Cross Stitch Calculator: Fabric Size, Stitch Count & Floss

Cross stitch calculator: enter stitch count and fabric type, get finished size, buy size, hoop recommendation, floss skeins, and time estimate. Inches and cm.

May 26, 2026

Fabric Type

Stitch Over (1 for Aida, 2 for Linen)

Effective: 14 stitches/inch

Pattern Width (stitches)

Pattern Height (stitches)

Border Allowance (each side, inches)

🧵

Enter your stitch count above to calculate fabric size

Reference Values

Last verified: May 26, 2026

Category	What It Means	Status
11-count Aida	Large stitches. Ideal for beginners and children's projects. Use 3 strands of DMC floss. 1 stitch = 0.091 inch (2.3 mm).	Okay
14-count Aida ★	Most popular count. Standard for most cross stitch patterns. Use 2 strands. 1 stitch = 0.071 inch (1.8 mm). Most free patterns are designed for 14-count.	★ Best
16-count Aida	Finer than 14-count. Good for more detailed patterns. Use 2 strands. 1 stitch = 0.063 inch (1.6 mm).	Good
18-count Aida	Fine detail. Results in a smaller finished piece. Use 1–2 strands. 1 stitch = 0.056 inch (1.4 mm).	Good
22-count Aida / Hardanger	Very fine Aida. Used for specialty and miniature projects. Use 1 strand. 1 stitch = 0.045 inch (1.15 mm).	Okay
28-count Linen (over 2 = 14 effective) ★	Most popular linen count. Stitched over 2 threads = same stitch size as 14-count Aida. Softer, more antique appearance. Use 2 strands.	★ Best
32-count Linen (over 2 = 16 effective)	Fine linen. Stitched over 2 = same size as 16-count Aida. Popular for ornaments and framed pieces. Use 2 strands.	Good
36-count Linen (over 2 = 18 effective)	Very fine linen. Heirloom quality. Stitched over 2 = same size as 18-count. Use 1–2 strands.	Okay

Source: DMC Corporation Official Stitch Count Standards & Cross Stitch Industry Norms

Worked Examples

Standard 140×100 Pattern on 14-count Aida

0: 1
1: 4
2: 0
3
4: s
5: t
6: i
7: t
8: c
9: h
10: e
11: s
12
13: w
14: i
15: d
16: e
17
18: ×
19
20: 1
21: 0
22: 0
23
24: s
25: t
26: i
27: t
28: c
29: h
30: e
31: s
32
33: t
34: a
35: l
36: l
37: ,
38
39: 1
40: 4
41: -
42: c
43: o
44: u
45: n
46: t
47
48: A
49: i
50: d
51: a
52: ,
53
54: 3
55: "
56
57: b
58: o
59: r
60: d
61: e
62: r

Finished: 10" × 7.14" (25.4 × 18.1 cm) — Buy: 16" × 13.14" (40.6 × 33.4 cm)

Same Pattern on 28-count Linen over 2

0: 1
1: 4
2: 0
3
4: s
5: t
6: i
7: t
8: c
9: h
10: e
11: s
12
13: w
14: i
15: d
16: e
17
18: ×
19
20: 1
21: 0
22: 0
23
24: s
25: t
26: i
27: t
28: c
29: h
30: e
31: s
32
33: t
34: a
35: l
36: l
37: ,
38
39: 2
40: 8
41: -
42: c
43: o
44: u
45: n
46: t
47
48: l
49: i
50: n
51: e
52: n
53: ,
54
55: o
56: v
57: e
58: r
59
60: 2
61: ,
62
63: 3
64: "
65
66: b
67: o
68: r
69: d
70: e
71: r

Finished: 10" × 7.14" (25.4 × 18.1 cm) — identical to 14-count Aida

Small 72×72 Ornament on 18-count Aida

0: 7
1: 2
2
3: s
4: t
5: i
6: t
7: c
8: h
9: e
10: s
11
12: ×
13
14: 7
15: 2
16
17: s
18: t
19: i
20: t
21: c
22: h
23: e
24: s
25: ,
26
27: 1
28: 8
29: -
30: c
31: o
32: u
33: n
34: t
35
36: A
37: i
38: d
39: a
40: ,
41
42: 2
43: "
44
45: b
46: o
47: r
48: d
49: e
50: r

Finished: 4" × 4" (10.2 × 10.2 cm) — Buy: 8" × 8" (20.3 × 20.3 cm)

Large 300×200 Full Coverage Project on 14-count

0: 3
1: 0
2: 0
3
4: s
5: t
6: i
7: t
8: c
9: h
10: e
11: s
12
13: ×
14
15: 2
16: 0
17: 0
18
19: s
20: t
21: i
22: t
23: c
24: h
25: e
26: s
27: ,
28
29: 1
30: 4
31: -
32: c
33: o
34: u
35: n
36: t
37
38: A
39: i
40: d
41: a
42: ,
43
44: 3
45: "
46
47: b
48: o
49: r
50: d
51: e
52: r
53: ,
54
55: 1
56: 0
57: 0
58: %
59
60: f
61: i
62: l
63: l
64: ,
65
66: 2
67
68: s
69: t
70: r
71: a
72: n
73: d
74: s
75: ,
76
77: 2
78: 0
79
80: c
81: o
82: l
83: o
84: r
85: s

Finished: 21.4" × 14.3" — Buy: 27.4" × 20.3" — ~60,000 stitches — ~30 total skeins

Stitch Count Reverse: 6" × 4" design on 16-count

0: D
1: e
2: s
3: i
4: r
5: e
6: d
7
8: 6
9: "
10
11: w
12: i
13: d
14: e
15
16: ×
17
18: 4
19: "
20
21: t
22: a
23: l
24: l
25
26: o
27: n
28
29: 1
30: 6
31: -
32: c
33: o
34: u
35: n
36: t
37
38: A
39: i
40: d
41: a
42
43: (
44: o
45: v
46: e
47: r
48
49: 1
50: )

96 stitches wide × 64 stitches tall = 6,144 total stitches

How to Use This Calculator

1

Select your fabric type

Choose from the fabric dropdown. Most stitchers use 14-count Aida. If using linen (e.g. 28-count), set Stitch Over to 2 — the calculator shows your effective count automatically.
2

Enter your pattern's stitch count

Find the stitch count in your pattern instructions (usually listed as 'W × H stitches'). Enter width and height. Pattern software like PC Stitch or Stitch Fiddle shows this in the project properties.
3

Read your finished size and fabric to buy

The Fabric Size tab shows your finished project dimensions and the recommended fabric purchase size (includes 3-inch borders). If you need a different border, use the border buttons.
4

Check the hoop or frame recommendation

The calculator suggests a minimum hoop diameter. Always use a hoop larger than your finished design. For projects wider than 12 inches, consider a Q-Snap or scroll frame.
5

Use Floss & Time for materials planning

Switch to the Floss & Time tab. Enter your design's fill percentage (100% = fully covered), number of colors, and your stitching speed. The calculator gives you total skeins, skeins per color, total hours, and estimated completion days.

What Each Value Means

Finished Size (inches or cm): The actual size of the stitched design area. Calculated by dividing the stitch count by the effective fabric count. This does NOT include border fabric.
Fabric to Buy (inches or cm): The recommended size of fabric to purchase. Equals the finished size plus the border allowance on all 4 sides (2 × border per dimension). Always buy at least 3 inches larger than your finished size on each side.
Fabric Count (stitches/inch (or threads/inch for linen)): The number of stitches (or woven threads) per inch in the fabric. Higher count = smaller, finer stitches. Lower count = larger stitches. Aida is measured in stitches per inch; linen is measured in threads per inch.
Effective Count (stitches/inch): The actual number of stitches per inch after accounting for 'stitch over.' For linen stitched over 2 threads: effective count = fabric count ÷ 2. This is the number used in all size calculations.
Stitch Over (threads): How many fabric threads one arm of a cross stitch spans. Aida uses 'over 1' (each stitch goes hole to adjacent hole). Linen and evenweave typically use 'over 2' (each stitch spans 2 threads), which makes the stitch larger and more visible.
DMC Skein (8m / approx 200 stitches): A standard unit of embroidery floss: 8 meters (26.2 feet) of 6-strand floss. For most cross stitch on 14-count Aida, you separate and use 2 strands at a time. One skein covers approximately 200 stitches on 14-count with 2 strands.
Design Fill % (%): What percentage of the grid squares are stitched. A fully solid, no-background pattern = 100%. Most patterns with white or unstitched background areas = 40–80%. This affects your floss and time estimates.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate the fabric size for a cross stitch pattern?

Divide your stitch count by the fabric count (stitches per inch). Example: a 140-stitch-wide pattern on 14-count Aida = 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches wide. Then add 3 inches of border on each side, so buy at least 16 inches wide.

How much extra fabric should I add around a cross stitch pattern?

Add at least 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) on each side. For pieces going into a frame, 3 inches per side is standard. For large pieces going into stretcher bars or scroll frames, 4–5 inches per side is safer.

What is the most common fabric count for cross stitch?

14-count Aida is by far the most popular. Most commercial patterns and free online designs are formatted for 14-count Aida using 2 strands of floss. It produces a stitch size that is neither too large nor too fine.

What is the difference between 28-count linen and 14-count Aida for cross stitch?

When 28-count linen is stitched over 2 threads, it produces exactly the same stitch size as 14-count Aida (28 ÷ 2 = 14 effective count). The difference is aesthetics: linen has a softer, more antique look with slight texture. Aida has a clean, regular grid that is easier for beginners.

How many skeins of floss do I need for a cross stitch project?

A standard 8m DMC skein covers approximately 200 stitches on 14-count Aida using 2 strands. Divide your total working stitches by 200 to estimate skeins per color. For a 14,000-stitch project with 10 colors at 100% fill: roughly 7 total skeins, about 1 skein per color.

How long does a cross stitch project take to complete?

An average stitcher completes about 150 stitches per hour. A 140×100 pattern = 14,000 stitches ÷ 150 = about 93 hours. At 2 hours per day, that is approximately 47 days. The Floss & Time tab calculates this for your specific project.

What size hoop should I use for my cross stitch project?

Your hoop diameter should extend at least 1.5 inches beyond your finished design on all sides. For a 10-inch-wide design, use at least a 12-inch hoop. For large projects, a Q-Snap frame or scroll frame is often easier to work with than a round hoop.

Can I use this calculator for 28-count linen or other evenweave fabrics?

Yes. Select your fabric count from the dropdown and set 'Stitch Over' to 2 for linen or evenweave. The calculator automatically computes the effective count (fabric count ÷ 2) and uses that for all size and floss calculations.