Enter the pattern gauge and your swatch gauge to get adjusted stitch and row counts. Also works from a finished size, with a yarn estimate and a needle size chart.
Gauge (per 4 in)
Pattern gauge
Your gauge
Counts in the pattern
Stitch pattern repeat (optional)
For patterns that say “multiple of 8 + 2”. Leave the multiple at 1 to skip this.
Counts at your gauge
Stitches
Rows
TIP
Your gauge is close to the pattern. If your stitch pattern has a repeat, enter it to get the nearest stitch count that fits.
Yarn estimate
Project
Preset size: 8 × 60 in (rough flat area)
Yarn needed (includes 15% extra)
About 480 sq in · about 173 g total
How gauge conversion works
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in a set square of fabric. US patterns usually give it over 4 inches (10 cm). Two knitters can use the same yarn and the same needles and still get different gauges, so casting on the number in the pattern often gives a piece that is larger or smaller than the finished size listed.
This calculator compares the pattern gauge with your swatch gauge and scales the pattern's stitch and row counts by that ratio. You can enter gauge per 4 inches or per 10 cm, and the numbers you have already entered are converted when you switch.
If you have no pattern and want to start from a size, the Custom size tab turns a width and length into stitch and row counts. The page also includes a rough yarn estimate based on the weight of your swatch, and a US-to-mm chart for knitting needles and crochet hooks.
Common situations: off-gauge swatches, custom sizes, yarn swaps
Your swatch does not match the pattern
Enter both gauges and the pattern's counts to see how many stitches and rows you need at your gauge. This also helps when you swap in a different yarn than the pattern calls for.
Making a scarf or blanket to your own size
Type the width and length you want and get the cast-on and row count for your gauge. Useful when a pattern is only a stitch pattern with no fixed size.
Checking how much yarn to buy
Weigh your swatch, choose a project size, and get a skein count with 15% extra built in, before you buy yarn for a whole project.
A pattern lists needles in mm, or only a US number
Look up the matching US size or mm size for knitting needles and crochet hooks without leaving the page.
How to convert a pattern to your gauge in 5 steps
- Choose Inches (gauge per 4 in) or Centimeters (gauge per 10 cm). Switching converts the numbers already entered.
- Enter the pattern gauge and your own swatch gauge, both as stitches and rows.
- On the Convert counts tab, enter the stitches and rows the pattern calls for. The adjusted counts appear on the right.
- To start from a finished size instead, open the Custom size tab and enter the width and length.
- If your stitch pattern has a repeat, enter it to see the nearest stitch count that fits. Use the yarn estimate to plan how many skeins to buy.
Note: Everything runs in your browser. Use Copy results to paste the numbers into your notes.
Limits of the estimate
- Results are rounded to whole stitches and rows from the numbers you enter. The tool does not account for shaping, seam allowance, ease, or edge stitches, so adjust for those in your pattern.
- Your gauge can change from one day to the next, even with the same yarn and needles. Knit a fresh swatch before starting a large project.
- The yarn estimate treats the project as a flat rectangle made in the same fabric as your swatch. Cables, lace, and colorwork can use more or less yarn, so weigh a swatch in the stitch pattern you will use.
- A small swatch weighs only a few grams, so a scale that shows tenths of a gram gives a better estimate.
Knitting needle and crochet hook sizes: US to mm
Use this to match a pattern's US size to a metric size, or the other way around.
| US knitting needle | mm | US crochet hook | mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 2.25 mm | B-1 | 2.25 mm |
| US 2 | 2.75 mm | C-2 | 2.75 mm |
| US 3 | 3.25 mm | D-3 | 3.25 mm |
| US 4 | 3.5 mm | E-4 | 3.5 mm |
| US 5 | 3.75 mm | F-5 | 3.75 mm |
| US 6 | 4.0 mm | G-6 | 4.0 mm |
| US 7 | 4.5 mm | 7 | 4.5 mm |
| US 8 | 5.0 mm | H-8 | 5.0 mm |
| US 9 | 5.5 mm | I-9 | 5.5 mm |
| US 10 | 6.0 mm | J-10 | 6.0 mm |
| US 10½ | 6.5 mm | K-10½ | 6.5 mm |
| US 11 | 8.0 mm | L-11 | 8.0 mm |
| US 13 | 9.0 mm | M/N-13 | 9.0 mm |
| US 15 | 10.0 mm | N/P-15 | 10.0 mm |
Reading the chart
Sizes follow the Craft Yarn Council chart. Needle and hook makers label their tools differently, and the mm size is the more reliable number to match.
- Knitting needles: a higher US number means a thicker needle.
- Crochet hooks: hooks can be labeled with a letter, a number, or both, such as H-8.
The full chart, including sizes 0, 17, and 19 for knitting needles, is in the Needle and hook sizes panel in the tool above.
Gauge math: stitches per inch, cast-on counts, and needle changes
How the numbers are calculated, and what to do when your swatch and the pattern disagree.
The formula: your gauge divided by the pattern gauge
Multiply the pattern's count by your stitches per 4 inches ÷ pattern stitches per 4 inches.
For example, a pattern gives 20 stitches per 4 inches and you get 22. The ratio is 1.1, so a 60-stitch instruction becomes 60 × 1.1 = 66 stitches.
Rows use the same method with the row gauge. To work in single inches, divide each gauge by 4.
Why gauge differs when the needle size is the same
Gauge depends on how firmly you hold the yarn as well as on the needle size. The yarn, the stitch pattern, and whether you wash or block the swatch also change the result.
A pattern's gauge describes how the designer's swatch turned out, so check it against your own swatch each time.
Change needles, or change the stitch count?
Most patterns expect you to change the needle size until your swatch matches the stated gauge. If you have more stitches than the pattern, try a larger needle. If you have fewer, try a smaller one.
If you like the fabric you already have, keep your needles and use the converted counts here. Conversion works best when the difference is small and the stitch pattern is plain.
What the yarn estimate includes
The estimate scales your swatch weight to the project area, adds 15% extra, and rounds up to whole skeins.
It does not know your stitch pattern, so swatch in the pattern you plan to use. Buying one extra skein is a common precaution, and it helps you avoid a dye lot mismatch later.
Common gauge mistakes and fixes
Casting on without a swatch
You match the needle size and cast on the pattern's number, then the sweater or hat turns out noticeably bigger or smaller than expected.
💡 See the solution▼
Counting stitches near the swatch edge
Edge stitches are pulled in and often look tighter, so counting there makes your gauge seem higher than it is.
💡 See the solution▼
Measuring the swatch before washing or blocking
Some yarns relax or shrink once they are washed, so a swatch measured straight off the needles can give a different gauge than the finished piece.
💡 See the solution▼
Buying exactly the estimated yarn
You buy the minimum number of skeins, run short near the end, and the store no longer has your dye lot.
💡 See the solution▼
Guessing the needle size from a pattern that only lists mm
Picking a needle by eye can leave you one or two sizes off, and your gauge shifts with it.
💡 See the solution▼
Gauge calculator FAQ
Q.How do I adjust a pattern when my gauge is different?
A. Divide your stitches per 4 inches by the pattern's stitches per 4 inches, then multiply the pattern's stitch count by that number. Do the same with rows. This tool does both steps once you enter the two gauges and the pattern's counts. For example, if the pattern gives 18 stitches per 4 inches and you get 20, the ratio is about 1.11, so a 90-stitch cast-on becomes 100 stitches.
Q.How do I find the cast-on number for a size I choose myself?
A. Switch to the Custom size tab and enter the width and length you want. The tool divides each measurement by the gauge square (4 in or 10 cm) and multiplies by your stitches and rows in that square, then rounds to a whole number. It does not add selvedge stitches, seam allowance, or ease, so add those yourself if your pattern needs them.
Q.How do I measure gauge?
A. Knit a swatch with the yarn and needles you plan to use, a little bigger than 4 inches on each side. Wash or block it the way you will care for the finished piece, let it dry flat, then count stitches and rows across the middle 4 inches. The edges tend to pull in, so counting there gives a misleading number.
Q.How does the yarn estimate work?
A. The tool divides the project's area by the area of your swatch square, multiplies by the swatch weight, and adds 15% extra. It then divides by your skein weight and rounds up to a whole skein. It treats the project as a flat rectangle, so shaping, a different stitch pattern, or a thicker border can change the real amount.
Q.What are US knitting needle and crochet hook sizes in mm?
A. The size chart on this page lists US knitting needle sizes 0 to 19 and crochet hooks from B-1 to N/P-15 with their mm sizes, following the Craft Yarn Council chart. If a pattern gives only a US number, find it in the chart. Brands differ slightly, so trust the mm marking on your tool when the two disagree.
Q.Should I change needle size or use the converted stitch counts?
A. Either works. If your gauge is far from the pattern, many knitters change the needle size and knit a new swatch, because the fabric then feels the way the designer intended. If you like the fabric you already have, keep your needles and use the converted counts. Check that any stitch pattern repeat still fits after you convert.
Q.What if the converted number does not fit my stitch pattern repeat?
A. Enter the repeat under Stitch pattern repeat (optional), for example a multiple of 8 plus 2. The tool then shows the closest stitch count that fits, using at least one full repeat. Pick the higher or lower fit depending on whether you would rather have a slightly wider or narrower piece.
Q.Does the tool send the numbers I enter anywhere?
A. No. The calculations run in your browser, and the gauge, size, and yarn numbers you enter are not sent to a server by this tool.
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