Yarn Length Calculator

Convert between yards and metres, and work out how much length is left on a part skein by weighing it.

Yarn is sold by length in some countries and by weight in others, and half used skeins have no label at all. This tool does both jobs: it converts between yards and metres, and it estimates the length remaining on a part skein from its weight.

At a glance

What you enter: Yarn length in yards, Yarn length in metres, Yarn weight, Full skein weight, Weight of the yarn you have left, Label length of a full skein
What you get: Metres to yards, Yards to metres, Left on the skein (by weight), Left on the skein (by weight class)
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 ↓

Yarn length in yards yd

Yarn length in metres m

Yarn weight

Used for the estimate from an unlabelled weight.

Full skein weight g

Weigh an unused skein of the same yarn.

Weight of the yarn you have left g

Label length of a full skein yd

Reset

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

How to use the Yarn Length Calculator

1 Enter Yarn length in yards (yd)
2 Enter Yarn length in metres (m)
3 Enter Yarn weight, Used for the estimate from an unlabelled weight.
4 Enter Full skein weight (g), Weigh an unused skein of the same yarn.
5 Enter Weight of the yarn you have left (g)
6 Enter Label length of a full skein (yd)
7 Press Calculate. You get Metres to yards, Yards to metres, Left on the skein (by weight), Left on the skein (by weight class), 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.

Part skein in worsted

A 100 gram skein labelled 200 yards, with 60 grams left.

You enter

Full skein weight: 100 g
Weight of the yarn you have left: 60 g
Label length of a full skein: 200 yd
Yarn weight: 5

You get

Metres to yards: 0.00 yd
Yards to metres: 182.88 m
Left on the skein (by weight): 120
Left on the skein (by weight class): 120

The weighing method gives the tighter figure.

Open this example in the calculator →

Substituting a metre yarn

A pattern calls for 400 yards and your yarn is sold in metres.

You enter

Yarn length in yards: 400 yd
Yarn weight: 4

You get

Metres to yards: 0.00 yd
Yards to metres: 365.76 m
Left on the skein (by weight): 120
Left on the skein (by weight class): 174

366 metres covers 400 yards.

Open this example in the calculator →

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Frequently asked questions

How do I work out how much yarn is left on a part skein?

Weigh it. Put the remaining yarn on a kitchen scale, divide that weight by the weight of a full skein, then multiply by the label length. A 100 gram skein holding 200 yards, with 60 grams left, has about 120 yards remaining. That is far more reliable than guessing from how full the skein looks.

Is a metre the same as a yard?

No, a metre is about 9 percent longer. One yard is exactly 0.9144 metres, so 100 yards is roughly 91 metres. This matters when you substitute a yarn sold by length in one unit for a pattern written in the other.

Why does the weight class estimate differ from the weighing method?

Yarn weight categories cover a range of densities and fibre blends. A 100 gram worsted can hold anywhere from about 180 to 220 yards depending on the fibre and how tightly it is spun. Weighing a labelled skein of the same yarn removes that uncertainty entirely.

Terms used here

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

Skein A length of yarn wound into a package for sale.

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