Knitting gauge calculator
Turn your gauge swatch and a target measurement into the exact stitches to cast on and rows to knit. Instant, in centimetres or inches, and it runs entirely in your browser.
Swatch to garment
How the gauge calculator works
Every knitting count comes from one idea: gauge times measurement. Your gauge is the stitches and rows over a set width, usually 10 cm or 4 in, worked in your pattern stitch and measured after blocking. Divide that by the reference length and you get stitches per unit. Multiply by the width you want and you have your cast-on.
At a gauge of 20 stitches per 10 cm, a 50 cm width needs 50 times 2, which is 100 stitches. At 22 stitches per 4 inches, a 20 inch width needs 20 times 5.5, which is 110 stitches.
Method: standard swatch-to-garment gauge math, as taught in The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns (Ann Budd) and knitting reference guides.Rows work the same way with your row gauge, which is the number this tool keeps that most calculators drop. If you set a stitch-pattern repeat, the cast-on rounds to a whole number of repeats so the pattern lands evenly across the row.
Grading a whole garment across sizes? The pattern grading generator does the same math for every size at once, with shaping. New to gauge? Read how to measure knitting gauge.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many stitches to cast on?
Multiply your stitch gauge per unit by the width you want. For example, at 20 stitches per 10 cm a 50 cm width needs 50 times 2, which is 100 stitches. This calculator does it for you and rounds to a whole stitch, or to your pattern repeat.
What is a knitting calculator?
A knitting calculator turns your gauge swatch and a target measurement into the numbers you actually knit: the stitches to cast on and the rows to work. It saves the by-hand arithmetic and removes the rounding errors that throw off the fit.
Does it work in inches and centimetres?
Yes. Switch units and enter your gauge over 4 inches or 10 centimetres, and your target width and length in the same unit. The result stays in your chosen unit.
Why does the result include an actual measurement?
Because a whole number of stitches rarely matches your target exactly. The swatch-to-garment helper shows the real width those stitches produce and how far it lands from your target, so you can nudge the count if you need to.
Do I need this if I have the pattern grader?
The calculator is for a single quick number, like a scarf cast-on or a hat brim. The pattern grader is for a full multi-size garment with shaping. Use whichever fits the job.