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, and understanding it is the key to buying the right amount of fabric.

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.

Usable Width vs. Bolt Width

The printed selvage edges are not usable, so after trimming them the real working width is about 40 to 42 inches. Always plan yardage around the usable width, not the full bolt width, or you may run a few inches short.

Why WOF Matters in Patterns

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 number of strips you can get from a yard depends on that usable width.

Common Fabric Widths

Fabric type	Bolt width	Usable width	Typical use
Quilting cotton	42–44"	40–42"	Tops, binding, pieced backing
Wide backing	90"	~88"	Single-piece twin/queen backing
Wide backing	108"	~106"	Single-piece king backing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WOF mean in quilting?

WOF stands for Width of Fabric. It is the distance from one selvage edge to the other on a bolt of fabric, and it is the full length a strip can run when a pattern says "cut strips WOF".

How wide is quilting cotton?

Most quilting cotton sold in the United States is 42 to 44 inches wide from selvage to selvage. After trimming the selvages, the usable width is typically about 40 to 42 inches.

Why does usable width matter for yardage?

Calculators divide quilt dimensions by the usable width, not the full bolt width. Using 40 to 42 inches instead of 44 prevents running a few inches short on backing panels and binding strips.

What is wide backing fabric width?

Quilt backing is often sold at 90 or 108 inches wide so large quilts can be backed in a single piece without piecing panels.

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