Knitting Gauge Calculator

Gauge (tension) is the number of stitches and rows per 10 cm of knitted fabric. It determines the final size of your project and depends on yarn weight, needle size, and your personal knitting style.

Two calculation modes

Gauge → Finished size: enter your stitch and row counts plus your gauge to calculate the finished dimensions in centimeters
Target size → Stitch count: enter the finished dimensions and your gauge to calculate how many stitches and rows to cast on

Why gauge matters

A difference of just half a stitch per 10 cm can result in a garment that is several centimeters larger or smaller than intended. For a 50 cm wide sweater at 22 stitches/10 cm, each 0.5 st/10 cm off gauge means the final width changes by ~1 cm.

Best practices

Always swatch before starting: especially for garments where fit matters
Wash and block your swatch before measuring, yarn often grows or shrinks after washing
Measure in the middle: the edges of a swatch are less accurate
If your gauge is too tight (too many stitches per 10 cm), go up one needle size
If your gauge is too loose (too few stitches), go down one needle size