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Embroidery stitch count calculator
Most embroiderers price by the 1,000 stitches, so the stitch count is the number that sets your quote. Enter the design size and how much of it is filled to get a working range before you ask for bids.
How to use this calculator
The calculator multiplies the area of the design box by a fill density, then by the share of that box that is actually stitched. Density comes from a worked example published by ASI: a 2 by 2 inch fill comes out at about 6,917 stitches at 63.5 stitches per inch, 6,188 at 50 and 5,648 at 40 (ASI, "How to Reduce Stitch Count Without Jeopardizing Quality", October 2019). Dividing by the 4 square inches gives roughly 1,412 to 1,729 stitches per square inch of solid fill, which is the low and high end of the range shown. The coverage setting is our own estimating assumption: outline or text-only designs are counted at 15% of the box, light fill at 35%, medium at 60% and full fill, such as a fully stitched patch, at 100%. A logo is rarely a solid rectangle, so be honest about how much of the box is filled. Real stitch counts move with things the calculator cannot see: underlay stitches under a fill, satin columns on lettering, the digitizer's density choice and fabric. Treat the result as a range for budgeting and for checking that a bid is in the right territory. A maker who opens your digitized DST or PES file will see the exact number.
Logo ready?
Send the artwork once. Let embroiderers quote.
Post the job free with no minimum. Embroiderers quote on size, stitch count and quantity, and your payment stays with the platform until the order is delivered and you confirm.
Questions about this calculator
Why do embroiderers charge by stitch count?
Stitch count tracks machine time and thread, the two costs that grow with the design. A dense 10,000-stitch logo takes far longer to sew than a 3,000-stitch outline of the same size.
How accurate is this estimate?
It is a starting range. The exact count is set when the design is digitized, and two digitizers can produce different counts for the same artwork.
How can I lower the stitch count?
Shrink the design, swap large solid fills for outlines or open fills, and ask the digitizer about lighter density where the fabric allows it.