Crib Fit Guide: Sizing for Crib Skirts, Rail Covers & Sheets
Every piece we make is cut and sewn to order in our Alabama studio, so getting the fit right starts before we ever thread a machine. This guide walks through what to measure, which sizes fit which cribs, and the one crib style that changes what you should order.
Standard crib sizing
A standard crib mattress measures 28" × 52". Nearly every full-size crib sold in the US is built around that measurement, which is why our pieces are cut to match it:
- Long crib rail cover — 52", made for the long side of the crib
- Short crib rail cover — 28", made for each short end
- Fitted crib sheet — cut to fit a 28" × 52" mattress, with hidden elastic for a snug fit
If your crib takes a standard mattress, these will fit. No measuring required.
Crib skirt drop lengths
The drop is the finished length of the skirt — measured from just underneath the mattress support, down toward the floor.
- Farmhouse crib skirts — 20" drop
- Ruffled crib skirts — 22" drop
- Long White Ruffled Cotton Crib Skirt — 26" drop, for cribs that sit higher off the floor
Both standard lengths are gathered on all four sides and sized for a standard crib.
Don't rely on your crib's mattress settings — measure instead
Cribs vary a good deal between brands, and the "highest setting" on one crib can sit at a different height than the highest setting on another. The only way to know what drop you need is to measure your own crib.
How to measure your drop: Take a measuring tape to the crib with the mattress in place, at the height you plan to use. Start right underneath the mattress, where it rests on the platform, and measure straight down toward the floor.
That number is your drop. If it's close to 20", 22", or 26", one of our standard skirts will work. If it isn't, tell us your measurement at checkout and we'll cut the skirt to it — there's no charge for a custom drop.
Worth knowing before you measure: as your baby grows you'll lower the mattress, and a skirt cut for a higher setting will pool more on the floor at a lower one. Plenty of families like that fuller look and leave it. If you'd rather it stay just off the floor throughout, measure at the setting you expect to use longest.
If your crib has a solid panel at the bottom
This is the one that catches people out.
Some cribs — particularly upholstered styles and certain modern designs — have a solid wooden or upholstered panel running along the bottom instead of open slats. A traditional crib skirt still fits one of these cribs perfectly well. The problem is that the panel hides most of it, and you only see the last few inches of fabric below the wood.
For those cribs, order our Tie-On Adjustable Crib Skirt Separates instead — available in Baby Pink and Ivory and Ivory and Blush, and made to order in any color we carry.
Order them individually, or as a 2-piece, 3-piece, or 4-piece set. How many you need comes down to your crib's placement — a crib against a wall may only need the sides that show, while a crib positioned in the middle of the room usually calls for all four.
They work differently from a traditional skirt:
- Each side is a separate panel, so you order only the sides you want covered
- They tie on rather than sitting underneath the mattress — so nothing has to be lifted out to install them
- They can be tied on from the outside of the crib, which puts the fabric in front of the solid panel where it's actually visible
- The tie length is adjustable, so the drop can be re-set as you lower the mattress
If you're not sure whether your crib has a solid panel, send us a photo before you order and we'll tell you which one to get.
Crib rail covers
Our rail covers rest over the top rails of the crib only — they aren't bumpers and they don't line the inside of the crib.
They're sized to the crib itself, not to the mattress: 52" for the long side, 28" for the short sides. Fabric ties are sewn in along the length and knot around the slats or rail to hold everything in place.
Drape: a rail cover hangs approximately 20" down each side of the rail — inside and outside — for roughly 40" of fabric across the piece. That's a full width of our cotton, which runs 44" wide, and it's what gives a rail cover its weight and fullness rather than a thin strip sitting on top of the wood. On ruffled styles, the ruffle is included within that 20". Scalloped rail covers may drape slightly less, depending on the depth of the scallop.
Rail covers work across crib styles — spindle, slatted, iron, upholstered. If your crib has an unusual rail profile and you'd like to check, email us a photo.
Mini cribs
A mini crib mattress measures 24" × 38".
- Mini fitted sheets are cut to fit that mattress
- Mini crib skirts use the same drop lengths as full size — 20" farmhouse, 22" ruffled — unless a listing says otherwise
Most of our pieces can be made in mini crib sizing on request even where it isn't listed as an option. Leave a note at checkout.
Non-standard and vintage cribs
If your crib doesn't take a standard mattress — antique cribs, imported frames, and some custom builds don't — we can still make your bedding. Everything is sewn to order, so we cut to your numbers rather than a template.
Measure and send us:
- The mattress, length and width
- The long side of the crib frame, and the short side
- The drop you want — from just under the mattress support down to where you'd like the fabric to end
Email those to customercare@highcottontextile.com with your order number, or leave them in the notes at checkout.
Before you order
Order swatches first if you're unsure about color. Washed cotton reads differently in nursery light than it does on a screen, and swatches are the single best way to avoid a return on a made-to-order piece.
Tell us what you need changed. Colors, ruffle placement, tailored instead of gathered, mini sizing, a custom drop — most of it is possible, and most color changes are free. Leave your requests in the notes field at checkout.
Allow 3–10 business days. Everything is made to order, in the order orders come in. Free shipping on every order.
Common questions
Will a crib skirt fit my crib?
If your crib takes a standard 28" × 52" mattress, yes. The only crib style where a traditional skirt doesn't work well is one with a solid panel at the bottom, which hides it — for those, use the tie-on adjustable separates instead.
How do I measure my crib for a skirt?
With the mattress in place at the height you plan to use, measure from right underneath the mattress — where it rests on the platform — straight down toward the floor. That's your drop. Don't go by your crib's mattress settings; they vary between brands.
What drop do your skirts come in?
Farmhouse skirts are 20", ruffled skirts are 22", and our Long White Ruffled Crib Skirt is 26" for cribs that sit higher off the floor. If your measurement doesn't match any of those, send us your number and we'll cut to it at no extra charge.
Do I have to take the mattress out to put a crib skirt on?
For a traditional skirt, yes — the deck sits underneath the mattress. The tie-on adjustable separates don't require it; they tie directly onto the crib.
What happens to the skirt when I lower the mattress?
It will pool a little more on the floor, which many families prefer. If you'd rather it stay just off the floor throughout, measure at the setting you expect to use longest.
Do crib rail covers fit all cribs?
They fit across styles — spindle, slatted, iron, upholstered. They go over the top rail and drape about 20" down each side.
Can you make bedding for a mini crib?
Yes. Mini sheets fit a 24" × 38" mattress, and most pieces can be made in mini sizing on request.
What if my crib isn't a standard size?
Send us your measurements. Everything is cut to order, so we can work from your numbers.
