From what I have heard and understand it depends on how you are going to quilt. As stated if you are going to send it out to a LAQ, I would ask them what they prefer.....if you are going to do FMQ on your own machine, I like to have a big piece in the middle with small piece on each side..... what ever you choose to do just make sure you make the backing oversized.....so much easier to trim latter then try to work with something too small....