Cross Stitch Calculator

Enter your pattern’s size in stitches and pick your fabric. The calculator shows the finished design size and how much fabric to cut, in inches and centimetres. Free, no sign-up.

Cross Stitch Calculator project card · crossstitchcalculator.net

A 140 × 100 stitch design on 14-count Aida is 10.0 × 7.1 in (25.4 × 18.1 cm). With 3 in margins on every side, cut 16.0 × 13.1 in (40.6 × 33.4 cm) of fabric.

Design size: 10.0 × 7.1 in25.4 × 18.1 cm
Fabric to cut: 16.0 × 13.1 in40.6 × 33.4 cm
Buy at least: 16 × 14 in41 × 34 cm
Stitches per inch: 14.05.5 per cm

The dashed outline is the fabric to cut; the red area is the stitched design. Labels follow your numbers.

The same design on every fabric count

This table updates with your stitch count and margin. Your current fabric is highlighted; linen and evenweave rows assume stitching over two threads.

Fabric	Design size	Fabric to cut
11-count Aida	12.7 × 9.1 in (32.3 × 23.1 cm)	18.7 × 15.1 in (47.6 × 38.3 cm)
14-count Aida	10.0 × 7.1 in (25.4 × 18.1 cm)	16.0 × 13.1 in (40.6 × 33.4 cm)
16-count Aida	8.8 × 6.3 in (22.2 × 15.9 cm)	14.8 × 12.3 in (37.5 × 31.1 cm)
18-count Aida	7.8 × 5.6 in (19.8 × 14.1 cm)	13.8 × 11.6 in (35.0 × 29.4 cm)
20-count Aida	7.0 × 5.0 in (17.8 × 12.7 cm)	13.0 × 11.0 in (33.0 × 27.9 cm)
25-count evenweave or linen, over two	11.2 × 8.0 in (28.4 × 20.3 cm)	17.2 × 14.0 in (43.7 × 35.6 cm)
28-count evenweave or linen, over two	10.0 × 7.1 in (25.4 × 18.1 cm)	16.0 × 13.1 in (40.6 × 33.4 cm)
32-count linen or evenweave, over two	8.8 × 6.3 in (22.2 × 15.9 cm)	14.8 × 12.3 in (37.5 × 31.1 cm)
36-count linen, over two	7.8 × 5.6 in (19.8 × 14.1 cm)	13.8 × 11.6 in (35.0 × 29.4 cm)
40-count linen, over two	7.0 × 5.0 in (17.8 × 12.7 cm)	13.0 × 11.0 in (33.0 × 27.9 cm)

The calculator above covers the whole planning job for counted cross stitch. It answers what a cross stitch calculator is, how to work out the size by hand, and the formula with a worked example. It also covers what changes the finished size, which fabric count to choose, and the other calculators on this site for floss, stitch counts and converting between counts.

What is a cross stitch calculator?

A cross stitch calculator is a planning tool that converts a pattern’s stitch count into a finished design size and a fabric size for a chosen fabric count. A counted cross stitch chart gives its size in stitches, for example 140 wide by 100 high. The real size depends on the fabric: the same chart is larger on 11-count Aida and smaller on 18-count Aida.

How do you calculate cross stitch fabric size?

Find the design size in stitches on the pattern (stitches wide × stitches high).
Find the fabric count: the number of stitches per inch. For linen or evenweave stitched over two threads, halve the thread count (28-count over two gives 14 stitches per inch).
Divide each stitch number by the stitches per inch to get the design size in inches. Multiply by 2.54 for centimetres.
Add the margin twice to each side length, once for each edge.
Round up to the next whole inch or centimetre when you buy or cut.

Cross stitch size formula

design width (in) = stitches wide ÷ (count ÷ over)
fabric width (in) = design width + 2 × margin

The same two lines give the height. Worked example: a 140 × 100 stitch design on 14-count Aida is 140 ÷ 14 = 10.0 in wide and 100 ÷ 14 = 7.1 in high. With a 3 in margin on every side the fabric is 10.0 + 6 = 16.0 in by 7.1 + 6 = 13.1 in, so you buy at least 16 × 14 in. In centimetres that is 25.4 × 18.1 cm of stitching on 40.6 × 33.4 cm of fabric.

What changes the finished size of a cross stitch?

Fabric count. More stitches per inch means a smaller design. Moving a chart from 14-count to 18-count makes it about 22% smaller.
Over one or over two. Stitching over two threads halves the count, so 28-count linen over two matches 14-count Aida.
Stitch count. Count the widest and tallest stitched points, including backstitch outlines and lettering.
Margin. The margin changes the fabric size, not the design size. Framing usually takes about 3 in per side; a mat needs more.

The number of floss strands does not change the size. It changes how full the stitches look and how much thread you use.

Which fabric count should you use?

14-count Aida is the most common choice for beginners because the holes are easy to see and two strands of floss cover it well. 16- and 18-count give finer detail and a smaller result. The fabric count chart lists every common count with its stitches per inch, stitch size, strands and needle size.

More cross stitch calculators

Cross Stitch Floss Calculator

Thread length and skeins to buy for each colour in your chart.

Cross Stitch Stitch Count Calculator

Turn a finished size into stitches, or find the biggest design your fabric can hold.

Cross Stitch Fabric Count Converter

How the finished size changes when you switch fabric or count.

For quick look-ups without typing, use the cross stitch size chart or the fabric count chart.

How much extra fabric do you need around a cross stitch?

Most stitchers add 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm) of plain fabric on every side. Use 3 in per side if the piece will be framed, because the framer laces or pins the fabric over a board. Use more if it will sit under a mat. Small finishes such as cards and ornaments are trimmed close, so 1 in is enough to hold the work while you stitch.

Does the number of strands change the size of the design?

No. The size depends only on the stitch count, the fabric count and whether you stitch over one or two threads. Strands change coverage and floss use; the floss calculator handles that.

Is 28-count linen the same size as 14-count Aida?

Yes, when the linen is stitched over two threads. Over two, 28 threads per inch give 14 stitches per inch, the same as 14-count Aida. Stitched over one, 28-count linen makes the design half that size.

Can I use the calculator in centimetres?

Yes. Switch Units to cm and the margin, results, diagram and table all show centimetres first, with inches alongside. One inch is exactly 2.54 cm.

Why does the calculator round the fabric size up?

Fabric is sold and cut in whole inches or centimetres, and fabric that is slightly too small cannot be fixed. The “buy at least” figure rounds each side up so the margin is never short.

Sources: NIST unit conversion (1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly). Every formula and default is explained on the methodology page.

Published by Cross Stitch Calculator; maintained by Fahad Shoaib. Method version 1.0. Last updated November 14, 2026. Found a wrong number? Tell us.