Cross Stitch Stitch Count Calculator

Enter the finished size you want, or the fabric you already have, and pick your fabric count. The calculator returns the number of stitches wide and high. Free, no sign-up.

A design that fills 8.0 × 10.0 in (20.3 × 25.4 cm) on 14-count Aida is 112 × 140 stitches, 15,680 stitches in all.

Stitches wide: 112
Stitches high: 140
Total stitches: 15,680if every square is stitched

Stitch counts are rounded down to whole stitches, so the design always fits the size.

How many stitches fill a standard frame?

This table gives the stitches that exactly fill common frame openings on each fabric. Leave a few stitches of space around the design if you want it to breathe inside the frame.

Whole stitches, rounded down. Linen and evenweave columns assume stitching over two threads.
Opening	11-count	14-count	16-count	18-count	28 over two	32 over two
4 × 4 in	44 × 44	56 × 56	64 × 64	72 × 72	56 × 56	64 × 64
5 × 7 in	55 × 77	70 × 98	80 × 112	90 × 126	70 × 98	80 × 112
8 × 10 in	88 × 110	112 × 140	128 × 160	144 × 180	112 × 140	128 × 160
11 × 14 in	121 × 154	154 × 196	176 × 224	198 × 252	154 × 196	176 × 224
12 × 16 in	132 × 176	168 × 224	192 × 256	216 × 288	168 × 224	192 × 256
16 × 20 in	176 × 220	224 × 280	256 × 320	288 × 360	224 × 280	256 × 320

What is a stitch count calculator?

A cross stitch stitch count calculator is a planning tool that converts a finished size into the number of stitches wide and high for a chosen fabric count. Designers use it to set a chart’s size, and stitchers use it to check what will fit a frame or a piece of fabric.

How do you calculate stitch count for cross stitch?

Decide the finished width and height in inches (or centimetres ÷ 2.54).
Find the stitches per inch: the fabric count, halved if you stitch over two threads.
Multiply each side by the stitches per inch and round down to a whole stitch.
For a piece of fabric you already have, first take the margin off both edges of each side.

Stitch count formula and worked example

stitches wide = ⌊ width (in) × count ÷ over ⌋
largest design = ⌊ (fabric width − 2 × margin) × count ÷ over ⌋

Worked example: an 8 × 10 in design on 14-count Aida is 8 × 14 = 112 stitches wide and 10 × 14 = 140 stitches high. A 12 × 12 in piece of 14-count Aida with 3 in margins leaves 6 × 6 in to stitch, which holds a design of up to 84 × 84 stitches.

What changes the stitch count?

Fabric count. Higher counts fit more stitches into the same size: 8 in is 112 stitches on 14-count and 144 on 18-count.
Over two. Stitching over two threads halves the stitches that fit, so 28-count over two holds the same as 14-count Aida.
Margins. On fabric you already own, every inch of margin per side removes two inches from the usable width.

How do you turn a photo or picture size into stitches?

Pick the size you want the finished piece to be, then use this calculator to get the stitch grid for your fabric. Pattern-making software then reduces the picture to that many stitches; this site does not convert photos into patterns.

Is the total stitch count the same as the number of stitches I will sew?

No, not for most patterns. Width × height counts every square in the grid. Charts with plain background areas have fewer stitches; the pattern key or your software gives the real number for the floss calculator.

Should I round stitch counts up or down?

Round down when the design must fit a frame or a fabric piece, as this calculator does. Round up only when the size is a minimum, for example when filling a pillow front completely.

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 1.1. Last updated November 14, 2026. Found a wrong number? Tell us.