Crochet Gauge Calculator
Count your swatch once and get your stitches and rows per inch or 10 cm, how many you need for any finished size, and how to adjust a pattern written for a different gauge.
Measure in
Your gauge
16 sts × 18 rows
per 4 in (4 sts and 4.5 rows per inch)
160 sts × 270 rows
for 40 × 60 in, before turning chains
Adjust a pattern to your gauge
Keep the pattern’s width at your gauge. Gauges are stitches per 4 in.
Work 70 stitches instead of 80 (−10) to get the same width of 20 in.
How this is calculated
Stitches per inch = stitches counted ÷ swatch width. Rows per inch = rows counted ÷ swatch height.
Stitches needed = finished width × stitches per inch, rounded to a whole stitch. Rows needed = finished length × rows per inch.
Example: 16 single crochet and 18 rows in a 4 × 4 in swatch is 4 stitches and 4.5 rows per inch. A 40 × 60 in blanket needs 160 stitches and 270 rows, plus the turning chain your pattern uses.
To adjust a pattern, find the width it was written for (pattern stitches ÷ pattern gauge) and multiply by your gauge. 80 stitches at 16 per 4 in is 20 in wide; at your 14 per 4 in you need 70 stitches for the same 20 in.
Typical crochet gauge by yarn weight
Single crochet stitches per 4 in (10 cm), from the Craft Yarn Council. Use these to sanity-check your swatch, not instead of it.
| Yarn weight | sc per 4 in | Hook |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Lace | 32–42 dc* | Steel 1.6–1.4 mm; regular 2.25 mm |
| 1 Super Fine | 21–32 | 2.25–3.5 mm |
| 2 Fine | 16–20 | 3.5–4.5 mm |
| 3 Light | 12–17 | 4.5–5.5 mm |
| 4 Medium | 11–14 | 5.5–6.5 mm |
| 5 Bulky | 8–11 | 6.5–9 mm |
| 6 Super Bulky | 7–9 | 9–15 mm |
| 7 Jumbo | 6 and fewer | 15 mm and larger |
FAQ
What is gauge in crochet?
Gauge (called tension in the UK) is how many stitches and rows you get in a set width and height, usually 4 inches or 10 cm. It decides the finished size of your project and how much yarn it uses.
How do I measure my crochet gauge?
Crochet a swatch a little larger than 4 × 4 in (10 × 10 cm) in your yarn, hook and stitch. Block it the way you will block the finished piece, then count the stitches and rows inside a measured square away from the edges.
What if my gauge doesn’t match the pattern?
If you have more stitches than the pattern, your fabric is tighter: try a bigger hook. Fewer stitches means looser fabric: try a smaller hook. Or keep your hook and use the pattern converter here to change the stitch count.
Why does row gauge matter?
Row gauge sets the length. For blankets and scarves you can usually just keep going until the piece is long enough, but for fitted items and yarn estimates, rows matter as much as stitches.
Is the starting chain the same as the stitch count?
Not always. Many patterns add a turning chain to the foundation chain, and the number depends on the stitch. Follow your pattern for the turning chain.
More crochet calculators
- Crochet Blanket Size CalculatorStandard blanket sizes from lovey to king, with your starting chain and rows.
- Crochet Yarn CalculatorHow much yarn you need, in yards, meters, grams and skeins, from one swatch.
- Crochet Increase & Decrease CalculatorSpread increases or decreases evenly and get a line you can crochet straight away.
- Crochet Pricing CalculatorPrice your crochet work from materials, hours and fees, two ways side by side.
Sources
Formulas and standard sizes on this page come from the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-24. Spot an error? Tell us.