Project Size
Granny Square Calculator
Work out how many granny squares you need for a blanket, how big it will actually come out, and how much yarn the squares and border will take.
Granny Square Layout & Blanket Calculator
Quick Blanket Targets (Click to load):
1. Square SizeInches
in
2. Target WidthInches
in
3. Target LengthInches
in
4. Outer BorderPer side
in
Calculated Granny Square Layout & Sizing
Total Squares to Crochet
72squares
8 wide × 9 long (6" each)
Grid Assembly Layout
8 cols × 9 rows
Interior square body: 48" × 54"
Final Finished Size
52" × 58"
Includes 2" outer border on all 4 sides
Whole squares can't hit your target exactly. This layout comes out 52 × 58 in. To get closer, change the square size, adjust the border, or accept the difference.
Estimated Total Yardage
~2,440yds
Squares + border + joining yarn
Blanket Assembly Grid Preview (8 × 9 = 72 Squares)Outer border: 2"
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Blocking Is Mandatory: Never sew or crochet granny squares together before wet blocking or steam blocking them! Blocking each square to your exact 6" target dimensions on a blocking board aligns corner stitch counts and guarantees straight, ripple-free seams.
How to use the granny square calculator
- Row 1Make one square, block it, and measure its width.
- Row 2Enter the blanket size you want and the width of any border you'll add.
- Row 3Enter how many yards one square uses (weigh one finished square, or use about 25 yards for a 6-inch worsted square as a rough guide).
- Row 4Read the layout (columns × rows), the total number of squares, the actual finished size, and the total yarn for squares, border and joining.
How the calculator lays out your blanket
First, the border width is subtracted from each side of your target size. The space left is filled with squares, using whole squares only, so the number of columns and rows is rounded to the nearest whole number. Finally the border is added back.
That means your actual size can differ slightly from your target, because you can't use half a square. The calculator shows the actual finished size so you can decide whether to add or remove a row of squares.
Worked example
6-inch squares, a blanket of 50 × 60 inches, a 2-inch border, and 25 yards per square:
- 1.Space for squares: 50 − 4 = 46 in wide, and 60 − 4 = 56 in long
- 2.Columns: 46 ÷ 6 = 7.7, rounded to 8. Rows: 56 ÷ 6 = 9.3, rounded to 9
- 3.Squares: 8 × 9 = 72 squares
- 4.Actual size: 8 × 6 + 4 = 52 in wide, and 9 × 6 + 4 = 58 in long
- 5.Yarn for squares: 72 × 25 = 1,800 yards
- 6.Border: about 418 yards (220 in perimeter × 2 in wide)
- 7.Total, plus 10% for joining and tails: (1,800 + 418) × 1.10 = about 2,440 yards
Getting the yards per square right
The yards-per-square figure makes the biggest difference to the total. The best way to find it:
- 1.Make one complete square in your yarn and hook.
- 2.Weigh it in grams.
- 3.Multiply by the yards per gram from the yarn label (for 200 yards per 100 g, that's 2 yards per gram).
A 6-inch square in worsted yarn often lands around 20 to 30 yards, but your tension, the number of rounds and the stitch pattern all change it. Solid squares use more yarn than classic open grannies.
The formula
Columns = round((target width − 2 × border) ÷ square size). Rows = round((target length − 2 × border) ÷ square size). Squares = columns × rows. Yarn = squares × yards per square + border yardage, then +10% for joining and tails.
Tips
- Block every square to the same size before joining; squares made on different days often vary.
- Lay out all your squares on the floor and photograph the arrangement before joining.
- Weave in ends as you finish each square, not all at the end.
- Joining as you go saves sewing time and makes a neat, flat blanket.
Granny Square Calculator FAQ
With 6-inch squares, a 50 × 60 inch throw takes about 80 squares (around 8 × 10). With a border, slightly fewer.
In-depth guides
Crochet Troubleshooting5 min readWhy Is My Crochet Curling? Fixes for Rows, Circles and Granny Squares
Curling almost always means one part of the fabric is tighter than the rest. Here's how to fix curling rows, circles that cup or ruffle, and granny squares that won't lie flat.
Read guide
Yarn8 min readHow Much Yarn for a Crochet Blanket? Chart and 3 Ways to Estimate
A full yardage chart for every blanket size, what changes the numbers, and three ways to estimate, including a swatch method that's accurate to within a few percent.
Read guide
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