How Much Yarn Do I Need? Estimate Yardage and Skeins
Enter the finished size of a flat knit or crochet piece, the yarn weight and the length of one skein. Get the yardage, the number of skeins and a shopping list. Runs in your browser.
When to use this
- You are planning a scarf, blanket or other flat piece and have no pattern to tell you the yardage.
- You want to compare how many skeins different yarn weights would take.
- You want a quick number to check a shop's suggestion against.
How to use
- Choose inches or centimetres, then enter the finished width and length.
- Pick the yarn weight, knitting or crochet, and the stitch pattern.
- Check the length of one skein against your yarn label and change it if it differs.
- Press Estimate yarn and read the number of skeins and the working steps.
- Copy the shopping list or the link, or print the page.
The tool failed to load. Please reload the page.
Report a problem or suggest an improvement
Nothing is sent until you press Send. Your measurements are included only if you tick the box, and you can see the full report below first.
Examples
- Worsted scarf, 6 x 60 in, knitted, plain stitch, 200 yd skeins: 360 square inches at 0.6 yd each is 216 yd. With 10 percent spare that is 237.6 yd, so you need 2 skeins.
- Bulky throw, 50 x 60 in, knitted, 120 yd skeins: 3000 square inches at 0.4 yd each is 1200 yd. With 10 percent spare that is 1320 yd, exactly 11 skeins.
Understanding the result
The tool multiplies the area of your piece by the yards of yarn a square inch of plain knitted fabric uses at that yarn weight, then applies a factor for crochet or texture. It adds your spare percentage, divides by the yardage of one skein and rounds up to whole skeins. It is a rough estimate: your own gauge and the way you work can move the real number a long way.
Limitations
- Only flat rectangles are modelled. Garments, hats, socks and other shaped pieces need a pattern with its own yardage.
- Gauge is not an input. A tighter or looser fabric than usual for the yarn weight changes the amount a lot.
- Colour work, fringe, tassels and edgings are not counted. Add them yourself.
- If your pattern states a yardage, use the pattern rather than this estimate.
FAQ
How much yarn do I need for a scarf?
Multiply the width by the length to get the area, then use the yards per square inch for your yarn weight. For a 6 x 60 in worsted scarf that is about 216 yd before spare yarn. This tool does the sum and rounds up to whole skeins.
Why does crochet need more yarn than knitting?
Crochet stitches are taller and more of the yarn sits in loops, so a given area normally takes more yarn. The tool uses a factor of 1.3, which is a rough rule of thumb.
Does the estimate depend on my gauge?
Yes. The tool assumes a typical gauge for the yarn weight. If you knit or crochet more tightly or loosely, make a swatch and compare it with the pattern.
Should I buy extra yarn?
Many makers buy a little extra for mistakes and joins and so that all skeins come from the same dye lot. The spare percentage is yours to change.
Can I use metric yarn labels?
Yes. Choose centimetres and metres, and enter the metres printed on the label. The tool converts them for you.
Is my project data saved anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser. The share link stores your numbers after the # sign, which is not sent to a server.
Related tools
Quilt Backing Calculator: Backing, Batting and Binding Yardage
Enter your quilt size and fabric width to get the backing yardage, the batting size and the binding yardage in one result. Inches and yards or centimetres and metres. Runs in your browser.
Wallpaper Calculator: How Many Rolls, with a Strip-by-Strip Plan
Enter your walls, doors and windows and the roll size and pattern repeat. Get the rolls to buy, every strip drawn on each wall, and a cut plan for each roll. Feet or metres. Runs in your browser.
Crochet Blanket Size Calculator: How Many Chains and Rows
Pick a standard blanket size, enter your swatch gauge and get the foundation chain, number of rows and finished size, then open the Yarn Amount Calculator with the blanket already filled in.
Knitting Gauge Calculator: Adjust a Pattern to Your Gauge
Enter the pattern gauge and your swatch gauge, paste the stitch and row counts from the pattern and get new counts that give the same finished size. Links on to the Yarn Amount Calculator.
More in Crafts & Sewing
Fabric Yardage Calculator: How Much Fabric to Buy for Your Project
List your pieces and the fabric width. Get the yards or metres to buy, with seam allowance, shrinkage and a to-scale cutting layout across the bolt. Inches or millimetres. Runs in your browser.
Cross Stitch Fabric Size Calculator: Finished Size and Fabric to Cut
Enter pattern stitches and fabric count to get the finished design size, the fabric to cut with margins, and the same pattern on other Aida and linen counts. Runs in your browser.