Calculator
Buttonhole Spacing Calculator
Even buttonhole spacing is a small thing that's surprisingly hard to do by eye. Tell us the band length and how many buttonholes you want — we'll give you the exact stitch positions and balanced edges.
Calculator
How this works
With N buttonholes on a band of T stitches, you have N+1 segments to fill: two edges plus the gaps between buttonholes. If you haven't worked the band yet and need its total stitch count, the cast-on calculator turns a finished width and gauge into a stitch count. If you leave the edge field blank, we balance all N+1 segments to be the same size (using floor division for integer stitches), and the rightmost segment absorbs the leftover so the total adds up exactly. The result: visually even spacing with a clean integer count.
When to set "edge stitches" yourself
Auto-balance is the right default for plain stockinette or garter bands. Set an edge size explicitly when:
- Your button band has a stitch pattern with a repeat (e.g., k1p1 rib) and you want buttonholes to fall in a specific position relative to the pattern.
- You're matching an existing band on the other side of the garment.
- You want a deliberately larger top or bottom edge to align with a hem or collar.
Buttonhole width: 1 or 2?
Set width to 1 for a simple yarn-over buttonhole (often paired with a k2tog or ssk decrease that doesn't consume an extra stitch). Set width to 2 for a k2tog-yo or yo-k2tog hole, which consumes two stitches per opening. If you're using a one-row horizontal buttonhole or a longer hole, count its working stitches and use that number.
Reading the results
The "positions" list gives the stitch number where each buttonhole starts, counting from 1 at the edge where you'll begin the buttonhole row. Knit (or whatever your edge stitch pattern is) up to that stitch, work the buttonhole opening, then continue to the next position.
Tips for clean buttonhole bands
- Place the first buttonhole 1/2 inch (or one button diameter) from the lower edge — it prevents the band from gapping under tension.
- For garments worn buttoned, position buttonholes so the buttons match common stress points (chest, waist).
- If the math leaves you with a slightly larger right edge, you can split the leftover between both edges by hand and re-derive: take half off the right edge, add to the left.
- For knit-on bands, buttonhole position is locked to the band. For picked-up bands, you can sometimes nudge by 1–2 stitches with no visible effect.