How to Make a Dust Ruffle

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 23, 2022 References Tested

A dust ruffle is a type of bed skirt that hangs down with a slight wave, giving your bed a more cute, frilly look. Buying a dust ruffle can be a pain, especially if you want to customize your own. You can choose your favorite fabric and spend the afternoon putting together a dust ruffle on your own to make it perfect for your bedroom.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Measuring and Cutting the Fabric

1
Measure all 4 sides of your bed, then add those numbers together. Use a tape measure to measure the length of all 4 sides of your bed. Add these numbers together to get the total length that you’ll need for your dust ruffle.^{[1]
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- An average twin bed is 38 by 75 inches (97 by 191 cm). Multiply each number by 2 and add them together to get 226 inches (570 cm) of fabric.
- Full beds are usually 54 by 75 inches (140 by 190 cm). Multiply each number by 2 and add them together to get 258 inches (660 cm) of fabric.
- Queen beds are usually 60 by 80 inches (150 by 200 cm). Multiply each number by 2 and add them together to get 280 inches (710 cm) of fabric.
- King beds are usually 76 by 80 inches (190 by 200 cm). Multiply each number by 2 and add them together to get 312 inches (790 cm) of fabric.
- If you have a headboard, you don’t need to include that side in your measurement since the dust ruffle won’t cover that area of the bed.
2
Multiply your measurement by 2 to get your fabric length. Since you’ll be ruffling the top of the dust ruffle, your fabric will shrink. In order to get the correct length of fabric, take your length and width measurement of the bed and multiply it by 2 before you start cutting.^{[2]
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- For example, if your total measurement was 226 inches (570 cm), multiply that by 2 to get 452 inches (1,150 cm).
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3
Measure from the mattress to the floor and add 2 in (5.1 cm) for the width. The dust ruffle will sit right underneath your mattress and should just touch the top of the floor. Use your tape measure again to figure out this distance so you know how wide your fabric needs to be.^{[3]
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- Most beds are about 15 inches (38 cm) off the floor which means you’d need 17 inches (43 cm) of width for the fabric, but it’s always good to double check.
4
Cut a strip of fabric with the length and width that you measured. Use the measurement from the bed to the floor plus 2 inches (5.1 cm) to figure out the width of the strip, and use the length of your bed frame that you multiplied by 2 to get the length. Use sharp scissors to cut out your fabric.^{[4]
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- If you don’t have a long enough piece of fabric, cut out 2 to 4 strips of fabric with an additional 1 in (2.5 cm) on all sides. Then, create a seam allowance of 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) on the connecting sides with the right sides facing out. You can use a straight stitch to keep them together and make one long strip.
- If the distance from your bed to the floor is 15 inches (38 cm), cut a strip of fabric that’s 17 inches (43 cm) wide.
Tip: You can choose any kind of fabric that you’d like, but thick cotton works the best for hiding clutter under the bed.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Hemming and Ruffling the Fabric

1
Sew a 1 in (2.5 cm) hem in the bottom of your fabric. With the wrong side of the fabric facing you, fold the bottom 1 in (2.5 cm) of fabric up and pin it in place. Run the fabric through your sewing machine with a straight stitch to hem the bottom for a neat look.^{[5]
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- You can also choose fabric that’s already hemmed on one side to avoid having to hem it yourself, in which case you only need to add 1 in (2.5 cm) to the height of your frame to the floor. Look for a drop cloth or a fabric curtain that already has a hem on the bottom.
2
Sew the top edge 0.5 in (1.3 cm) from the edge with a long straight stitch. Set the stitch on your sewing machine to “long” so it creates large gaps in between each stitch. Run the top edge of your fabric through your sewing machine, leaving tails of thread about 5 inches (13 cm) long on either side of the fabric.^{[6]
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- If you have a ruffler foot on your sewing machine, you can use that instead.
3
Stitch another line of straight stitch ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) from the edge. This line of long straight stitches will run parallel to the line you have in place already. Try to leave 5 in (13 cm) tails of thread on either side of this line of stitching, too.^{[7]
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- If you used a ruffler, you don’t need to add another line of stitching.
4
Tug at the top 2 threads to ruffle the top edge. Using gentle force, pull on the top 2 threads to crinkle the top edge of the fabric together. Move slowly inwards toward the center, moving from the left side to the right side so they are even.^{[8]
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- If you go too quickly, the thread could pull out or break.
- If you used a ruffler, your fabric will already be bunched together so you don’t need to pull any thread.
5
Tie the loose threads together, then cut off the excess. Once your fabric is all ruffled, tie the ends of the thread on either side together in a tight knot. Use scissors to cut off the hanging bits of thread so they don’t dangle.^{[9]
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- Your dust ruffle should be about 1/2 of the length that it started as. For example, if your fabric was 452 inches (1,150 cm), it should now be 226 inches (570 cm). You may want to double check this before you finish your dust ruffle to make sure it fits all the way around your bed.
Tip: If you’d like to split corner your dust ruffle so that it lies more evenly along your bed frame, line up your dust ruffle with your bed and then cut the fabric in the 4 corners of the frame, leaving the top 1 in (2.5 cm) uncut. Hem the cut edges with a straight stitch to keep them from fraying.
6
Sew hooks and loops to your sheet and the dust ruffle. Hand sew or use a sewing machine to attach one side of a hook and loop fastener to your bed sheet and another side to the dust ruffle. Add 20 to 30 of these about 2 inches (5.1 cm) apart around the entire length of your dust ruffle and sheet so you can attach them.^{[10]
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- You can find hook and loop fasteners at most craft supply stores.