Aida Fabric Calculator — Free Cross Stitch Sizing Tool

Free, no signup, no email required. Just type and get your answer.

The Aida fabric calculator below tells you exactly how much cross stitch fabric to buy for any pattern. Enter your pattern's stitch count (width × height) and choose your Aida count — the tool calculates the finished design size and the recommended fabric to order, with a built-in margin for hooping and framing.

How to use the calculator

1. Count your stitches. Look at your pattern and count the grid — width × height in stitches (not centimeters).
2. Pick your Aida count. 14 count is the most common; lower numbers (11) make bigger stitches, higher numbers (18, 20) make finer ones.
3. Choose your margin. 7.5 cm (3 in) per side is the standard recommendation — enough room to hoop your fabric and have spare for framing later.
4. Read the result. The "total fabric" line tells you the minimum size to order.

What does Aida count actually mean?

Aida count = how many stitches fit per inch (2.54 cm) of fabric. Higher count = finer fabric = smaller stitches = more detail. Lower count = bigger stitches = great for beginners or anyone with low vision.

Want a deeper dive? Read our complete guide on Aida cloth count.

Worked example

Pattern: 100 stitches wide × 80 stitches tall on 14-count Aida, with the recommended 7.5 cm margin per side.

• Finished design size: 18.1 × 14.5 cm (7.1 × 5.7 in)
• Total fabric to buy: 33.1 × 29.5 cm (13.1 × 11.7 in)

Always round up when ordering — fabric shrinks slightly after a wash, and any error is forgivable when you have spare.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my margin matter so much?

Without a margin you can't hoop your fabric (the hoop won't grip the edges of your stitched area), and you can't frame the finished piece without your design being cropped. 5 cm is bare minimum; 7.5 cm gives you breathing room for both.

Should I round up or down on the calculator's output?

Always round up. Fabric is sold in roughly 5 cm increments anyway, and a tiny excess never hurts. Too little fabric = a project you can't finish.

Does this work for evenweave or linen?

Linen and evenweave are usually stitched over 2 threads, so divide the count in half (e.g. 28-count linen stitched over 2 = 14 effective stitches per inch). Use 14 in this calculator for that case.

What if my pattern uses metric (stitches per cm) instead of count?

Multiply your stitches/cm by 2.54 to get the count. For example, 5.5 stitches/cm = 14 count.

Can I use this for any cross stitch fabric?

Yes — as long as you know the effective count (stitches per inch). Aida, evenweave, linen all work the same way once you know the count.

Want a personalized cross stitch project?

If you're starting from scratch and want a unique design, our custom photo cross stitch kit turns any photo into a stitchable pattern — and we ship it with the right Aida fabric size already calculated. No math required on your end.

Useful next reads: cross stitch for beginners, Aida cloth count, and DMC color chart.