Aida count calculator
Use 16 count fabric. The design then measures 6 1/4 in by 8 3/4 in and stays at least 5/8 in clear of the edge. A count of 15.56 would fill the space exactly.
Result
Fabric count to use
Count that would fill the space exactly
Design width on that count
in
Design height on that count
in
Smallest clear space to the edge
in
Clear space at each side
in
Clear space at top and bottom
in
How it works
Fabric calculators start from a fabric count and tell you the size. This one runs the other way, for the day you already own the frame: what count Aida do I need so the design fits? Take the opening, subtract the clear space you want on both sides, and divide the stitches by what is left. That gives the stitches per inch the design needs; the tighter of width and height decides. Any count at or above that figure fits, and the coarsest of them gives the largest stitches that fit the frame, which is what most people want: easier to see and quicker to stitch. So the answer to what fabric count fits my frame is the first standard count above the figure. Will my cross stitch fit in a hoop? A hoop is round, so it is the corners of the design that reach it first; the tool checks the diagonal.
Formula
usable space = opening − 2 × clear gap. stitches per inch needed = stitches ÷ usable space, taking the tighter of width and height; in a hoop the design's diagonal, √(across² + down²) stitches, has to fit the usable diameter. fabric count needed = stitches per inch × threads per stitch. The answer is the coarsest listed count at or above that figure. design size = stitches ÷ stitches per inch of that count.
Worked example
The calculator opens with this example; the result above is computed from it.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Stitches across | 100 |
| Stitches down | 140 |
| The design goes in | A frame, mat or card opening |
| Opening width | 8 in |
| Opening height | 10 in |
| Clear space on each side | 0.5 in |
| You will stitch over | One square (Aida) |
| Fabric count to use | 16 |
| Count that would fill the space exactly | 15.56 |
| Design width on that count | 6 1/4 in |
| Design height on that count | 8 3/4 in |
| Smallest clear space to the edge | 5/8 in |
| Clear space at each side | 7/8 in |
| Clear space at top and bottom | 5/8 in |
Common cases
| Case | Starting values | Fabric count to use | Count that would fill the space exactly | Design width on that count | Design height on that count | Smallest clear space to the edge | Clear space at each side | Clear space at top and bottom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design for an eight by ten inch frame | Stitches across 100; Stitches down 140; Opening width 8 in; Opening height 10 in; Clear space on each side 0.5 in | 16 | 15.56 | 6 1/4 in | 8 3/4 in | 5/8 in | 7/8 in | 5/8 in |
| Motif for a six inch hoop | Stitches across 60; Stitches down 60; Hoop size 6 in; Clear space on each side 0.5 in | 18 | 16.97 | 3.33 in | 3.33 in | 0.64 in | – | – |
| Sampler on linen for an eleven by fourteen inch frame | Stitches across 140; Stitches down 180; Opening width 11 in; Opening height 14 in; Clear space on each side 1 in | 32 | 31.11 | 8 3/4 in | 11 1/4 in | 1 1/8 in | 1 1/8 in | 1 3/8 in |
| Motif for a card opening | Stitches across 40; Stitches down 55; Opening width 3 in; Opening height 4 in; Clear space on each side 0.25 in | 16 | 16.00 | 2 1/2 in | 3.44 in | 1/4 in | 1/4 in | 0.28 in |
Questions and answers
What count Aida do I need to fit a frame?
For a design of 100 by 140 stitches in an opening of 8 in by 10 in, with 0.5 in clear on each side, use 16 count. The design then measures 6 1/4 in by 8 3/4 in.
Will my cross stitch fit in a hoop?
A design of 60 by 60 stitches fits a hoop of 6 in on 18 count fabric. It measures 3.33 in by 3.33 in, and its corners stay 0.64 in clear of the hoop.
Assumptions and limits
- Counts offered over one square: six, eight, eleven, fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, twenty and twenty-two. Over two threads: twenty-two, twenty-five, twenty-eight, thirty-two, thirty-six and forty. Shops do not stock every one.
- Width is compared with width. If the design could go in sideways, swap the two opening sizes and compare.
- In a hoop the four corners of the design's rectangle are kept inside the circle. A round or oval design has empty corners and may fit a coarser count than the one shown.
- The clear space reported includes the gap you asked for. Finer fabric than the answer also fits, with smaller stitches and more room.
The result is an estimate for planning, not professional advice.
Sources
- Yarn Tree: stitch calculator chart (counts 6 to 30; size = stitches / count)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Stitched Modern: what does cross stitch fabric count mean (linen from 22 to 40 threads per inch, stitched over two)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Omni Calculator: cross stitch (Aida 6 to 18, linen 28 to 36)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Cyber Stitchers: fabric size calculator (counts 11 to 32)retrieved 2026-10-13
Last updated:
Method in depth: Design size and fabric to cut
Cite this page: Stitch Count, “Aida count calculator”, https://stitch-count.pages.dev/fabric/aida-count-calculator/ (updated 13 October 2026).
Found a mistake? Email handycalc.sites+stitchcount@gmail.com.