Quilt Hexagon Calculator

Desired Quilt Width (inches)

Desired Quilt Length (inches)

Hexagon Side Length (inches) Measurement of one side of the finished hex.

Seam Allowance (inches)

Results

Total Hexagons Needed: –

Cut Side Length (with seam): –"

Hexagon Width (flat to flat): –"

Hexagon Height (point to point): –"

Number of Columns: –

Number of Rows: –

Mastering the Hexagon Quilt: A Comprehensive Guide

Hexagon quilts, often referred to as "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilts, are a timeless favorite in the quilting world. Unlike square blocks, hexagons offer a unique tessellating pattern that creates a beautiful, honeycomb-like structure. Using our Quilt Hexagon Calculator, you can accurately estimate how many individual pieces you need to cut to complete your project without running out of fabric halfway through.

How Hexagon Geometry Works in Quilting

Calculating hexagons is different from square blocks because they don't sit in a perfect grid. Hexagons are measured by their side length. Interestingly, the distance from the center of a hexagon to any corner is equal to its side length. This geometry dictates how rows overlap.

Finished Size: The visible part of the hexagon after it is sewn into the quilt.
Cut Size: The size of the template including the seam allowance (typically 1/4 inch).
The Interlock: Because hexagons nestle into each other, each row adds less height than the actual height of the hexagon.

Example Calculation

If you want to make a small baby quilt (30″ x 40″) using 2-inch hexagons (finished side length):

Individual Hex Area: A 2″ side hex has a width of 3.46″ (flat to flat).
Vertical Spacing: Rows are spaced at 1.5 times the side length (3 inches).
Horizontal Spacing: The flat-to-flat width is the square root of 3 times the side length (~3.464 inches).
Estimation: To cover 1,200 square inches, you would need approximately 115 hexagons, accounting for the staggered edges.

Tips for Success

When working with hexagons, precision is key. Because of the multiple bias edges on a hexagon, fabric can stretch easily. We recommend using a high-quality acrylic template or a rotary cutter with a specialized hex-ruler. If you are doing English Paper Piecing (EPP), remember that your fabric needs to be at least 1/2 inch larger than your paper template (1/4 inch seam on all sides).

Fabric Requirements

Always add a 10-15% buffer to your hexagon count. This allows for mistakes during cutting or the need for "half-hexagons" to square off the edges of your quilt. If you plan to square the quilt, our calculator provides the total count required to fill the entire area; you will simply trim the excess once the top is assembled.

function calculateHexQuilt() { var qW = parseFloat(document.getElementById('quiltWidth').value); var qL = parseFloat(document.getElementById('quiltLength').value); var side = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sideLength').value); var seam = parseFloat(document.getElementById('seamAllowance').value); if (isNaN(qW) || isNaN(qL) || isNaN(side) || isNaN(seam) || side <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields."); return; } // Hexagon math constants // Width (point to point) = 2 * side // Height (flat to flat) = sqrt(3) * side var hexHeightFlat = Math.sqrt(3) * side; var hexWidthPoint = 2 * side; // Cutting math var cutSide = side + (seam * 1.1547); // Geometric adjustment for seam allowance on angles // Layout math (staggered columns) // Horizontal step (column to column) = 1.5 * side // Vertical step (row to row) = sqrt(3) * side var numCols = Math.ceil((qW – (0.5 * side)) / (1.5 * side)) + 1; var numRows = Math.ceil(qL / hexHeightFlat) + 1; var totalNeeded = numCols * numRows; // Display results document.getElementById('hexResults').style.display = 'block'; document.getElementById('totalHex').innerText = Math.round(totalNeeded); document.getElementById('cutSide').innerText = (side + (seam * 2)).toFixed(2); // Simplified cut side for user document.getElementById('hexWidth').innerText = hexHeightFlat.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('hexHeight').innerText = hexWidthPoint.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('cols').innerText = numCols; document.getElementById('rows').innerText = numRows; }