Cross Stitch Calculator

Divide the stitch count by the fabric count. The fabric count is the number of stitches per inch, so: width (stitches) ÷ fabric count = width in inches, and height (stitches) ÷ fabric count = height in inches. Example: a 140 × 200-stitch design on 14-count Aida is 140 ÷ 14 = 10.0 inches wide and 200 ÷ 14 = 14.3 inches high (25.4 × 36.3 cm). Use the Design size tab above to get the exact finished size of your own pattern.

Take the finished stitched size and add a margin on every side — the standard working minimum is 3 inches per side for framing or finishing. Fabric to cut = finished size + 2 × margin. Example: a 10.0 × 14.3 in design needs a 16.00 × 20.29 in cut (buy at least 16.0 × 20.5 in, rounded up to the next half inch). The Fabric cut tab does this math for any design, fabric, and margin.

On evenweave and linen you normally stitch over two fabric threads, so the effective stitch count is the nominal count divided by 2. A 28-count linen stitched over 2 works up exactly like 14-count Aida. Example: 100 × 100 stitches on 28-count linen over 2 gives an effective count of 14, so the finished size is 100 ÷ 14 = 7.14 × 7.14 in (18.1 × 18.1 cm). The calculator's fabric list already encodes over-1 for Aida and over-2 for evenweave and linen.

This is an estimate, because stitching style varies. A widely used rule of thumb is: stitches per skein = 223 × fabric count ÷ strands used. Example: a 100 × 100 design (10,000 stitches) on 14-count Aida with 2 strands gives 223 × 14 ÷ 2 = 1,561 stitches per skein, so 10,000 ÷ 1,561 = 6.41 skeins; with a 25% waste allowance the tool recommends 9 skeins for the whole design across all colors. One DMC skein is 8.7 yards of 6-strand floss. Always consider one extra skein of your key colors.

Divide the total stitch count by your stitching speed. Average stitchers manage about 50–100 stitches per hour; time yourself on a 10 × 10 block (100 stitches) to find your own rate — 30 minutes for the block means 200 stitches per hour. Example: an 89 × 51 design is 4,539 stitches, which takes 4,539 ÷ 200 = 22.7 hours, or about 11.3 days at 2 hours per day. Treat the result as guidance: confetti stitching and frequent color changes slow you down.

Professional framers recommend adding a minimum of 4 inches of fabric on every side when the piece will be matted (3 inches per side is the minimum without a mat). Example: a 10.0 × 14.3 in design framed with a mat needs a 18.0 × 22.29 in cut — buy at least 18.0 × 22.5 in. The Fabric cut tab lets you set any margin, so use 4 inches or more when you plan to mat.

The stitch count of the pattern never changes; only the fabric count changes the size. A 140 × 200 design is 10.0 × 14.3 in on 14-count Aida but 7.8 × 11.1 in on 18-count Aida. Higher counts give smaller, finer work — which is why many stitchers switch to 16 or 18 count once they are comfortable with 14.

Multiply inches by 2.54. Fabric counts are per inch even in metric countries, so the calculator first computes the size in inches and then converts. Example: 10.0 in = 25.4 cm and 14.3 in = 36.3 cm. Every result on this page is shown in both inches and centimeters.

Yes — only stitched squares consume floss and time, so the estimates scale with coverage. A 140 × 200 design at 60% coverage is 140 × 200 × 0.6 = 16,800 stitches instead of 28,000, so it needs about 40% less floss and 40% less stitching time than a full-coverage piece of the same dimensions. Set the coverage slider in the Floss and Time tabs to match your pattern.

Two strands is the standard for 14 to 18-count fabric and gives good coverage for full crosses; use one strand for backstitch. On 11-count you may want 3 strands for coverage, and on very fine fabrics 1 strand can be enough. Strands also change the floss estimate: on 14-count, 3 strands give 223 × 14 ÷ 3 = 1,041 stitches per skein instead of 1,561, so you need noticeably more skeins. Pick your strand count in the Floss tab.

14-count Aida is the most common starting point: the holes are easy to see, the finished size is generous (140 × 200 stitches = 10.0 × 14.3 in), and 2 strands of floss give good coverage. Move to 16 or 18 count when you want smaller, more detailed work and are comfortable stitching in good light.

Yes — the four tabs are meant to be used in order as a cross stitch project planner: Design size gives the finished size from your pattern's stitch count and fabric, Fabric cut tells you what size of fabric to buy with your chosen margin, Floss estimates total DMC skeins from stitch count and coverage, and Time estimates hours and days from your personal stitching speed.