How Much Does Longarm Quilting Cost? Prices by Quilt Size
⚡ Quick Answer
- Most longarm quilters price by the square inch: width × height × the rate.
- At Missouri Star, standard edge-to-edge quilting is 3¢ per square inch with batting and thread included. A 50" × 65" throw costs $97.50, and a 90" × 95" queen costs $256.50.
- Priority (quilted within 7 business days of arrival) is 5¢ per square inch.
- Binding is priced by the linear inch: 25¢ by machine, 60¢ by hand. Trimming only is $10.
- Custom quilting, dense designs, and rush service cost more wherever you go.
You've pieced the top, pressed every seam, and now it's folded on the cutting table, waiting. If quilting it yourself isn't in the cards, the next question is usually: how much does it cost to have a quilt longarmed? Here's how longarm pricing works, what you'll pay at Missouri Star for every standard quilt size, and how to keep the total down.
Key Takeaways
- ➤Square inches drive the price: a queen has more than two and a half times the area of a throw, and that shows in the cost.
- ➤Edge to edge is the budget option: one continuous pattern across the whole quilt costs less than custom quilting block by block.
- ➤Speed costs extra: priority service at Missouri Star is 5¢ per square inch instead of 3¢.
- ➤Finishing is a separate line: binding is priced by the linear inch around the edge, so bind at home, and you save the most.
- ➤Read what's included: Missouri Star's price includes batting and standard thread. Some longarmers charge for those separately.
How Longarm Quilting Is Priced
Almost every longarm quilter, local or mail-in, starts with the same math:
Quilt width (in) × quilt height (in) × price per square inch = quilting cost
What changes from one quilter to the next is the rate, and that depends on three things:
- Type of quilting. Edge-to-edge (also called allover or pantograph) quilting repeats one design across the whole quilt and is the least expensive. Custom quilting treats blocks, sashing, and borders differently and is priced much higher.
- Density. Tighter, more detailed designs use more thread and machine time.
- Turnaround. A rush or priority spot in the queue usually costs extra.
Then check what's included. Batting, thread, trimming, binding, backing seams, and return shipping are sometimes in the rate and sometimes added on, so compare totals, not just cents per square inch.
Longarm Quilting Prices at Missouri Star
Missouri Star's mail-in service is edge-to-edge quilting on Innova longarms, stitched by our team in Hamilton, Missouri. Here's the current price list:
| Service | Price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Standard quilting | 3¢ per square inch | Edge-to-edge quilting with batting and standard thread included. About 4 weeks from the day your quilt arrives. |
| Priority upgrade | 5¢ per square inch | Quilted within 7 business days of arrival. Binding and return shipping add time. |
| Deluxe pattern | +¼¢ per square inch | More detailed designs that take more time and thread. |
| Trimming | $10 | We trim the edges and send the extra fabric back so you can bind at home. |
| Machine binding | 25¢ per linear inch | Straight-stitched by machine, after quilting. |
| Hand binding | 60¢ per linear inch | Hand-stitched, after quilting. |
What It Costs to Longarm Every Standard Quilt Size
Here's the math done for you, using the dimensions from our quilt sizes chart. Machine binding is calculated on the full perimeter of each quilt.
| Quilt size | Square inches | Standard (3¢) | Priority (5¢) | Machine binding (25¢/in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby / crib (36" × 52") | 1,872 | $56.16 | $93.60 | $44.00 |
| Throw (50" × 65") | 3,250 | $97.50 | $162.50 | $57.50 |
| Twin (68" × 86") | 5,848 | $175.44 | $292.40 | $77.00 |
| Full (84" × 90") | 7,560 | $226.80 | $378.00 | $87.00 |
| Queen (90" × 95") | 8,550 | $256.50 | $427.50 | $92.50 |
| King (108" × 95") | 10,260 | $307.80 | $513.00 | $101.50 |
Want hand binding instead? Multiply the perimeter by 60¢. On a throw, that's $138 instead of $57.50. These figures cover quilting and binding only. Backing, back piecing, and any extras are included in your total on the order form, which calculates your exact price as soon as you enter your measurements.
💡 Pro Tip: Measure your actual quilt top before you budget. Finished tops often come out a couple of inches different from the pattern, and on a queen every extra inch of width adds about $2.85 at the standard rate.
Worked Example: A Throw Quilt, Start to Finish
Let's say your top measures 60" × 70":
- 60 × 70 = 4,200 square inches
- Standard quilting: 4,200 × 3¢ = $126.00 (or $210.00 with priority)
- Machine binding: perimeter 2 × (60 + 70) = 260" × 25¢ = $65.00
- Quilted and bound: $191.00 (a deluxe pattern would add $10.50)
Bind it yourself instead and add trimming for $10. Your total drops to $136.00, and the quilt comes back trimmed and ready for your binding.
7 Ways to Keep Longarm Quilting Costs Down
- Pick a standard pattern. Standard designs are included in the price, and there are dozens of meanders, loops, florals, and seasonal motifs.
- Choose standard turnaround when you aren't racing a date. It's 3¢ per square inch instead of 5¢.
- Bind it yourself. Binding is where the cost climbs on big quilts. Add $10 trimming so the edges come back neat.
- Send your backing ready to go. Use 108" wide backing or sew your backing together at home so you don't need back piecing.
- Batch your small projects. Table runners and wall hangings can qualify for flat-rate pricing, and the order form tells you when you enter your measurements.
- Plan ahead for gifts. If you order early, you won't need priority. Check our holiday machine quilting deadlines before Christmas.
- Quilt the small ones at home. Baby quilts and table runners are great practice. Here's how to machine quilt on a regular sewing machine.
Is It Worth Paying for Longarm Quilting?
If you love the quilting step, a walking foot and a free-motion foot can take you a long way on a home machine. But when a quilt is twin-size or larger, has a deadline, or would otherwise just sit in the closet, sending it out is often what turns a top into a quilt someone actually uses. Many makers split the difference: they quilt the small projects at home and send the bed quilts out.
Longarm Quilting Cost FAQ
How much does it cost to have a queen quilt longarmed?
At Missouri Star, a 90" × 95" queen is 8,550 square inches, so standard edge-to-edge quilting is $256.50, or $427.50 with priority. Machine binding adds $92.50.
How much does it cost to longarm a throw quilt?
A 50" × 65" throw is $97.50 at the standard rate of 3¢ per square inch, with batting and thread included.
Is longarm quilting priced by the square inch?
Usually, yes. Multiply your quilt's width by its height in inches, then multiply by the per-square-inch rate. Some quilters also offer flat rates for small projects.
Does the price include batting?
At Missouri Star, yes. Standard batting and standard thread are included in the per-square-inch price. If you prefer, you can send your own batting.
What's the difference between edge-to-edge and custom longarm quilting?
Edge to edge repeats one design across the whole quilt, which makes it faster and more affordable. Custom quilting treats each block and border separately and costs more. Missouri Star offers edge-to-edge quilting.
How long does longarm quilting take?
At Missouri Star, standard service takes about 4 weeks from the day your quilt arrives, and priority is quilted within 7 business days of arrival. Binding and return shipping add time.
Ready to see your exact price? Enter your quilt's measurements on the order form. For everything else, from thread to tracking, read our complete guide to Missouri Star's longarm quilting service.