How Much Yarn Is Left in a Skein [Calculator]

Take control of your stash with our super useful yarn calculator. If you have many half-used yarn balls waiting to be used, this tool is for you! Planning your next projects will be a breeze once you know how many yards or meters of yarn you have. Calculate how much yarn is left in a skein with this tool.

Calculate How Much Yarn Is Left in a Skein

To properly calculate how much yarn is left in a ball, first gather this information:

1. The weight of one full skein in ounces or grams (printed on the yarn label)
2. The length of one full skein in yards or meters (printed on the yarn label)
3. The weight of the remaining yarn you have (measured on a kitchen scale)

Put these numbers in the right boxes and click “Calculate” to get the result.

Tips

• Measuring one specific type and brand of yarn at a time gives the most accurate results. However, you can measure various yarns together if they are the same type and weight classification. In such a case, the result will be a rough estimate.
• The remaining skein weight CAN be bigger than the one full skein weight. 

Understanding Skeins and Yarn Weight

Firstly, let’s ask ourselves – what is a skein? To put it simply, it’s a length of yarn wound into a coil for sale or storage. There are many yarn ball types, such as cakes, hanks, or donut balls, but skein is the most popular.  

When we talk about yarn weight, we don’t mean its literal weight in ounces or grams. Rather, it’s a classification system that organizes yarns of different thicknesses – lace, worsted, bulky. 

The yarn weight type affects how much yardage is in a skein. The heavier the yarn, the fewer yards or meters per skein compared to lighter yarn.

The weight of the skein or ball is provided on the yarn label by the manufacturer. It tells us exactly how much one unused skein of this particular yarn is. 

Why Should I Estimate How Much Yarn I Have Left?

Checking how much yarn you have left is important for so many reasons! Let’s talk about a few:

1. You avoid running out of yarn mid-project if you use leftover yarn. 
2. You can easily plan new projects that make use of your stash, instead of buying new yarn. It’s especially useful for smaller projects like socks, scarves, or baby clothes.
3. If you want to combine skeins to use in larger projects, it’s much easier when you know the numbers.
4. Keep track of your yarns and avoid waste with better stash management. For the best results and future reference, pair it with a project log of how much yarn you have used vs. what is left.

Conclusion

Find out how much yarn is left in a skein with our easy-to-use calculator! Keeping track of your stash helps you use it creatively and avoid running out of yarn mid-project. The method behind our calculator is the most accurate you can use, so make sure to bookmark this tool for later. Share your leftover yarn projects in the comments or on our social media!