Label arithmetic · Craft Yarn Council gauge span context
Yarn yardage calculator
Total length from skeins × label length, or from a measured swatch scaled by project area. Optional waste allowance and ceil balls to buy. Metres and yards convert with 1 yd = 0.9144 m. Handy for planning skein buys from the numbers you already have.
How to use this calculator
- Read the label. Enter how many skeins you have or plan to buy and the length printed on one ball (metres or yards).
- Optional swatch scale. If you measured yarn used in a swatch, enter that length plus swatch and project areas to estimate total yarn.
- Add waste and ceil balls. Optionally add a waste percentage and a ball length to round up how many balls to buy. Totals stay based on your measurements, not a garment lookup chart.
Worked example
Example: 4 skeins × 100 m on the label = 400 m (about 437.4 yd). With 10% waste that is 440 m. Buying 210 m balls needs ceil(440 ÷ 210) = 3 balls.
Common questions
Will this tell me how much yarn a sweater needs?
Only from the skein count and label length you enter, or from a measured swatch scaled by area. There is no built-in garment yardage chart.
Which length units are supported?
Metres and yards, using 1 yd = 0.9144 m. Optional mass fields use grams and ounces (1 oz = 28.349523125 g).
How are balls rounded?
When you enter a purchase ball length, balls required are ceil(total with waste ÷ ball length). Partial balls always round up.
Does my data leave this page?
No. The calculator runs in your browser from the numbers you type. Nothing is uploaded for this tool.
Sources and limits
Arithmetic is user-supplied label maths. Totals reflect the skeins, swatches and waste you enter—not a garment yardage lookup. For yarn-weight guidance, Craft Yarn Council yarn weight system ranges are guidelines only (ball bands sometimes list matching 4 in / 10 cm counts as a label convention, separate from measured gauge); follow the pattern gauge. Contact hello@imagetocrochetpattern.com.