What Is the Macrame Cord Length Calculator?
One of the most common mistakes in macrame is cutting cords too short — you cannot splice macrame cord mid-project without an ugly knot. This calculator estimates how much cord to cut per strand and how much total cord to buy, based on the finished length of your piece, how many cords you need, and a length multiplier that accounts for the cord eaten up by knots.
How to Use It
Enter the finished length of your project (the hanging length of the piece in inches or centimeters), the number of cords you plan to mount, and a multiplier. The calculator returns the length to cut each cord and the grand total to purchase. Buy slightly more than the total to be safe.
The Formula Explained
The rule of thumb is that each cut cord should be roughly 4 to 6 times the finished length:
$$\text{Total} = \text{Finished Length} \times \text{Multiplier} \times \text{Number of Cords}$$
Use a multiplier of 4 for loose or simple knots, 5 for typical square-knot patterns, and 6 for very dense designs or pieces with long fringe. Thicker cord and tighter knotting consume more length, so round up.
Worked Example
Suppose you want a wall hanging with a 30-inch finished length, using 8 cords and a multiplier of 4. Each cord should be \(30 \times 4 = 120\) inches. Total cord to buy = \(120 \times 8 = 960\) inches (80 feet). Add 10% extra for safety and you'd buy about 88 feet.
FAQ
Should I fold cords in half when mounting? If you mount cords folded (lark's head knot), each "cord" you count becomes two working strands. Count the number of cut pieces you need and use that as the number of cords.
Why is my project running short? Dense knotting, thick cord, and fringe all use more length. Bump the multiplier from 4 up to 5 or 6.
Inches or centimeters? The calculator is unit-agnostic — just keep your finished length and result in the same unit.
