Cross-stitch size & fabric calculator: stitch count → finished size
Enter a design's stitch count and your fabric count — get the finished size and the fabric to cut instantly, in centimetres and inches.
Border for framing or hooping — ~8 cm (3 in) per side is typical.
Floss usage is counted from width × height × coverage — few patterns stitch every single square, so drop the coverage for an airy design. Thread reserve is added on top of that, for starts, ends and unpicking. Lengths are for one strand of floss — not the same setting as Stitches worked over above, which describes the fabric; if you stitch with two strands, double the figure.
Skeins above are the design's total floss length rounded up, not a count per colour. Buying by colour needs more — budget at least one skein per colour used.
How the cross-stitch size formula works
Finished size depends on just two things: how many stitches wide and tall the design is, and how many stitches your fabric fits per inch. The maths is a single division:
- Aida — the count is the stitches per inch. On 14-count Aida, a 140 × 98 stitch design is 140 ÷ 14 = 10 in wide and 98 ÷ 14 = 7 in tall (25.4 × 17.8 cm).
- Evenweave & linen — usually stitched over two threads, so the effective count is halved. 28-count linen over two gives 14 stitches per inch — the same finished size as 14-count Aida.
- Fabric to cut — add a margin to every side for framing, hooping and handling. Around 7–8 cm (3 in) per side is the usual rule for framed pieces.
Don't have the stitch count yet?
Build or import the pattern in the free ixo editor — it reads the exact stitch count for you, across DMC, Anchor, Gamma, PNK, Madeira, Ljubica and several more palettes, and exports a print-ready PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cross-stitch size from the stitch count?
Divide the stitch count by the fabric count. On 14-count Aida there are 14 stitches per inch, so a 140-stitch-wide design is 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide. Do the same for the height. On evenweave or linen worked over two threads, use half the count: 28-count linen over two threads gives 14 stitches per inch.
What does "14 count Aida" mean?
The count is the number of squares (holes) per inch of fabric. 14-count Aida has 14 squares per inch, so each cross stitch is worked in one square and you get 14 stitches per inch. A higher count means a finer fabric and a smaller finished design from the same stitch count.
Why are evenweave and linen different from Aida?
Aida is woven in clear blocks and you stitch one cross per block, so the count equals the stitches per inch. Evenweave and linen are usually stitched over two threads, so the effective count is halved: 28-count linen over two gives 14 stitches per inch — the same finished size as 14-count Aida. Switch the "over" toggle to match how you stitch.
How much extra fabric should I leave around the design?
Leave a margin on every side for framing, hooping and handling. About 7–8 cm (3 inches) per side is the common rule for framed pieces, less for cards or ornaments. The calculator adds your chosen margin to all four sides and shows the fabric size to cut.
Does the number of strands change the finished size?
No. The finished size depends only on the stitch count and the fabric count. The number of strands in the needle changes how full the coverage looks, not how big the design is. Thread length and skeins are calculated further up this same page, in the Thread reserve and Pattern coverage fields.
How much embroidery floss do I need for this design?
Floss usage is estimated from the stitch count, the fabric count and how much of the design is actually stitched. Set Pattern coverage below 100% if the design leaves squares unstitched — common for airy patterns — and add a Thread reserve for starts, ends and unpicking (10–15% is a typical margin). The result shows floss length in metres and yards and the number of skeins, for one strand; double it if you stitch with two. That skein count is the whole design's total length rounded up, not a count per colour — buying by colour needs more, so budget at least one skein per colour used.
Is this cross-stitch calculator free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, with no signup and nothing to install. It's part of the free ixo cross-stitch editor, where you can build the pattern itself and read its exact stitch count automatically.