Yarn Yardage Calculator
Skeins, cost, and leftover from pattern yardage.
What it does
Yarn buying is division with round up. Patterns state finished yardage, bands state skein yardage, and the gap between exact division and whole skeins is the leftover that saves swatches and repairs. This page runs that division in yards or meters with cost.
The default is a 1,200 yd sweater with 220 yd skeins at $6 each. Exact division is 5.45, so the buy is 6 skeins for $36.00 with 120 yd left. Metric defaults convert the same project to 1,097 m with 201 m skeins and land on the same 6 skeins.
Dye lots deserve a say. Skeins from one lot match, while a later top up can shade shift across a front. Many makers buy the rounded skein plus one for swatch and mending, and keep bands until the piece is blocked.
Gauge changes the need behind your back. Cables drink yarn, loose gauge wastes it, and colorwork floats add hidden length, so treat pattern yardage as a base and pad projects with texture.
How to use
- Pick imperial or metric first.
- Enter pattern yardage need.
- Enter yards per skein from the band.
- Enter price per skein (0 to skip).
- Read skeins first, then leftover and cost.
Formula
- need
- Pattern yardage plus swatch and ease.
- per skein
- Band yardage per skein.
- price
- Dollars per skein.
Need is finished yardage plus the pattern ease and swatch share. Skein length comes from the band in yards or meters. Price is per skein in dollars; set 0 to skip cost and the tool prints add a price.
Worked example
Example: 1,200 yd sweater
Pattern needs 1,200 yd, skeins hold 220 yd, $6 per skein (metric 1,097 m, 201 m).
- Divide: 1,200 / 220 = 5.45 skeins.
- Round up to 6 skeins.
- Cost: 6 x 6 = $36.00.
- Leftover: 6 x 220 - 1,200 = 120 yd.
- Metric: 1,097 m need, 201 m skeins, same 6 skeins.
- Tool shows 6 skeins, 120 yd left, $36.00.
Reference table
| Need | Exact | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 440 yd | 2 | 2 skeins |
| 500 yd | 2.27 | 3 skeins |
| 880 yd | 4 | 4 skeins |
| 1,200 yd | 5.45 | 6 skeins |
| 2,000 yd | 9.09 | 10 skeins |
Limits
- One colorway only. Stripes need per color passes.
- Pattern yardage assumed right. Gauge shifts change it.
- Ignores swatch yarn unless added to need.
- Price is dollars per skein only.
Common mistakes
- Rounding skeins down and running short.
- Mixing yards with meters across band and pattern.
- Forgetting swatch and ease in need.
- Splitting dye lots across large panels.
- Pricing per ball against per skein lengths.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
500 yd need, 220 yd skeins at $6?
3 skeins (500 / 220 = 2.27, up to 3), $18.00.
1,000 yd need, 220 yd skeins?
5 skeins (1,000 / 220 = 4.55, up to 5), leftover 100 yd.
Questions
How many skeins do I need?
Divide need by skein length and round up. Here 1,200 over 220 is 6 skeins.
How much is left over?
Skeins times skein length minus need. Here 120 yd.
What will it cost?
Skeins times price. Here 6 times $6 is $36.00.
Does it work in meters?
Yes. Enter meters for the same skein and cost math.
Should I buy extra for dye lots?
Dye lots can shift shade. One extra skein often beats a mismatch.
Does it cover gauge changes?
No. Gauge, cables, and colorwork change real use. Swatch first.