Yarn Yardage Calculator
Estimate how much yarn a knitting or crochet project needs from its finished size and yarn weight, total yards, metres, and how many skeins to buy. Runs in your browser.
Yarn needed
-
Show the math
yards = width × length × (yarn per sq inch) × (1 + waste%)
The per-square-inch rate depends on yarn weight and stitch pattern. The presets are rough stockinette figures; lace and dense colourwork use more, open lace less.
This is a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Cables, colourwork, and ribbing eat extra yarn, while a loose lacy fabric uses less. Buy all your skeins from one dye lot and keep the receipt for one spare in case you run short.
What this does
A yarn yardage calculator estimates how much yarn a knitting or crochet project needs from its finished size and yarn weight — total yards, metres, and skeins to buy.
How to use it
- Enter the finished width and length.
- Pick your yarn weight.
- Set a waste allowance.
- Read the total yardage and skeins.
How it works
Each yarn weight has a typical consumption rate. Cables, colourwork, and dense stitches use more; open lace uses less.
yards = area × yards per square inch + waste
Understanding your result
Treat the yardage as a planning minimum, not a hard limit, because stitch pattern changes consumption a lot: cables and dense colourwork eat more, open lace less. Buy every skein from the same dye lot at once, since lots differ subtly and a mid-project mismatch shows as a visible line, and keep one spare ball for seaming and the inevitable miscount.
Example
A plain 40 × 30 inch worsted blanket needs roughly 1,000 yards.
Sources & methodology
Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
How does it estimate yardage?
It multiplies the fabric area (width × length) by a yarn-consumption rate in yards per square inch, then adds your waste allowance. Each yarn weight has a typical rate you can adjust.
Why might my project use more?
Cables, colourwork, ribbing, and dense stitch patterns consume more yarn than plain stockinette; open lace uses less. Adjust the per-square-inch rate to match your pattern.
How many skeins should I buy?
Enter the yards per skein and the tool rounds up. Always buy from one dye lot and grab one spare, running short mid-project is hard to match later.
Do you store anything?
No. Everything is calculated locally in your browser.
Related tools
Knitting Gauge Calculator
Turn your swatch gauge into the exact stitches to cast on and rows to knit for any finished size, and see your stitches and rows per inch. Calculates in your browser.
Fabric & Quilting Calculator
Work out backing and binding yardage for a quilt from its finished size and your fabric width, including how many panels and binding strips to cut. Runs in your browser.
Cross-Stitch Calculator
Find the fabric size and floss you need for a cross-stitch chart from its stitch count and fabric count, design size, fabric to cut with margins, and skeins. Runs in your browser.
Resin Calculator
Work out how much epoxy or casting resin a mould needs from its dimensions, then split the total into part A and part B by your mixing ratio. Calculates in your browser.