Cross stitch
What is Aida count? Choosing a cross stitch fabric count
Aida count is the number of squares, and so the number of stitches, in one inch of fabric. It sets how big your finished piece will be, how many strands you stitch with, and how easy the holes are to see.
Updated October 6, 2026
Aida is the fabric most people learn cross stitch on. It's woven in small square blocks with a hole at each corner, so you can always see where the needle goes. The count is the number of those blocks in one inch, and it's the same across and down. Each full cross covers one block, so the count is also your stitches per inch: 14 count Aida gives 14 stitches per inch, or 196 in every square inch.
A higher number means smaller blocks and smaller stitches. 18 count is finer than 14 count, which trips up a lot of people the first time they buy fabric.
Some shops list fabric in stitches per centimeter instead. Divide the count by 2.54 to get stitches per cm, or multiply stitches per cm by 2.54 to get the count. 14 count is about 5.5 stitches per cm, 16 count about 6.3, and 18 count about 7.1.
What the count does not change
The chart doesn't care what count you use. A pattern is a grid, and one square is one stitch on any fabric. What changes is the finished size. When a pattern says a design is 10.7 by 7.9 inches, that number assumes one particular count, usually printed next to the stitch count. Put the same chart on different fabric and the size moves with it.
Evenweave and linen are counted differently. Their count is threads per inch, not blocks, and you normally stitch over two threads, which halves the number. 28 count evenweave stitched over two gives 14 stitches per inch, exactly the same size as 14 count Aida. The guide to Aida, evenweave and linen covers how that works on the fabric.
The common Aida counts
Most Aida is 100% cotton and comes in 11, 14, 16 and 18 count, with 20 count at the fine end and 6 count (usually sold as Binca) and 8 count at the chunky end. Here are the usual strands of six-strand floss and the usual tapestry needle for each. Sources differ by a needle size here and there, so read the last column as a starting point.
| Count | Stitches per cm | Strands for cross stitch | Tapestry needle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 4.3 | 3 | 22 |
| 14 | 5.5 | 2 | 24 |
| 16 | 6.3 | 2 | 24 or 26 |
| 18 | 7.1 | 1 or 2 | 26 or 28 |
Tapestry needles have blunt tips that slide between the fabric threads instead of splitting them. The sizes run backward from what you'd expect: a bigger number is a finer needle.
11 count
Big holes that are easy to find, even in dim light. It's a kind choice for children, for anyone who finds 14 count a strain on the eyes, and for designs you want to come out large. The same chart on 11 count is about 27% wider and taller than on 14 count. Use three strands. With two, a lot of fabric shows between the crosses.
14 count
The default, and where most kits and beginner patterns sit. Two strands fill each square neatly, and the holes are easy to see in ordinary light. If you're unsure, start here.
16 count
A step finer. The same chart comes out 12.5% smaller than on 14 count, and two strands still cover well. I reach for it when a design is just a bit too big for the frame I have in mind.
18 count
Small, detailed work. One strand gives a lighter texture with a little fabric showing through; two strands give solid coverage but make the holes feel crowded. Good light helps a lot, and plenty of stitchers use magnification at this count.
6, 8 and 20 count
6 and 8 count have very large holes and are mostly used for teaching and bold, graphic pieces (needle sizes 18 and 20 respectively). 20 count is very fine and is usually stitched with a single strand.
How count changes the finished size
The math is simple: divide the stitches by the stitches per inch to get inches. Here is one design, 150 stitches wide and 110 tall, on different fabrics.
| Fabric | Stitches per inch | Finished size (inches) | Finished size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 count Aida | 11 | 13.6 × 10.0 | 34.6 × 25.4 |
| 14 count Aida | 14 | 10.7 × 7.9 | 27.2 × 20.0 |
| 16 count Aida | 16 | 9.4 × 6.9 | 23.8 × 17.5 |
| 18 count Aida | 18 | 8.3 × 6.1 | 21.2 × 15.5 |
| 20 count Aida | 20 | 7.5 × 5.5 | 19.1 × 14.0 |
| 28 count evenweave, over two | 14 | 10.7 × 7.9 | 27.2 × 20.0 |
| 32 count evenweave or linen, over two | 16 | 9.4 × 6.9 | 23.8 × 17.5 |
That's the stitched area only. You also need spare fabric around it: at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) on every side if you plan to frame it, or about an inch for a card. So the 14 count version wants a piece at least 16.7 by 13.9 inches. Too little fabric is awkward to fix once you've started, so round up.
Craft Studio's Aida count converter does this for every common count at once, adds the margin, and converts a finished size from one count to another. Like the rest of the tools pages, it's free, needs no account, and runs in your browser.
Working backward from a frame
Sometimes you know the space and need the count. Say you have a frame with a 12 inch wide opening and a design 200 stitches wide. Divide the stitches by the width: 200 ÷ 12 is about 16.7, so you need at least 16.7 stitches per inch. 16 count gives 12.5 inches, which is too wide. 18 count gives 11.1 inches, which fits with a little breathing room. The same math tells you whether a design will fit a card blank or a display hoop.
Strands, coverage and a test patch
Coverage is how completely the floss hides the fabric. More strands fill each block more; fewer let the fabric show through. Color matters as well: dark floss on light fabric looks fuller than a pale shade stitched with the same number of strands.
When a pattern tells you how many strands to use, follow it. When it doesn't, or you've changed the count, stitch a small block of crosses in the margin with each option, using one of the actual colors from the pattern. It takes five minutes and it's much easier than unpicking a finished area. Backstitch is usually done with a single strand whatever the count.
Strands also change how much floss you need. Three strands uses half as much floss again as two for the same stitches, so a project moved from 14 count to 11 count needs more skeins for two reasons: bigger stitches and an extra strand. The floss calculator takes both into account.
Stitching over two on Aida
You can work each cross over a block of two by two squares instead of one. 14 count over two gives 7 stitches per inch, so the design doubles in width and height. It's a handy way to enlarge a small motif without hunting for 6 or 8 count fabric. The bigger crosses need more strands to look full, so test a few in the margin before you start.
Choosing a count for your project
Work out the finished size on two or three counts first and see which suits the frame or wall you have in mind. That usually narrows it to one or two options.
Then be honest about your eyes and your light. 14 count on a sunny afternoon is comfortable for most people. 18 count under a lamp at 10 pm is a different experience, and there's no prize for suffering.
Think about detail too. Big blocks of color and simple shapes look good on 11 or 14 count. Small lettering, faces and patterns full of partial stitches read better on a finer count, and if a pattern uses a lot of quarter and three-quarter stitches, evenweave over two is easier to work than Aida because the center hole is already there.
For a first project, 14 count and a small design with a handful of colors is hard to beat. The beginner patterns are a good place to find one.
Frequently asked
- What does 14 count mean in cross stitch?
- It means the fabric has 14 squares per inch in each direction. Each cross covers one square, so you stitch 14 crosses per inch. A design 140 stitches wide comes out 10 inches wide on 14 count Aida.
- Which Aida count is best for beginners?
- 14 count is the usual starting point. The holes are easy to see, two strands of floss cover it well, and most kits use it. If 14 count feels hard on your eyes, 11 count has bigger holes and works with three strands.
- Is 18 count Aida harder than 14 count?
- The stitches are the same, just smaller, so the holes take more effort to see and count. Good light and sometimes magnification help. The upside is a smaller, finer finish from the same chart.
- Can I stitch a pattern on a different count than it says?
- Yes. The chart works on any count, but the finished size changes. Divide the stitch count by your new fabric's stitches per inch to get the new size, and adjust the strands to suit the new count.
- What Aida count is the same as 28 count evenweave?
- 28 count evenweave stitched over two threads gives 14 stitches per inch, the same as 14 count Aida. 32 count over two matches 16 count Aida. If you stitch 28 count over one thread instead, it works up at 28 stitches per inch, half the size.