How many stitches to cast on for a scarf
For a standard 7-inch adult scarf: about 30 stitches in worsted, 24 in aran, 18 in bulky, 40 in DK. Multiply your desired width by your stitches per inch for anything else.
Updated August 12, 2026·4 min read
| Yarn weight | Typical needle | Stitches per inch | Cast on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingering (1) | US 2-3 / 2.75-3.25 mm | 7-8 | 52 |
| Sport (2) | US 3-5 / 3.25-3.75 mm | 6-6.5 | 44 |
| DK (3) | US 5-7 / 3.75-4.5 mm | 5-5.5 | 38 |
| Worsted (4) | US 7-9 / 4.5-5.5 mm | 4-4.5 | 30 |
| Aran (4) | US 8-10 / 5-6 mm | 3.5-4 | 26 |
| Bulky (5) | US 10-11 / 6-8 mm | 3-3.5 | 22 |
| Super bulky (6) | US 13-17 / 9-12 mm | 2-2.5 | 16 |
Those counts assume the mid-point of each gauge range and a 7-inch width. They are a starting point, not a pattern — your own gauge is what decides the finished width.
The formula
- 1Knit a swatch at least 4 inches wide in the stitch pattern you'll use for the scarf. Garter and rib have very different gauges from stockinette.
- 2Wash and dry it the way you'll wash the scarf, then let it relax flat. Skipping this is how a scarf grows two inches on first wash.
- 3Measure the stitches across 4 inches in the middle of the swatch, away from the edges, and divide by four. That's your stitches per inch.
- 4Multiply by your target width and round to your pattern's multiple.
Widths and lengths that work
| Scarf type | Width | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Child | 4-5 in / 10-13 cm | 40-45 in / 100-115 cm |
| Skinny adult | 4-5 in / 10-13 cm | 60-70 in / 150-180 cm |
| Standard adult | 6-8 in / 15-20 cm | 60-70 in / 150-180 cm |
| Wide / wrap-style | 10-12 in / 25-30 cm | 70-80 in / 180-200 cm |
| Cowl (worked in the round) | n/a | 24-30 in / 60-75 cm circumference |
A useful rule for length: the scarf should be roughly the wearer's height. That gives enough to wrap once and still hang.
How much yarn
| Yarn weight | Stockinette | Garter | 2x2 rib |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK | 550-650 yd | 700-850 yd | 800-950 yd |
| Worsted | 450-550 yd | 600-700 yd | 650-800 yd |
| Aran | 400-500 yd | 500-650 yd | 600-700 yd |
| Bulky | 300-400 yd | 400-500 yd | 450-600 yd |
Garter and rib eat considerably more yarn than stockinette at the same finished size, because both compress vertically or horizontally. Buy an extra ball from the same dye lot rather than hunting for a match later.
Adjusting for the stitch pattern
- Stockinette curls at every edge. Add 4-6 stitches of garter each side and 4-6 rows top and bottom, or expect a tube.
- Ribbing pulls in. A 2x2 rib scarf needs roughly 30 percent more stitches than stockinette to finish at the same relaxed width.
- Garter needs no border and no adjustment. It's the reason it's the default first scarf.
- Cables pull in hard — add about 2 stitches per cable crossing on top of your calculation.