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A complete guide to quilt sizes

Buying a new quilt should be quite a straightforward thing but many of us have been in the situation where we to choose and the huge variations in styles, fillings and sizes makes the simple chore into a huge and confusing problem. Well, let’s address the issues before we start to shop so that the whole job becomes simplified and far less stressful.

Firstly you need to look at what type of mattress you have as this will have a bearing on the size of quilt that you need to buy. Mattresses are much deeper today than they were some years ago and because of this you may find that your quilt needs to be wider to give you a drop or overhang that covers your bed sides.

You will also need to consider how much coverage you want on the sides of your bed, some people like to have just enough quilt to reach the sides and others like to have an overhang that reaches to the floor. Obviously this will impact on the size of quilt that you need. On the other hand if you have a narrow bed, perhaps a futon type, your quilt can be considerably smaller as there will be very little need of any overhang.

Another thing to consider is whether or not you want to have a pillow tuck at the top of your bed, this means that you may want to tuck your quilt slightly under your pillows to give a definite line to your dressed bed. Or perhaps you might want to cover your pillows completely or have your quilt lie just under your pillows, all these things will have a bearing on the size of quilt that you will need to purchase.

The thickness and type of filling in your quilt will also make a difference to the size of the finished article as some very fluffy fillings like down feather can be far denser than others, and this will make the actual quilt fatter so that it may well need a larger quilt cover to allow the filling to lie normally. There is nothing worse than a quilt that is too large for the cover as it will ruche up at the sides making it uncomfortable and bulky to lie under. Conversely a quilt that is too small will move around inside the cover and generally rumple up at one side leaving some of the quilt cover completely empty. It is a 'must' that you get the quilt that best fits your quilt cover.

If you are buying a new quilt and cover at the same time this can make your task a lot easier as you can check sizes and styles before you make any decisions. Sometimes it is possible to buy a set that gives you the quilt and the correct size cover in one package, obviously these will have been manufactured to fit exactly.

The most obvious thing to look at when buying a new quilt is the actual size of your bed. Bed manufacturers do not have set sizing for their beds and any sizes given are meant only as guidelines. This applies right through the bedding industry from actual beds to mattresses and into sheets and quilts. With this in mind the bed that you might consider as a standard size could vary by several centimetres and this will impact on the size of quilt that you need to buy. If in doubt take out your tape measure and get the exact sizes before you purchase the quilt.

So, by now you should have decided on the type, style and filling of your quilt and also the look you want to create with your quilt with regards to overhang and bed style. Now we need to narrow down the actual sizes so that you get the best fit for your quilt cover and the most comfortable nights sleep possible.

Remember that standard bed and bedding sizes vary from country to country so bear in mind that if you buy a quilt or comforter, as they are also known, in say America it will be a different size to the one you might buy in say Britain and different as well from one bought in Europe, say for instance, France.

Quilts are available to fit pretty much any bed size from a baby's cot to a huge emperor bed and here are some manufacturers standard sizes.

  • A baby's cot would be 69cm x 132cm approximately.
  • A small single bed mattress will be roughly 75cm x 190cm and so will need a quilt that measures about 120cm x 200cm.
  • A standard single bed mattress will be roughly 90cm x 190cm and will need a quilt that measures approximately 135cm x 200cm.
  • A small double bed mattress is generally about 120cm x 190cm and a quilt of roughly 200cm x 200cm will be a good fit.
  • A standard double bed mattress is 135cm x 190cm and the same quilt 200cm x 200cm is a normal fit for this bed.
  • A king size bed is 150cm x 200cm and will need a quilt at least 220cm x 220cm.
  • A superking size bed is approximately 180cm x 200 cm and a quilt of 260cm x 220cm will be a good fit.

Remember that these sizes are just guides and remember that many manufacturers will have their own recommendations as to what size quilt will best fit their beds and/or bedding. Look at all packaging closely to make sure of the actual measurements of the quilt inside before you buy so that you will avoid the disappointment and extra work of having to perhaps return your quilt. Shopping online is a good option as the sizes of the quilts will be included within the product description. Here at Terrys Fabrics we also have a customer helpline for any advice you might need.

Choosing the right size quilt for the size of your beds is imperative if you want the quilt to provide you with warmth and create a stylish looking bed.

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