra squares crossed a strip boundary and cost half a yard, which is the honest reason oversized quilts drain stash faster than the measurements suggest. Check the size you settle on with the fabric planning guide before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard twin XL quilt size?
70 by 95 inches. That keeps the 16 inch side drop of a regular twin quilt and adds five inches of length to match the 80 inch twin XL mattress.
Why do some charts list twin XL quilts as 70 by 90 inches?
Because many charts reuse the twin quilt figure instead of recalculating. A 90 inch quilt leaves 10 inches over the foot of an 80 inch twin XL mattress, five inches less than the same quilt gives on a 75 inch twin.
Can I use twin size batting for a twin XL quilt?
No. A twin batting precut measures 72 by 90 inches, which is 5 inches too short for a 70 by 95 inch quilt. Buy a queen precut at 90 by 108 inches, or cut 3 yards from a roll.
How much backing does a twin XL quilt need?
Two panels of 42 inch fabric cut 103 inches long, which is 5.75 yards. With 108 inch wide backing you buy 3 yards and get the quilt in a single piece.