I've played the gambit with this too... and have decided generally speaking....2.5" binding works the best for me. It is big enough to work with easily but narrow enough to not be over whelming and the perfect width when finished to just accent the quilt and not over take it. Bigger, (at least to me) looks more like a sashing or border that is heavier than the others in the quilt and smaller looks like a large ribbing effect.