Knitting Yarn Cost Calculator
Created by: Ethan Brooks
Last updated:
Calculate the total cost of yarn for your knitting project. Enter your yardage needs and yarn pricing to get accurate budget estimates, compare price per yard across yarns, and plan for buffer allowance.
Knitting Yarn Cost Calculator
KnittingBudget your knitting project with accurate yarn cost estimates
Project Yarn Needs
Yarn Pricing
Buffer Allowance
10% is recommended for most projects. Use 15-20% for colorwork or complex patterns.
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What is a Yarn Cost Calculator?
A Yarn Cost Calculator helps knitters budget for projects by calculating the total cost based on yardage needed, skein size, and price. Know exactly how much your project will cost before you start shopping.
Whether you're comparing yarn options, planning a gift budget, or deciding between luxury and budget yarns, this calculator gives you accurate cost estimates with waste and swatch allowances.
Understanding Yarn Costs
Price Per Skein: What you pay at the register for one ball/skein/hank
Yards Per Skein: Total yardage in each purchase unit
Price Per Yard: The true cost comparison metric across yarns
Total Project Cost: Skeins needed × price, plus buffer allowance
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the total cost of yarn for a project?
Divide total yardage needed by yards per skein to get the number of skeins. Round up (you can't buy partial skeins). Multiply skeins by price per skein. Add 10-15% extra for swatching and mistakes.
Why is yarn price per yard a better comparison than price per skein?
Skeins vary in yardage. A $12 skein with 400 yards ($0.03/yard) is cheaper than an $8 skein with 200 yards ($0.04/yard). Price per yard lets you compare apples to apples across different brands and put-ups.
How much extra yarn should I budget for?
Budget 10-15% extra for gauge swatching, mistakes, and joining new balls. For colorwork, add 15-20% because carrying floats uses more yarn. For stripes with many color changes, add 10% per color for tails.
Is expensive yarn worth the cost?
It depends on the project. For a sweater you'll wear for years, quality yarn (good stitch definition, comfortable, durable) is worth it. For practice projects or baby items that get outgrown quickly, budget yarn works fine.
How can I reduce yarn costs?
Buy during sales (many shops do annual sales), use discount codes, buy in larger put-ups (cones vs skeins), consider yarn swaps, check destash sales on Ravelry, and substitute with similar but cheaper yarn.
Does yarn weight affect project cost?
Generally yes. Bulky projects use more yarn by weight but fewer yards. Fingering weight projects need more yards but less total weight. Price per yard varies widely by weight, fiber, and brand.
Should I buy all my yarn at once?
Yes, buy all skeins from the same dye lot to avoid color variations. If that's not possible, alternate skeins every few rows to blend any slight color differences throughout the project.
How do I estimate yarn cost for my own designs?
Calculate the area of your project (width × length), multiply by your gauge to get total stitches, then use a yards-per-stitch estimate for your yarn weight. Add buffer, divide by skein yardage, and multiply by price.
Sources and References
- The Knitter's Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes
- Craft Yarn Council, "Yarn Cost and Yardage Standards", 2024
- Ravelry Yarn Database, Average Pricing Data