Blanket Yarn Calculator

Yarn estimates for bed and throw blankets by size, with the standard blanket dimensions already filled in.

Blankets are the project people most often run out of yarn on, because the yardage is large, the size is chosen loosely, and a border can add hundreds of yards on its own. This calculator starts from the standard blanket sizes and adds a border allowance so the total reflects the whole project.

At a glance

What you enter: Finished width, Finished length, Yarn weight, Your gauge: stitches per 4 in, Border, Safety margin
What you get: Total yarn needed, Skeins to buy
Formula shown: Yes, every step, right below your results.
Cost and privacy: Free, no account needed, and nothing you type is stored.

See worked examples ↓ Read the FAQ ↓ Share this calculator ↓

Finished width in

Finished length in

Yarn weight

Your gauge: stitches per 4 in st

Border

Safety margin %

Reset

Results are estimates for general information only, always verify with a professional or official source before acting on them.

How to use the Blanket Yarn Calculator

1 Enter Finished width (in)
2 Enter Finished length (in)
3 Enter Yarn weight
4 Enter Your gauge: stitches per 4 in (st)
5 Enter Border
6 Enter Safety margin (%)
7 Press Calculate. You get Total yarn needed, Skeins to buy, and every intermediate step stays visible under "How is this calculated?"
8 Change one number at a time to see what moves the result, that is usually the most useful thing a calculator can tell you.

Worked examples

Real numbers run through this calculator. Open any example to load it into the form above and change it.

Baby blanket in DK

A 30 by 40 inch baby blanket with a simple border.

You enter

Finished width: 30 in
Finished length: 40 in
Yarn weight: 4
Your gauge: stitches per 4 in: 22 st
Border: 2
Safety margin: 15%

You get

Total yarn needed: 664
Skeins to buy: 3

A baby blanket is a good project for using up a stash if the dye lots match.

Open this example in the calculator →

Queen size in worsted

A 90 by 90 inch bed blanket with a simple border.

You enter

Finished width: 90 in
Finished length: 90 in
Yarn weight: 5
Your gauge: stitches per 4 in: 18 st
Border: 2
Safety margin: 15%

You get

Total yarn needed: 7,827
Skeins to buy: 40

Buy the yarn in one order if you can.

Open this example in the calculator →

How Much Yarn Do I Need for a Blanket?

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Frequently asked questions

How much yarn does a queen size blanket need?

A queen size blanket of 90 by 90 inches in worsted weight typically needs somewhere between 6,000 and 8,000 yards once you allow for a border and a margin. In 200 yard skeins that is 30 to 40 skeins, which is why this is worth calculating before you buy rather than after.

Should I buy all the yarn at once?

Yes, and from the same dye lot. A queen size blanket can use forty skeins, and a dye lot change partway through shows as a band across the finished piece. Ask the shop to check that every skein carries the same lot number.

Does a border really use that much yarn?

More than most people expect. A simple two to four row border around a large blanket adds roughly ten to fifteen percent to the body yardage because it runs around the whole perimeter. A wide lacy border can add a third.

What is the most economical yarn weight for a blanket?

Heavier yarns cover area faster, so you buy fewer skeins and work fewer stitches, but the total weight of yarn is similar. The real saving with bulky yarn is time rather than money. Choose the weight that gives you a fabric you actually want to use.

Terms used here

Short, plain-language definitions of the words this calculator uses.

Dye lot The batch a skein of yarn was dyed in, printed as a number or code on the label.

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