Table of Contents
- Why Batting Decides How a Quilt Feels
- Step 1: Choose the Fiber
- Step 2: Choose Loft and Weight
- Step 3: Package, Roll, or By the Yard?
- Step 4: Match the Brand to How You Quilt
- Step 5: Size It Right
- Special Cases: Black, Fusible, Flame-Retardant, and More
- Which Batting Should You Buy?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 11, 2026
Why Batting Decides How a Quilt Feels
The person you're making a quilt for will never see the batting. They will feel it every single time they pull that quilt over their shoulders. Batting is the layer that decides whether a quilt drapes like a favorite old blanket or stands up like cardboard, whether it keeps a grandchild warm in January or breathes on a July night, and whether your quilting stitches sink in quietly or pop off the surface.
Linda's Electric Quilters stocks nearly 500 batting products across Hobbs, Quilters Dream, The Warm Company, Pellon, Quilters Select, and our own Linda's Deluxe line, in packages, 30-yard rolls, and cut by the yard. That selection is a gift when you know what you're looking for and a wall when you don't. This guide is the first in a series that will work through the entire batting wall, one decision at a time. Start here, and the rest of the series will make sense.
The five decisions, in order: fiber, loft, format, brand, size. Get the first two right and the rest is arithmetic.
Step 1: Choose the Fiber
Fiber determines drape, warmth, shrinkage, and how far apart you can quilt. Everything else is a refinement of this choice.
100% cotton is the traditional choice: flat, breathable, and it softens with every wash. Cotton shrinks 3% to 5% on the first wash, which produces the crinkled, antique look many quilters love. Needle-punched cottons like Warm & Natural can be quilted up to 10 inches apart; Quilters Dream Select Cotton allows up to 8 inches.
80/20 cotton-poly blend adds a little polyester for loft and strength without losing the cotton feel. It shrinks less (about 3%), resists creasing, and quilts beautifully on a longarm. Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 and Quilters Dream Natural 80/20 are the two standards; Linda's Deluxe is made by Hobbs to the same blend.
Wool is the warmest natural option and the one that makes quilting stitches look best, because its springy loft throws shadows between the lines. It is light for its warmth, resists creasing, and washes safely when it has been scoured and bonded, as Hobbs Tuscany Wool and Quilters Dream Wool are. Wool is creamy rather than white, so it can show through pale fabrics.
Polyester does not shrink, dries fast, and holds loft after years of washing. It is the right choice for tied quilts, comforters, and anything headed for a dorm room or a dog bed. Low-loft options like Hobbs Thermore are thin enough for garments and table runners; high-loft options like Hobbs 12oz Poly make a puffy comforter.
Bamboo and specialty blends sit at the premium end. Quilters Dream Bamboo blends bamboo, silk, Tencel, and cotton for an exceptionally soft drape and a subtle sheen. Pellon Bamboo/Cotton gives a similar hand at a lower price.
| Fiber | Feel | Warmth | Shrinkage | Start Here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% Cotton | Flat, soft, crinkles after washing | Medium | 3–5% | Warm & Natural from $9.06 |
| 80/20 Cotton-Poly | Cotton feel with a touch more loft | Medium | About 3% | Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 from $9.43 |
| Wool | Light, springy, shows off stitching | High | Minimal (scoured) | Quilters Dream Wool from $11.32 |
| Polyester | Puffy to ultra-thin, depending on weight | Low to high | None | Hobbs Poly-Down from $6.79 |
| Bamboo Blend | Silky drape, subtle sheen | Medium | 2–3% | Quilters Dream Bamboo from $9.06 |
Prices shown are Linda's current prices as of October 2026 and start at the smallest package size.
Step 2: Choose Loft and Weight
Loft is thickness. Weight, usually given in ounces per square yard, is density. The two together decide how much your quilting shows and how heavy the finished quilt feels on the bed.
Low loft (roughly 1/8 inch) is for quilts where the piecing is the star: traditional blocks, wall hangings, table runners, and anything you want to lie flat. Thermore and Quilters Dream Request are the thinnest options at Linda's.
Mid loft (about 1/4 inch) is where nearly every bed quilt belongs. Hobbs Heirloom 80/20, Warm & Natural, and Quilters Dream Select all live here. Stitches show, the quilt drapes, and it machine quilts without fighting you.
High loft (1/3 inch and up) is for dramatic texture. Wool gives you high loft with low weight; heavy polyester gives you high loft with real bulk. Dense quilting flattens high loft, so plan either generous stitch spacing or a faux-trapunto effect.
Browse every batting at Linda's →
Step 3: Package, Roll, or By the Yard?
Once you know the batting you want, the format you buy it in changes the price more than most quilters realize.
Packages are pre-cut to standard quilt sizes, from craft and crib up to king. They are the right choice when you make a few quilts a year and want zero waste. Hobbs, Quilters Dream, Warm & Natural, and Pellon all sell their core battings in packages.
Rolls are 96 to 124 inches wide and 20 to 40 yards long, and they are how longarm studios and serious hobbyists buy. A roll of Hobbs Heirloom 80/20, 96 inches by 30 yards is $199.99 at Linda's, which works out to about $6.67 per yard, and it yields roughly nine queen quilts.
By the yard is the middle path. You buy exactly the length you need from the same roll, at $8.99 per yard for Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 96-inch or Linda's Deluxe 96-inch. No waste, no storage, and no committing $200 to one batting.
The Real Cost per Yard
| Format (Hobbs Heirloom 80/20) | Price | Approx. Cost per Yard | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen package (90" x 108") | $21.71 | About $7.24 | One quilt, no leftovers |
| By the yard (96" wide) | $8.99 / yd | $8.99 | Odd sizes, trying a batting |
| 30-yard roll (96" wide) | $199.99 | About $6.67 | Longarmers, 4+ quilts a year |
| 30-yard roll (120" wide) | $229.16 | About $7.64 | King quilts without seams |
The roll wins on price per yard, but only if you'll use it. A roll that sits in a closet for three years is the most expensive batting you can buy.
Step 4: Match the Brand to How You Quilt
Every brand at Linda's makes a good batting. The differences are in which battings they make best, and in the small habits each one rewards.
Hobbs Bonded Fibers is the longarmer's brand. Heirloom 80/20 is the benchmark blend, Tuscany is the premium line (wool, cotton-wool, silk blends), and the polyester range runs from Thermore to 16oz. Hobbs offers the widest roll selection at Linda's, including 108- and 120-inch widths, and it is the only brand with a dedicated black 80/20 for dark quilts. Read our complete guide to the Hobbs 80/20 96-inch roll for the deep dive.
Quilters Dream is the brand for quilters who want to choose their exact loft. Every fiber comes in multiple lofts, there are no resins or binders, and the range includes Dream Green (recycled), Dream Angel (flame-retardant), and Dream Puff. Our Quilters Dream batting review compares the full lineup.
The Warm Company makes Warm & Natural, the cotton batting most quilters learned on. Its needle-punched construction allows stitches up to 10 inches apart, which makes it forgiving for beginners and ideal for tied or minimally quilted projects. Warm & White is the bleached version; Warm 100 drops the polyester scrim entirely.
Pellon is the value and utility brand: cotton, 80/20, polyester, and bamboo packages at the lowest prices on the wall, plus specialty items no one else makes, such as Wrap-N-Zap microwaveable cotton for bowl cozies.
Quilters Select (Floriani) offers Perfect Cotton and a cotton-poly Blend in pre-cut sizes and wide rolls, popular with quilters who already use the Quilters Select ruler and thread system.
Linda's Deluxe is our house label, manufactured by Hobbs as an 80/20 blend. It is the same batting many customers already know, sold in a 96-inch roll, 2- and 3-yard packages, and by the yard, at the sharpest price we can offer. Details are in the Linda's Deluxe batting guide.
| Brand | Known For | Signature Product at Linda's | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbs | Longarm rolls, 80/20, wool, black batting | Heirloom 80/20 96" x 30 yd roll | $199.99 |
| Quilters Dream | Loft choice, binder-free, specialty fibers | Select Natural Cotton package | From $7.69 |
| The Warm Company | Needle-punched cotton, wide stitch spacing | Warm & Natural package | From $9.06 |
| Pellon | Value packages, microwaveable cotton | Natural Cotton with Scrim king package | $33.50 |
| Quilters Select | Pre-cut cotton and blend, system loyalists | Blend Batting queen cut | $56.99 |
| Linda's Deluxe | Hobbs-made 80/20 at house-label pricing | Queen 3-yard package | $21.52 |
Step 5: Size It Right
Batting should extend at least 4 inches past the quilt top on every side, and longarm quilters usually want 6 to 8 inches. Package sizes already build in that margin for standard mattress sizes, which is why a "queen" package is 90 by 108 inches rather than 60 by 80.
| Package Size | Typical Dimensions | Roll Width That Covers It | Yards Needed From a Roll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craft / Table Runner | 34–46" x 36–45" | Any | 1 to 1.25 |
| Crib | 45" x 60" | 60" or wider | 1.75 |
| Throw | 60" x 60" | 60" or wider | 1.75 |
| Twin | 72" x 90" | 93" or 96" | 2.5 |
| Full / Double | 81" x 96" | 96" | 2.75 |
| Queen | 90" x 108" | 96" or 108" | 3 |
| King | 120" x 120" | 120" or 124" | 3.5 |
If your roll is narrower than the quilt, you can join two pieces with a wide zigzag or fusible batting tape, but a 108- or 120-inch roll avoids the seam entirely on queen and king quilts. For more detail, see our guide to quilt batting sizes.
Special Cases: Black, Fusible, Flame-Retardant, and More
A handful of battings solve one specific problem, and knowing they exist saves a project.
Black batting keeps dark quilts dark. White or natural batting bearding through black fabric is the most common complaint we hear about Halloween and modern quilts. Hobbs Heirloom Black 80/20 comes in packages, a 108-inch roll, and by the yard; Quilters Dream Select Black Poly is the polyester option.
Fusible batting eliminates basting. Press it to your top and backing, then quilt. Hobbs Heirloom Fusible 80/20 and Quilters Dream Fusible 80/20 both work on domestic machines and small projects especially well.
Flame-retardant batting matters for baby quilts and children's bedding. Quilters Dream Angel is inherently flame-retardant at the fiber level, with no chemical treatment that could wash out.
Microwaveable cotton is required for bowl cozies and potato bags. Ordinary battings often contain polyester scrim that can scorch or melt. Pellon Wrap-N-Zap is 100% cotton and made for the microwave.
Recycled batting appeals to quilters who care about the footprint. Quilters Dream Green is made from recycled plastic bottles and is one of the least expensive battings at Linda's, from $6.04.
Which Batting Should You Buy?
Match the quilt to the person and the batting follows.
Choose Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 (roll $199.99, by the yard $8.99, packages from $9.43) if:
- You longarm or plan to, and want one batting that handles everything
- You make bed quilts that will be washed and loved hard
- You want stitch definition without a puffy look
- You're not sure, and want the choice most quilters make
Choose Warm & Natural Cotton (packages from $9.06) if:
- You're a beginner who wants wide stitch spacing and forgiveness
- You love the crinkled, washed-in look of an all-cotton quilt
- You tie quilts or quilt sparsely
Choose Quilters Dream Select Cotton (packages from $7.69) if:
- You want 100% cotton with no resins, binders, or scrim
- You want to pick your exact loft rather than accept a default
- You quilt on a domestic machine and want a batting that feeds smoothly
Choose Quilters Dream Wool or Hobbs Tuscany Wool (from $11.32) if:
- The quilt is for someone in a cold house or a cold climate
- You want your quilting to be the showpiece, including show quilts
- You want warmth without weight
Choose Hobbs Poly-Down or Pellon Polyester (from $6.79) if:
- The quilt is headed to a dorm, a camp, a car, or a pet
- You're tying rather than quilting
- You want no shrinkage and fast drying
Choose Linda's Deluxe 80/20 (roll $199.99, queen package $21.52, by the yard $8.99) if:
- You want Hobbs quality at the best price on the wall
- You make several quilts a year and buy in volume
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best all-around quilt batting for beginners?
An 80/20 cotton-poly blend in a mid loft, such as Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 or Quilters Dream Natural 80/20. It drapes like cotton, shrinks less, resists creasing, and quilts well on both domestic and longarm machines. If you prefer all cotton, Warm & Natural allows stitches up to 10 inches apart, which is very forgiving.
Is it cheaper to buy batting by the roll or by the package?
Per yard, a roll is cheapest. A 96-inch by 30-yard roll of Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 is $199.99 at Linda's, about $6.67 per yard, compared with $8.99 by the yard and roughly $7.24 per yard for a queen package. The roll only saves money if you'll quilt through it, so most quilters who make fewer than four quilts a year do better with packages or by-the-yard cuts.
Should I prewash quilt batting?
Usually not. Most modern battings from Hobbs, Quilters Dream, and The Warm Company are made to be used straight from the package, and prewashing can distort or weaken them. If you want to avoid the crinkled look that cotton shrinkage creates, choose an 80/20 blend or polyester instead of prewashing a cotton batting.
What batting should I use for a dark or black quilt?
Use a black batting. Hobbs Heirloom Black 80/20 is available in packages, a 108-inch roll, and by the yard, and Quilters Dream makes a Select Black Poly. Light batting fibers that migrate through dark fabric, called bearding, show as white specks and cannot be fully removed once they appear.
How much batting do I need for a queen-size quilt?
A queen package is typically 90 by 108 inches. From a roll, plan on 3 yards of 96-inch-wide batting, or 3 yards of 108- or 120-inch batting if you want extra margin for longarm loading. Always allow at least 4 inches beyond the quilt top on every side.
Which batting is warmest?
Wool. Hobbs Tuscany Wool and Quilters Dream Wool trap more air per ounce than cotton or polyester, so they are the warmest battings for their weight. High-loft polyester such as Hobbs 9oz or 12oz is also warm but noticeably heavier and bulkier.
