How Much Yarn Do I Need? Yardage for Sweaters, Hats, Socks and More
Typical yarn amounts for sweaters, hats, scarves, socks, mittens and blankets in every weight, plus a swatch-weighing method to estimate any project.
The short answer: an adult sweater takes about 1,000 to 1,500 m of worsted or 1,100 to 1,600 m of DK, a hat about 150 m, a pair of socks about 400 m of fingering, and a scarf 300 to 450 m of worsted. The tables below give ranges for each project and yarn weight. For an exact number, weigh your gauge swatch (method at the end).
Yarn amounts in patterns are given in metres or yards, not balls, because balls differ in length. A 50 g ball of DK can be 110 m or 130 m depending on the brand. Always compare lengths.
The figures below are typical ranges for plain stockinette in wool or wool-blend yarn. Your own number depends on your size, the length you knit, your gauge and the stitch pattern. Not sure which size you are? See the sweater size chart and ease guide.
Sweaters
Adult pullover, set-in or raglan sleeves, standard fit, hip length:
| Size (chest) | Fingering | DK | Worsted / aran | Chunky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS – S (80 – 90 cm) | 1,200 – 1,500 m | 1,000 – 1,250 m | 850 – 1,100 m | 600 – 800 m |
| M – L (95 – 110 cm) | 1,500 – 1,850 m | 1,250 – 1,550 m | 1,100 – 1,350 m | 800 – 1,000 m |
| XL – 2XL (115 – 130 cm) | 1,850 – 2,300 m | 1,550 – 1,900 m | 1,350 – 1,650 m | 1,000 – 1,250 m |
| 3XL and up (135 cm +) | 2,300 m + | 1,900 m + | 1,650 m + | 1,250 m + |
Add roughly 20 to 40 percent for all-over cables or textured stitches, and more for oversized fits, long bodies or a turtleneck. A cardigan needs a little more than a pullover for the front bands. A short-sleeved or cropped sweater needs less.
For stranded colourwork, estimate the main colour as if the sweater were plain, then add the contrast colours: each contrast colour in a yoke band typically takes 50 to 150 m.
Accessories
| Project | Fingering | DK | Worsted / aran | Chunky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult hat | 200 – 300 m | 170 – 250 m | 130 – 200 m | 90 – 140 m |
| Adult mittens (pair) | 200 – 280 m | 170 – 230 m | 130 – 180 m | 90 – 130 m |
| Adult socks (pair) | 350 – 420 m | 300 – 380 m | – | – |
| Cowl | 200 – 350 m | 170 – 300 m | 130 – 250 m | 90 – 170 m |
| Scarf (20 x 160 cm) | 500 – 650 m | 400 – 550 m | 300 – 450 m | 200 – 300 m |
| Shawl (medium) | 400 – 800 m | 350 – 650 m | – | – |
Blankets
| Blanket | DK | Worsted / aran | Chunky |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby (75 x 90 cm) | 800 – 1,000 m | 650 – 900 m | 450 – 600 m |
| Lap throw (100 x 130 cm) | 1,500 – 1,900 m | 1,200 – 1,600 m | 850 – 1,150 m |
| Single bed (150 x 200 cm) | 3,000 – 3,800 m | 2,400 – 3,200 m | 1,700 – 2,300 m |
The most accurate method: weigh your swatch
Ranges are a guide. To estimate your own project closely:
- Knit your gauge swatch in the project’s yarn and stitch, and measure it. Say it is 15 x 15 cm = 225 cm².
- Weigh it on a kitchen scale: say 9 g.
- Work out the area of the finished piece. A sweater is roughly body front + back + two sleeves. For example, two body pieces of 55 x 65 cm and two sleeves averaging 35 x 48 cm: 2 x 3,575 + 2 x 1,680 = 10,510 cm².
- Grams needed = finished area ÷ swatch area × swatch weight. 10,510 ÷ 225 × 9 = 420 g.
- Add 10 percent for seams, bands and the unknown: about 460 g. With 100 g balls, buy five.
This works for any stitch pattern, because the swatch already includes the extra yarn cables or colourwork use.
Tips so you don’t run out
- Buy from one dye lot, and buy the extra ball at the start.
- Keep the ball band so you can find the same yarn later.
- Knit both sleeves at the same time if you are close: you can shorten both equally instead of ending up with one short sleeve.
- Weigh as you go. After the body, weigh what is left. If one sleeve used 100 g, you know whether the second will fit.
To understand the weights in these tables, see the yarn weight chart. To plan a colourwork piece and see how many stitches of each colour it has, start a knitting chart in Knytstudio.
Frequently asked questions
How much yarn do I need for an adult sweater?
Roughly 1,000 to 1,500 metres of worsted or aran, 1,100 to 1,600 metres of DK, or 1,300 to 2,000 metres of fingering for an adult pullover, depending on size, length, sleeve length and stitch pattern. Cables and textured stitches use more.
How many balls of yarn for a hat?
An adult hat takes about 130 to 200 metres of worsted, which is usually one 100 g ball. A thick, cabled or slouchy hat can need a little more.
How much yarn for a pair of socks?
About 350 to 420 metres of fingering (sock) yarn for an adult pair, which is why sock yarn is usually sold in 100 g skeins of around 400 metres.
Should I buy extra yarn?
Yes, about 10 percent, and from the same dye lot. Running out halfway is worse than a leftover ball, and a later dye lot can be visibly different.
Do cables use more yarn?
Yes. Cables and textured stitches like seed stitch or brioche can use 20 to 40 percent more yarn than plain stockinette for the same size, because the fabric is thicker and the cables pull the width in.