Hey everyone. Today we're sizing a king quilt — the biggest bed in the house, and the one where a short quilt really shows. Two sleepers, one quilt, and if the drop comes up short on your side, y'all feel it all night. Let's get the numbers right before you cut.
Key Takeaways
- A king mattress measures 76″ × 80″ — the widest standard bed.
- A finished king quilt runs 104″ × 92″ to 110″ × 108″ — most quilters aim for about 108″ × 96″ to 108″ × 108″.
- Batting: only 120″ works. A 120″ × 120″ king package or a cut from a 120″ roll, with 4″ to 8″ to spare per side.
- Backing: about 3½ to 4 yards of 108″ wideback for standard tops.
- King vs. California king: a king is 4″ wider and 4″ shorter. Same name, different shape.
What Are the Standard Dimensions of a King-Size Quilt?
A king mattress is 76″ wide by 80″ long. Most king quilts finish between 104″ × 92″ and 110″ × 108″. Do the math with me: 76″ of mattress plus 15″ of drop per side lands at 106″ wide. Length works the same way — drop at the foot, a pillow tuck if you like one, and you're at 96″ to 108″ long. Just like that. That width is the whole story here. A king top is a big, beautiful piece of work, and it deserves a batting and a backing that actually cover it.
King vs. California King: the Four-Inch Swap
Here's the mix-up we hear in the shop all the time. A standard king is 76″ × 80″. A California king is 72″ × 84″ — four inches narrower, four inches longer. Put a California king quilt on a standard king bed and it comes up short on both sides. Put a standard king quilt on a California king and it puddles at the sides and quits early at the foot. Before you cut a single strip, measure the bed and say the numbers out loud. Completely up to you which drop you like — but the mattress size is not negotiable.
Every Standard Quilt Size in One Chart
From our complete guide to quilt sizes and dimensions — the chart we use in the shop.
| Quilt Size | Mattress Size | Typical Quilt Dimensions | Typical Drop | Recommended Batting Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby / Crib | 28″ × 52″ | 36″ × 52″ to 45″ × 60″ | 4″–8″ | 45″ × 60″ package |
| Lap / Throw | — | 50″ × 60″ to 60″ × 70″ | — | 60″ × 60″ package |
| Twin | 39″ × 75″ | 68″ × 86″ to 72″ × 90″ | 14″–16″ | 72″ × 90″ package |
| Twin XL | 39″ × 80″ | 68″ × 91″ to 72″ × 95″ | 14″–16″ | Twin pkg or roll cut |
| Full / Double | 54″ × 75″ | 76″ × 87″ to 80″ × 96″ | 11″–13″ | 81″ × 96″ package |
| Queen | 60″ × 80″ | 88″ × 92″ to 96″ × 108″ | 14″–18″ | 90″ × 108″ package |
| ★ King | 76″ × 80″ | 104″ × 92″ to 110″ × 108″ | 14″–17″ | 120″ × 120″ pkg / roll |
| California King | 72″ × 84″ | 100″ × 104″ to 108″ × 110″ | 14″–18″ | 120″ × 120″ pkg / roll |
Custom size? Our standard quilt size guide runs the drop formula for any bed.
What Size Batting Do You Need for a King Quilt?
Here's the rule I teach every new quilter: batting extends 4″ to 6″ past your top on all sides for a domestic machine, 4″ to 8″ on a longarm. Run that math on a king top and the answer is simple — you need 120″ batting. A 108″-wide batting leaves a 108″ top with no margin at all, and a longarm has nothing to grab. Two easy ways to get there:
- The Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Batting Package, King 120″ × 120″ is the grab-and-go king standard — the same 80/20 blend our longarm customers run by the roll.
- The Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 120″ Wide Batting Roll lets you cut exactly the length your top needs, which is really really handy if you make kings often.
Browse everything by size in our quilt batting collection. Between sizes? Size up — trimming extra batting takes ten seconds.
Pro Tips for King Quilts
- Measure the bed, not the tag. Tags round numbers. Your tape measure doesn't.
- Count the mattress depth. A thick pillow-top eats drop fast. On a king, losing two inches of drop per side is four inches of quilt — measure first.
- Check your frame or your harp space. A 110″ top plus margins totals up to 126″ on a longarm. On a domestic machine, a king is a wrestling match — roll from both sides toward the center and take your time.
- Plan for 3–5% shrinkage. Cotton relaxes after quilting and washing. Add a small buffer.
- Mind the weight. A king quilt in a dense, high-loft batting is a two-person laundry day. A lower loft keeps it manageable and still warm.
- It doesn't have to be perfect. A quilt an inch long still gets used and loved.
Sizing Another Bed? Read These Next
- Queen Size Quilt Dimensions — where most purchasing mistakes happen.
- California King Quilt Dimensions — the long, narrow king.
- Twin Quilt Dimensions — plus the Twin XL dorm-bed fix.
- Full Size Quilt Dimensions — the in-between bed.
- Every size in one place: Understanding Quilt Sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a king quilt?
A finished king quilt usually measures 104″ × 92″ to 110″ × 108″ — enough for a 76″ × 80″ mattress with 14″ to 17″ of drop per side. Most quilters aim for about 108″ × 96″ to 108″ × 108″.
What size batting do I need for a king quilt?
Buy 120″ batting — a 120″ × 120″ king package or a cut from a 120″-wide roll. Batting should extend 4″ to 8″ past your top on all sides, and nothing narrower than 120″ gives a king top that margin.
Will a king quilt fit a California king bed?
Not well. A California king mattress is 72″ × 84″ — narrower and longer than a standard king's 76″ × 80″ — so a king quilt hangs long on the sides and comes up short at the foot.
How much backing fabric does a king quilt need?
Plan on about 3½ to 4 yards of 108″ wideback for a standard top. With standard 44″ fabric you'll piece roughly 10 to 11 yards.
What is the difference between a king and a queen quilt?
Width, mostly. A king mattress is 76″ × 80″ against the queen's 60″ × 80″, so a king quilt runs 104″ × 92″ to 110″ × 108″ and needs 120″ batting, where a queen fits a 90″ × 108″ package.
Alrighty. Measure once, cut with confidence.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What size is a king quilt?
A: A finished king quilt usually measures 104 x 92 inches to 110 x 108 inches. That covers a 76 x 80 inch king mattress with about 14 to 17 inches of drop on each side and at the foot.
Q: What size batting do I need for a king quilt?
A: Buy 120-inch batting — a 120 x 120 inch king package or a length cut from a 120-inch-wide roll. Batting needs to extend 4 to 8 inches past the top on all sides, and 108-inch batting leaves a king top with no margin.
Q: Will a king quilt fit a California king bed?
A: Not well. A California king mattress is 72 x 84 inches — narrower and longer than a standard king — so a king quilt hangs long on the sides and short at the foot.
Q: How much backing fabric does a king quilt need?
A: Plan on about 3.5 to 4 yards of 108-inch wideback for a standard top. With standard 44-inch fabric you will piece roughly 10 to 11 yards, and the backing still needs to extend past the top on all sides.
