What Is WOF in Quilting?

WOF stands for Width of Fabric. It is one of the most common terms you will see in quilt patterns and fabric calculators.

How Wide Is Quilting Cotton?

Most quilting cotton sold in the United States is 42 to 44 inches wide from selvage to selvage. This is the standard WOF used in most quilt calculators, including our binding and backing tools.

Why WOF Matters

When a pattern says "cut 6 strips at 2.5 inches by WOF," it means each strip runs the full width of the fabric, from one selvage edge to the other. The usable width after trimming selvages is typically about 40 to 42 inches.

Wide Backing Fabric

Quilt backing fabric is often sold in wider widths, commonly 90 inches or 108 inches, to reduce or eliminate the need to piece backing panels.