Crochet Blanket Calculator
Calculate yarn needed, number of balls, cost and time estimate for any crochet blanket. Presets for baby, throw, single, double and king sizes.
Blanket Size
Crochet Details
Yarn Specs
Total Cost
£25.00
Time to Crochet
15 hours 36m
Your 130×180cm blanket will cost approximately £25.00 and take roughly 15 hours 36 minutes.
About this calculator
- Yarn estimates include an extra 10% for joining squares and edging
- We add 1 extra ball to account for mistakes and adjustments
- Time estimates assume an average crochet speed of 0.15 m² per hour
- Granny square projects typically use more yarn than single stitch blankets
How Much Yarn Will I Actually Need?
A throw blanket at 130 x 180cm in worsted-weight yarn using double crochet stitches needs roughly 515 metres - about 4 to 5 balls of standard 150-metre yarn. The same throw in chunky yarn needs 690 metres because each stitch eats more material. A baby blanket at 75 x 100cm in DK weight comes in at around 150 metres (1 to 2 balls); a king-size 260 x 260cm blanket in worsted weight needs over 1,500 metres or 10 to 12 balls.
The calculator multiplies the area by yarn-usage-per-square-metre figures derived from the stitch type and yarn weight, then adds 10% for joining seams and edge work. It also adds one extra ball on top of the rounded total because real-life dye lots vary, frogged sections happen, and ending a project 5 metres short of the cast-off row is the most demoralising thing in crochet.
Stitch Type Changes Everything
Single crochet uses the least yarn per square metre because the stitches sit close together and are short. Double crochet uses about 50% more yarn but works up roughly twice as fast. Granny squares are the most yarn-hungry of the common patterns because the cluster stitches and the joining yarn add extra material per row.
Yarn weight (lace, fingering, DK, worsted, aran, chunky, super-chunky) is the bigger lever. A super-chunky throw made in single crochet still uses considerably more yarn than a fingering-weight blanket made in granny squares, because each individual stitch is much larger. Pick the yarn weight first based on the weight and drape you want, then choose the stitch for speed and texture. The [yarn cost calculator](/yarn-cost-calculator) is useful when you have already settled on yarn brand and price per ball.
How Long Will It Take?
An average crocheter makes about 0.15 square metres of fabric per hour. A baby blanket (0.75 square metres) takes around 5 hours. A throw (2.34 square metres) takes about 16 hours. A king-size (6.76 square metres) takes 45 hours - roughly six full evenings of dedicated work. Faster crocheters can do 0.2 to 0.3 square metres per hour with a simple stitch and bulky yarn; intricate granny-square work can drop to 0.05 square metres per hour.
These times assume continuous crocheting without setup, pattern reading, or unpicking. Factor in 20 to 30% extra for first-time patterns and add another 50% if you are testing a new stitch you have never made before. For commission work, time tracking matters - you need to charge for hours, not just yarn cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many balls of yarn for a baby blanket?
For a 75 x 100cm baby blanket in DK or worsted weight using double crochet stitches, 1 to 2 standard 150-metre balls is enough. For chunky yarn or granny-square patterns, plan on 2 to 3 balls. Always buy one extra ball - returning unused yarn is easy at most shops, but matching dye lots months later is nearly impossible.
How do I calculate yarn for any blanket size?
Multiply width by height in centimetres to get area, then divide by 10,000 to get square metres. Multiply by the yarn-per-square-metre figure for your stitch and weight (worsted with double crochet is about 2.1 metres per square metre stitched), then add 10% for edges and joining. Divide by metres per ball and round up. The calculator does this automatically for any size you enter.
Should I always buy extra yarn?
Yes - one extra ball minimum, two for any project over 130 x 180cm. Dye lots vary subtly between batches, and finishing a blanket with the last 20 rows in a marginally different shade is obvious in good light. If you finish the project with one ball left over, most yarn shops will take it back if it is unopened with the label intact.
How long does a king-size crochet blanket take?
Around 45 hours of actual crochet time using double crochet in worsted weight (about 6.76 square metres at the standard 0.15 m²/hr pace). Granny-square king blankets can take 80 to 100 hours because the joining work between squares adds substantial time. A king-size blanket is a 6 to 12 month project for most people working evenings and weekends.
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