Units

Calculator

Crochet Starting Chain Calculator

Tell us your gauge and how wide you want your finished piece — we'll figure out how many chains to make, including the extras for your turning chain.

Calculator

How wide you want the finished piece to be, in inches.

Count the stitches across the standard 4 in swatch window — enter that count, not a per-in number. Work the swatch in the stitch you'll use for row 1 — single, double, half-double, etc.

Knitting and crochet gauge is measured over a standard swatch that is 4 inches — about 10 cm — square. Yarn labels and patterns use these two windows interchangeably, so "22 sts = 4 in" and "22 sts = 10 cm" mean the same thing. Enter your gauge however your pattern gives it and switch the unit toggle to match; your stitch count stays the same because it describes the same swatch. Finished measurements and yardage, where real lengths matter, are converted precisely (2.54 cm per inch).

For stitch patterns that repeat every N stitches (e.g., 6 for a shell repeat). Default 1.

Extra chains so row 1 reaches the height of your stitch. Common values: 1 for single crochet (sc), 2 for half-double (hdc), 3 for double (dc), 4 for treble (tr). Use 0 for foundation single crochet (FSC) where no separate chain is made. Default 0.

How this works

Foundation chain to first row A foundation chain drawn with crochet chain symbols. On the left, single crochet (sc) stitches rise from it with one turning chain; on the right, taller double crochet (dc) stitches rise with three turning chains. Drawn with standard crochet chart symbols. foundation chain sc · 1 turning chain dc · 3 turning chains Foundation chain → first row
The foundation chain and first row — single crochet uses one turning chain, double crochet three.

The math is the same as a knitter's cast-on: width × gauge → stitch count. What's different in crochet is that you usually need a few extra chains at the start so row 1 can be worked at the height of your stitch. Those are your turning chains — and the calculator adds them for you so the number it gives is exactly how many chains to crochet.

How many turning chains?

Turning-chain conventions vary slightly by pattern source, but the common values are:

What's a stitch multiple?

Many crochet stitch patterns repeat every N stitches — a shell pattern might repeat every 6, a granny stripe every 3. Setting a stitch multiple ensures your foundation row fits the pattern cleanly so you don't end with a half-repeat at the edge.

Tips for accurate gauge