Knitting Gauge Calculator

Work out knitting gauge instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Knitting Gauge Calculator

Gauge is scaled to a 10 cm basis by dividing the stitches counted by the measured width and multiplying by ten, then compared with the pattern figure. Two stitches per 10 cm off compounds to several centimetres across a garment body, which is why swatching is non-negotiable for anything fitted.

Formulas

Your gauge

stitches per 10 cm = stitches counted x 10 / width measured in cm

Width error

error % = (pattern gauge - your gauge) / your gauge x 100

Worked example

With the default values below, Knitting Gauge Calculator returns Your gauge per 10 cm of 24.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Stitches you countedminimum 1: 24
Over this widthminimum 0.1 cm: 10 cm
Pattern gauge per 10 cmminimum 1: 22

Results

Your gauge per 10 cm: 24.00
Stitches off the pattern gauge: 2.00
Needle adjustment: Too tight - go up a needle size for each 1 to 2 stitches over
Width error if you knit at this gauge: -8.33%

Step by step

1Values used
2Your gauge
3Width error
4Your gauge per 10 cm= 24.00
5Stitches off the pattern gauge= 2.00
6Needle adjustment= Too tight - go up a needle size for each 1 to 2 stitches over
7Width error if you knit at this gauge= -8.33

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Knitting Gauge figure worked out?

stitches per 10 cm = stitches counted x 10 / width measured in cm. Gauge is scaled to a 10 cm basis by dividing the stitches counted by the measured width and multiplying by ten, then compared with the pattern figure.

Why does this matter?

Two stitches per 10 cm off compounds to several centimetres across a garment body, which is why swatching is non-negotiable for anything fitted.

What do I need to enter?

Enter stitches you counted, over this width, pattern gauge per 10 cm. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.