~ FREE CALCULATOR ~
Cross Stitch Calculator
Plan any cross stitch project in seconds. Pick your fabric count, plug in your pattern's stitch dimensions or your desired finished size, and the calculator tells you exactly how much fabric to cut, how many floss strands to use, what needle size to grab, and how many DMC skeins to buy. Inches and centimeters both supported.
14-count Aida — the standard. Most patterns assume 14-count.
📏 Stitches → Finished Size
Already have a pattern? Enter the stitch dimensions to see how big it will be on your chosen fabric.
🎯 Finished Size → Stitches
Designing your own? Enter the desired finished size to see how many stitches fit on your fabric.
✂️ Fabric to Buy (with hoop margin)
Use the stitch dimensions from the first calculator and pick a margin. Standard is 3 inches each side — enough for a 5–6 inch hoop and finishing.
🧵 Floss & Needle Cheat Sheet
Updates automatically when you change the fabric above.
FLOSS STRANDS
2
Out of the 6 strands per DMC skein
NEEDLE SIZE
24
Tapestry needle (blunt tip)
SKEINS / 1500 STITCHES
1
Per color, using 2-strand stitches
🎨 Skeins Needed by Color
Most patterns list stitches per color. Enter the count for one color to see how many DMC skeins to buy. Round up — running out mid-project is the worst.
Fabric Count Reference Table
The complete cheat sheet — every common cross stitch fabric, what count it is, how many stitches per inch, recommended floss strands, and matching tapestry needle size.
| Fabric | Stitches / inch | Strands | Needle | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-count Aida | 11 | 3 | 22 | Beginner-friendly. Largest squares. Good for kids or low-vision stitchers. |
| 14-count Aida | 14 | 2 | 24 | The standard. Most patterns assume 14-count. |
| 16-count Aida | 16 | 2 | 24 | Slightly finer detail. Same 2 strands but tighter weave. |
| 18-count Aida | 18 | 2 | 26 | Finer fabric, more detail. Many stitchers use 2 strands, some use 1. |
| 22-count Hardanger | 22 | 1 | 26 | Very fine. 1 strand only. |
| 25-count Evenweave (over 2) | 12.5 | 2 | 26 | Stitched over 2 fabric threads. Effectively 12.5 stitches per inch. |
| 28-count Evenweave (over 2) | 14 | 2 | 26 | Smooth evenweave; reads like 14-count Aida. |
| 32-count Linen (over 2) | 16 | 2 | 28 | Premium linen. Smooth surface, beautiful drape. |
| 36-count Linen (over 2) | 18 | 1 | 28 | Heirloom-quality. 1 strand for delicate detail. |
| 40-count Linen (over 2) | 20 | 1 | 28 | Master-level fabric. Tiny stitches, exquisite finish. |
Need a Pattern? Try the Cross Stitch Pattern Maker
Once you've sized your project, turn any photo into a DMC-coded chart with the free pattern maker. Upload an image, set the stitch count from this calculator, and download a printable PDF with symbol grid + floss legend + thread counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate cross stitch fabric size?
Divide the pattern stitch count by the fabric count. For example: a 140×140 stitch pattern on 14-count Aida = 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches × 10 inches finished. Then add a margin of at least 3 inches on each side (so cut a 16×16 inch piece) to allow for hooping and finishing.
What is the formula for cross stitch?
Finished size in inches = stitches ÷ fabric count. To go the other way (figure out how many stitches fit in a given size), multiply: stitches = inches × fabric count. For centimeters, multiply finished inches by 2.54.
How many cross stitches per inch?
It depends on the fabric. 11-count Aida = 11 stitches per inch. 14-count = 14 per inch (the standard). 16-count = 16, 18-count = 18, 22-count Hardanger = 22, and 28-count evenweave stitched over 2 = 14 per inch (same effective count as 14 Aida).
How much fabric do I need for cross stitch?
Take the finished size of your design and add at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) of margin on every side. So a 10×10 inch design needs a 16×16 inch piece of Aida — 3 inches extra all around. The margin lets you mount the fabric in a hoop and gives room for finishing (framing, hemming, or stretching on a backing board).
How many strands of floss for each fabric count?
11-count Aida: 3 strands. 14-count: 2 strands (the standard). 16-count: 2 strands. 18-count: 2 strands (some prefer 1). 22-count Hardanger: 1 strand. 28-count evenweave: 2 strands. 32-count linen: 2 strands. 36+ count: 1 strand. The thicker the strand count, the more coverage but also the more crowded the fabric looks.
How do I calculate skeins of floss I need?
Most cross stitch patterns list the bead/stitch count per color. The rule of thumb: one DMC skein (8 meters / ~26.6 feet of 6-strand floss) covers roughly 1,500–1,800 cross stitches using 2 strands on 14-count Aida. Divide your per-color stitch count by 1,500 and round up to be safe.
What size needle for each fabric?
11-count Aida → size 22 tapestry needle. 14-count → size 24. 16-count → size 24 or 26. 18-count → size 26. 22-count → size 26. 25/28-count evenweave → size 26. 32-count → size 28. 36/40-count → size 28. Tapestry needles have a blunt tip so they slip between fabric threads rather than splitting them.
Is "count" the same on Aida and evenweave?
Not quite. Aida is woven in clear square blocks — each block is one stitch, so 14-count Aida = 14 stitches per inch. Evenweave and linen are woven with individual threads, and you typically stitch over 2 threads. So 28-count evenweave (stitched over 2) = 14 stitches per inch, same effective count as 14 Aida. The calculator handles this — pick the right preset.
How do I convert inches to centimeters for cross stitch?
Multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimeters. Divide centimeters by 2.54 to get inches. The calculator shows both automatically.