Yarn Yardage Calculator
Know how much yarn to buy before you start — one swatch tells you the yardage for the whole project.
How the yardage calculator works
- Find your swatch's yardage density. Density = yards used in the swatch ÷ swatch area (width × height). A 4 × 4 inch swatch that used 20 yards has a density of 1.25 yards per square inch.
- Scale to the project. Yards = density × project area. A 36 × 36 inch blanket at 1.25 yd/in² needs 1,620 yards before the margin.
- Add the margin and count skeins. Total = yards × (1 + margin ÷ 100), then skeins = total ÷ yards per skein, rounded up. With 200-yard worsted skeins, 1,782 total yards means buying 9 skeins.
Yardage calculator FAQ
How accurate is swatch-based yardage estimation?
It is as accurate as your swatch. Measure a swatch at least 10 by 10 cm (4 by 4 inches) in the exact stitch and hook you will use, block it the way the finished item will be blocked, then weigh or measure the yarn it consumed. From there the area scaling is exact math.
Should I include the safety margin?
Yes — the default 10 percent covers ends to weave in, gauge drift, and frogging. Use 15 to 20 percent for garments or when your tension varies, and you can drop toward 5 percent for small, simple pieces.
Can I use this for a pattern that already lists yardage?
If the pattern states yards or meters, buy for that number. Use this calculator when substituting a different yarn weight or stitch pattern than the pattern assumed, or when designing your own piece.
Does it matter if I measure in inches or centimeters?
No, as long as the swatch and the project use the same unit. The formula divides swatch area into project area, so the unit cancels out.