Aida Cloth Count Explained: 11, 14, 16 and 18
Aida count is stitches per inch, so finished size = stitches ÷ count. See a size chart for 11, 14, 16 and 18 count and how much fabric to cut.
https://needlenook.app/learn/aida-cloth-count-explained
Aida count is the number of stitches per inch, so finished size in inches = stitch count / fabric count. A design 140 stitches wide is 10.0" (25.4 cm) on 14-count Aida and 7.78" (19.8 cm) on 18-count.
The sections show what changes as the count changes, give a size chart for 11, 14, 16 and 18 count, explain evenweave worked over two, and show how much fabric to cut for your next project.
Key points
- Count = stitches per inch. Finished size (inches) = stitches ÷ count.
- A higher count makes smaller stitches and a smaller finished piece from the same chart.
- Cross-stitch on Aida is usually worked over one block.
- 28-count evenweave worked over two threads gives 14 stitches per inch, the same as 14-count Aida.
- Cut fabric 3" larger than the design on every side, which adds 6" to each dimension.
What the count means on the fabric
Aida is woven in small, square blocks with clear holes between them. The count is how many of those blocks, and therefore how many stitches, fit in one inch. DMC defines the count as the number of stitches you can make in an inch and notes that the higher the count, the smaller the stitches. On 14-count Aida, 14 cross-stitches sit side by side in each inch (about 5.5 per centimeter).
Wikipedia lists typical Aida sizes from 7 to 20 count; 11, 14, 16 and 18 are the counts most charts are planned for. DMC recommends 14-count for beginners.
The sizing formula
Divide the number of stitches by the count. Do it once for the width and once for the height. Multiply inches by 2.54 for centimeters.
Example: a chart 140 stitches wide and 100 stitches high, stitched on 14-count Aida, finishes at 140 ÷ 14 = 10.0" wide and 100 ÷ 14 = 7.14" high, or 25.4 x 18.1 cm. The same chart on 18-count finishes at 7.78" x 5.56" (19.8 x 14.1 cm). On 11-count it grows to 12.73" x 9.09" (32.3 x 23.1 cm).
Finished size by count
Each cell is the stitch count divided by the fabric count, rounded to two decimals, with centimeters in parentheses. Read across a row to see how the same design shrinks as the count rises.
| Stitches | 11-count | 14-count | 16-count | 18-count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 6.36" (16.2 cm) | 5.00" (12.7 cm) | 4.38" (11.1 cm) | 3.89" (9.9 cm) |
| 100 | 9.09" (23.1 cm) | 7.14" (18.1 cm) | 6.25" (15.9 cm) | 5.56" (14.1 cm) |
| 140 | 12.73" (32.3 cm) | 10.00" (25.4 cm) | 8.75" (22.2 cm) | 7.78" (19.8 cm) |
| 200 | 18.18" (46.2 cm) | 14.29" (36.3 cm) | 12.50" (31.8 cm) | 11.11" (28.2 cm) |
What changes when you change the count
Moving to a higher count shrinks the finished piece and makes each stitch smaller, which shows more detail at a given size but asks for finer thread and closer work. Moving to a lower count enlarges the piece and makes the stitches bolder and easier to see. The chart itself does not change: the same grid of stitches simply takes up more or less fabric.
Thread coverage changes too. Smaller holes on a high count usually take fewer strands of floss, and larger holes on a low count may need more strands to cover the fabric. Stitch a small test patch on a scrap of the fabric you plan to use.
Evenweave and linen: working over two
Evenweave and linen are counted by threads, not blocks, and cross-stitch on them is often worked over two threads. DMC describes working over two as making each cross over two warp and two weft threads. That halves the stitches per inch: 28-count evenweave over two gives 28 ÷ 2 = 14 stitches per inch, the same size as 14-count Aida, and 32-count over two gives 16 stitches per inch.
So a 140-stitch design on 28-count evenweave over two finishes at 10.0" (25.4 cm), exactly as on 14-count Aida. Always divide the thread count by two before using the sizing formula when you work over two.
How much fabric to cut
Add 3" (7.6 cm) of margin on every side of the design, which adds 6" to the width and 6" to the height. The margin gives room for a hoop or frame and for finishing. For the 140 x 100 design on 14-count, the design is 10.0" x 7.14", so cut the fabric at least 16.0" x 13.14" (40.6 x 33.4 cm). On 18-count the same design needs 13.78" x 11.56" (35.0 x 29.4 cm).
The cross-stitch pattern maker on this site shows the finished size and the recommended fabric size for the count you choose, so you can compare counts before buying fabric.
Common questions
- How big will my cross-stitch be on 14-count Aida?
- Divide the stitch count by 14. A design 140 stitches wide finishes 10.0" (25.4 cm) wide; one 70 stitches wide finishes 5.0" (12.7 cm) wide.
- Is 14-count or 18-count better for beginners?
- DMC recommends 14-count for beginners. The holes are larger and easier to see than on 18-count, which makes counting simpler.
- Is 28-count evenweave the same as 14-count Aida?
- When you stitch over two threads, yes for sizing: 28 ÷ 2 = 14 stitches per inch. The fabric looks and handles differently, but the finished size matches.
- How much extra fabric should I leave around a cross-stitch design?
- Leave 3" on every side, which adds 6" to each dimension. Use more if your framer or finishing method asks for it.
About this page
Written and reviewed by Tessa, Editor, Needle Nook. Last reviewed . General craft guidance; check your own gauge and measurements before cutting or stitching.
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