What Aida cloth count means
Aida count is the number of stitch squares per inch of fabric. 14-count Aida has 14 squares per inch, so a 140-stitch design is 10 inches wide. A higher count means smaller stitches, a smaller finished piece, and fewer strands of floss.
The common counts
| Count | Squares per inch | 100 stitches = | Strands | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (Binca) | 6 | 16.7 in / 42 cm | 6 | Children, teaching, yarn. |
| 11 | 11 | 9.1 in / 23 cm | 3 | Beginners, low vision, big bold designs. |
| 14 | 14 | 7.1 in / 18 cm | 2 | The default. Most kits and charts assume it. |
| 16 | 16 | 6.3 in / 16 cm | 2 | Slightly finer look with the same thread. |
| 18 | 18 | 5.6 in / 14 cm | 1–2 | Detailed designs kept small; photo patterns. |
| 20–22 | 20–22 | 5.0–4.5 in | 1 | Miniatures, ornaments; hard on the eyes. |
Enter any count and stitch size in the fabric calculator for exact finished and cut sizes.
What changes when you change count
- Size. The same chart shrinks as the count rises. Moving a design from 14 to 18 count makes it 22% smaller in each direction without losing any detail.
- Strands. Smaller squares need less thread to cover them. Three strands on 11, two on 14 and 16, one or two on 18. Too many strands and the stitches bunch; too few and fabric shows through.
- Needle. Tapestry 22 for 11 count, 24 for 14 and 16, 26 for 18 and up.
- Floss quantity. Higher counts use less thread per stitch, so the same pattern needs fewer skeins on 18 count than on 11.
- Time. The number of stitches does not change, so the stitching time barely changes. A 10,000-stitch design is 10,000 stitches at any count.
Which count to choose
First project: 14 count. It is what patterns are designed for, the holes are easy to see, and every shop stocks it.
Photo patterns: 16 or 18 count. Converted photos have many stitches and many colors, and at 14 count a 200-stitch portrait is over 14 inches wide. At 18 count it is 11 inches, which frames more easily, and the smaller stitches blend the colors better from a normal viewing distance.
Low vision or children: 11 count, or 6-count Binca with yarn.
Wall pieces meant to be seen from across a room: 11 or 14 count; the bigger stitches read better at distance.
Aida vs. evenweave and linen
Aida is woven in blocks with an obvious hole at each corner, which is what makes it easy to count. Evenweave and linen are woven as single threads with no visible blocks; you stitch over two threads, so 28-count evenweave gives 14 stitches per inch and the same finished size as 14-count Aida. They drape better and allow fractional stitches, at the cost of counting each thread. Most stitchers start on Aida and try evenweave later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common Aida count?
14 count. Charts, kits and strand recommendations assume it unless they say otherwise.
Is a higher Aida count harder?
The stitch is identical; the holes are just closer together. 16 is barely different from 14. Above 18 most people want good light or magnification.
What is cross stitch fabric called?
Aida is the standard cross stitch fabric. Evenweave and linen are the other two families. All are sold by count.
Does Aida count affect how many stitches are in a pattern?
No. The chart fixes the stitch count. Fabric count only decides how big each stitch, and therefore the finished piece, will be.