Cross Stitch Calculator
Enter your design size in stitches and choose your fabric. The calculator shows the finished size, how much fabric to cut, which hoop to use and how many strands of floss you need.
How to calculate cross stitch size
The size of a finished cross stitch depends on two numbers: how many stitches the design has, and how many stitches fit in one inch of your fabric (the fabric count). The formula is:
finished size (inches) = number of stitches ÷ fabric count
For example, a design 140 stitches wide on 14-count Aida is 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide. The same design on 18-count Aida is 140 ÷ 18 = 7.8 inches: smaller, because the squares are smaller. Multiply inches by 2.54 for centimetres.
On evenweave or linen you usually stitch “over 2” threads, so divide the fabric count by two first: 28-count linen over 2 works like 14-count Aida.
How much fabric do I need?
Add extra fabric around the design on every side: about 3 inches (7.5 cm) if you plan to frame it, or 2 inches (5 cm) if you will finish it in a hoop. So a 10 × 8 inch design needs a piece of about 16 × 14 inches for framing.
Size chart: 100 stitches on each fabric
| Fabric | Stitches per inch | 100 stitches = |
|---|---|---|
| 11-count Aida | 11 | 9.1 in (23.1 cm) |
| 14-count Aida | 14 | 7.1 in (18.1 cm) |
| 16-count Aida | 16 | 6.3 in (15.9 cm) |
| 18-count Aida | 18 | 5.6 in (14.1 cm) |
| 28-count linen, over 2 | 14 | 7.1 in (18.1 cm) |
| 32-count linen, over 2 | 16 | 6.3 in (15.9 cm) |
Which hoop size should I use?
To stitch comfortably, choose a hoop at least an inch bigger than the longest side of your design, so the whole design fits inside with room around it. For designs too big for any hoop, use a scroll frame or simply move the hoop across the fabric as you stitch.
Want your own design? Turn any photo into a pattern with Photo to Cross Stitch, or learn the basics in our Cross Stitch School.