Table of Contents
- When Polyester Is the Right Batting
- The One Thing That Matters: Weight
- The Contenders
- Side-by-Side Comparison
- Polyester Prices: Packages and Rolls
- Which Polyester Batting Should You Buy?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 11, 2026
When Polyester Is the Right Batting
Polyester has a reputation problem left over from the 1970s, when thick, slippery batts bearded through everything and squeaked when you folded them. Modern polyester is a different product. It does not shrink, it dries in a fraction of the time cotton takes, it holds loft through hundreds of washes, it weighs almost nothing, and it is the least expensive batting on the wall. For a quilt headed to a college dorm, a summer camp, a hospital, a car, or a dog bed, polyester is not the compromise choice. It is the correct one.
It is also the only family that runs from paper-thin to three inches thick. This is the fifth post in our batting series, and it covers every polyester Linda's carries, from Thermore for garments to Hobbs 16oz for comforters.
The One Thing That Matters: Weight
With cotton and wool you choose by fiber. With polyester you choose by weight, measured in ounces per square yard, because weight is loft. Roughly:
Ultra-thin (Thermore, Quilters Dream Request Poly). About 1/8 inch. For garments, table runners, placemats, wall hangings, and anything that needs to lie flat or drape like fabric.
Low loft (Hobbs Poly-Down, Quilters Dream Select Poly, Pellon Polyester). About 1/4 to 3/8 inch. The all-purpose polyesters for everyday bed quilts, charity quilts, and baby quilts that will be washed constantly.
Mid-high loft (Quilters Dream Deluxe Poly, Quilters Dream Puff, Katahdin Winter 4.5oz). Puffy enough to show quilting dramatically, still light enough to machine quilt.
High loft (Hobbs 12oz and 16oz). Comforter weight. These are for tied quilts, duvets, and projects where you want real thickness, and they are too thick for most domestic machines.
None of them shrink. All of them can be machine washed and dried on low. The main thing to avoid is a hot iron, which will melt or flatten any polyester.
The Contenders
Hobbs Thermore
Thermore is an ultra-thin, bonded polyester that was designed for quilted clothing and has become the standard for table runners, placemats, and miniatures. It will not beard, it drapes almost like a second layer of fabric, and it can be quilted up to 4 inches apart. Packages are $8.49 (54 by 45 inches) and $20.39 (90 by 108 queen); a 45-inch by 25-yard roll is $231.99 for studios that make a lot of runners and bags.
Hobbs Poly-Down
Poly-Down is Hobbs's everyday polyester: a soft, bonded low loft that resists bearding, machine quilts easily, and costs less than any other Hobbs batting. Packages run $6.79 (crib) to $20.39 (king), with a queen at $14.16, which makes it the cheapest queen package at Linda's. It is the right choice for a bed quilt that has to survive a child, a washing machine, and a dryer every week.
Read the full Hobbs Poly-Down package guide →
Quilters Dream Poly: Request, Select, Deluxe
Quilters Dream applies its four-loft system to polyester too, using fine-denier fibers with no resins or binders. Request Poly is the thinnest and the least expensive batting Linda's sells, from $4.94 for a craft size to $19.24 queen and $27.49 king. Select Poly is the mid loft ($6.04 craft, $25.84 Super Queen), and Deluxe Poly adds body ($10.44 crib, $30.79 queen). All three can be quilted up to 8 inches apart and come in 60-, 93-, and 120-inch rolls; Select also comes in black for dark quilts.
Quilters Dream Puff
Dream Puff is a high-loft polyester engineered to feel like down: very light, very warm, and compressible, with Quilters Dream claiming more warmth than a wool of the same thickness. It can be quilted up to 12 inches apart, which makes it ideal for tied quilts and comforters, and it still machine quilts if your machine has the clearance. Craft packages are $7.69; 93-inch ($218.16) and 120-inch ($233.74) rolls are in stock for longarm use.
Pellon Polyester
Pellon Polyester is a bonded low-loft that competes directly with Poly-Down on price: craft $10.00, crib $10.50, throw $11.50, twin $16.00, queen $23.00, king $28.00. Where Pellon pulls ahead is rolls: 90 inches by 6 yards is $31.00, 96 by 30 is $165.83, and 120 by 30 is $201.66, which puts a king-width polyester roll at about $6.72 a yard.
Hobbs 12oz and 16oz Poly
Hobbs 12oz and 16oz are comforter-weight bonded polyesters on 96-inch rolls, both $152.16 (the 16oz roll is 13 yards). These are for tied quilts, duvets, pet beds, and upholstery-style projects where you want two to three inches of loft. They are too thick to quilt on a domestic machine and most longarmers limit them to wide, simple designs. The 12oz is the more versatile of the two.
Katahdin Winter Poly
Katahdin Winter 4.5oz is Brewer's house polyester in a mid-high loft, sold in 94 by 96 ($19.79) and 108 by 90 ($23.64) packages. It sits between Poly-Down and Puff in thickness and is a reasonable choice for a warm, washable throw.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Batting | Loft | Max Stitch Spacing | Domestic Machine? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbs Thermore | Ultra-thin | 4" | Yes | Garments, runners, placemats, miniatures |
| Quilters Dream Request Poly | Thin | 8" | Yes | Lowest cost, flat quilts, wall hangings |
| Hobbs Poly-Down | Low | 4" | Yes | Everyday bed and kids' quilts |
| Quilters Dream Select Poly | Low-mid | 8" | Yes | All-purpose, available in black |
| Pellon Polyester | Low-mid | Per package | Yes | Budget rolls, charity and group quilts |
| Quilters Dream Deluxe Poly | Mid | 8" | Yes | Warmer washable quilts |
| Katahdin Winter 4.5oz | Mid-high | Per package | Yes, with care | Warm throws |
| Quilters Dream Puff | High, down-like | 12" | With clearance | Tied quilts, comforters, cold climates |
| Hobbs 12oz / 16oz | Very high | Tie or wide | No | Comforters, duvets, pet beds |
Stitch-spacing figures are the manufacturers' published ratings. No polyester on this page shrinks; all are machine washable and dryable on low.
Polyester Prices: Packages and Rolls
| Product | Queen Package | Roll | Roll Price per Yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbs Poly-Down | $14.16 (90" x 108") | See roll listings | Varies |
| Quilters Dream Request Poly | $19.24 (93" x 108") | $198.91 (93" x 30 yd) | About $6.63 |
| Hobbs Thermore | $20.39 (90" x 108") | $231.99 (45" x 25 yd) | About $9.28 |
| Pellon Polyester | $23.00 (90" x 108") | $165.83 (96" x 30 yd) | About $5.53 |
| Quilters Dream Select Poly | $25.84 (Super Queen 121" x 93") | $235.58 (93" x 30 yd) | About $7.85 |
| Quilters Dream Deluxe Poly | $30.79 (93" x 108") | $300.66 (93" x 30 yd) | About $10.02 |
| Quilters Dream Puff | Craft $7.69 (larger sizes by roll) | $218.16 (93" x 25 yd) | About $8.73 |
| Hobbs 12oz Poly | Roll only | $152.16 (96") | See listing for length |
| Hobbs 16oz Poly | Roll only | $152.16 (96" x 13 yd) | About $11.70 |
Prices are Linda's current prices as of October 2026. For a studio that batts a lot of utility quilts, the Pellon 96-inch roll at about $5.50 a yard and the Quilters Dream Request 93-inch roll at about $6.60 are the two cheapest full rolls on the entire batting wall.
Shop all polyester batting at Linda's →
Which Polyester Batting Should You Buy?
Choose Hobbs Thermore if:
- You are making a quilted jacket, vest, table runner, placemats, or a miniature
- You need a batting that drapes like fabric and will never beard
Choose Hobbs Poly-Down if:
- You want the cheapest queen package on the wall from a brand you trust
- The quilt will live in a washing machine (kids, dorms, camps, pets)
Choose Quilters Dream Request Poly or Select Poly if:
- You want no resins or binders in a polyester
- You want 8-inch stitch spacing or a black option
- You run a charity-quilt program and need the lowest possible cost per quilt
Choose Pellon Polyester if:
- You buy by the roll and want the lowest price per yard at 96 or 120 inches
Choose Quilters Dream Puff or Katahdin Winter if:
- You want a warm, puffy, washable quilt for a cold climate
- You tie quilts and want loft that shows
Choose Hobbs 12oz or 16oz if:
- You are making a comforter, duvet insert, or pet bed and want two to three inches of loft
Frequently Asked Questions
Is polyester batting good for quilts?
Yes, for the right quilt. Modern bonded polyester does not shrink, dries fast, holds its loft through years of washing, is hypoallergenic, and costs less than cotton or wool. It is the best choice for utility quilts, kids' quilts, charity quilts, and anything washed often. It shows less stitch definition than wool and feels less natural than cotton, so quilters making heirloom or show pieces usually choose those instead.
What is the thinnest batting for table runners and placemats?
Hobbs Thermore is the standard ultra-thin polyester for table runners, placemats, quilted garments, and miniatures. Quilters Dream Request Poly is the next thinnest and less expensive. For microwave bowl cozies and potato bags, use a 100% cotton batting such as Pellon Wrap-N-Zap instead, because polyester can melt in the microwave.
Does polyester batting shrink or beard?
Polyester does not shrink. Bearding, where fibers migrate through the quilt top, was common with older unbonded polyesters but is rare with modern bonded battings such as Hobbs Poly-Down, Thermore, Quilters Dream Poly, and Pellon Polyester, provided you use a sharp needle and quilting-weight fabric. Avoid hot irons, which can melt or flatten polyester.
What is the cheapest quilt batting?
At Linda's, Quilters Dream Request Poly is the lowest-priced batting, from $4.94 for a craft size and $19.24 for a queen. Hobbs Poly-Down is the cheapest queen package at $14.16. By the roll, Pellon Polyester 96-inch by 30 yards at $165.83 is about $5.53 per yard, the lowest price per yard on the batting wall.
Can you quilt high-loft polyester on a home sewing machine?
Low and mid-loft polyesters (Thermore, Poly-Down, Quilters Dream Request through Deluxe, Pellon) quilt easily on a domestic machine. High-loft Quilters Dream Puff can be machine quilted if your machine has enough throat space and you use a walking foot with wide stitch spacing. Hobbs 12oz and 16oz are comforter weights and are better tied or quilted on a longarm with a simple, open design.
