Standard Blanket Sizes
Blanket sizing follows general industry standards, though there's room for personal preference. Here are the standard dimensions:
Lovey: 12×12 inches — a small security blanket for infants, often with a stuffed animal head attached. Preemie: 18×24 inches — for NICU donations and premature babies. Stroller: 30×35 inches — sized for strollers and car seats.
Baby/Crib: 36×52 inches — fits a standard crib. This is the most popular baby blanket size for gifts. Toddler: 42×60 inches — a step up from crib size, good for toddler beds.
Throw: 50×60 inches — the most popular blanket to make. Perfect for curling up on the sofa. Lap: 36×48 inches — covers your lap while sitting, popular for wheelchair users.
Twin: 66×90 inches. Full/Double: 80×90 inches. Queen: 90×100 inches. King: 108×100 inches. California King: 104×104 inches.
Calculating Stitch Counts
To calculate how many stitches to cast on or chain: multiply your desired width in inches by your stitches per inch (gauge). Then round to the nearest stitch multiple for your pattern.
For example: a 50-inch throw at 4 stitches per inch = 200 stitches. If your pattern repeats every 6 stitches plus 1, round to 199 (33 repeats of 6, plus 1) or 205 (34 repeats plus 1).
For rows: multiply your desired length by rows per inch. A 60-inch throw at 5.5 rows per inch = 330 rows.
Our Blanket Calculator handles this math automatically, including stitch multiple rounding.
Yarn Quantities by Blanket Size
Approximate yardage for worsted weight (#4) yarn in basic stitches:
Baby blanket: 900–1,400 yards (4–6 skeins of 200yd skeins). Throw: 1,500–2,200 yards (7–10 skeins). Twin: 2,500–3,500 yards (12–16 skeins). Queen: 3,500–4,500 yards (16–22 skeins). King: 4,500–6,000 yards (22–28 skeins).
Cable patterns increase yardage by 20–30%. Using bulky yarn significantly reduces yardage but increases cost per yard. Fingering weight dramatically increases yardage (and time) but creates a lighter, drapier blanket.
Pillow Tuck and Overhang
For bed blankets, you need to account for two additional measurements beyond the mattress size.
Pillow tuck is extra length at the top of the blanket that folds over the pillows. This is typically 10–20 inches. Without pillow tuck, a bed blanket will look too short when the bed is made.
Overhang is how far the blanket drapes over the sides and foot of the mattress. A 10-inch overhang covers the mattress depth, while 15 inches provides a more luxurious drape that nearly reaches the bed frame.
Our Blanket Calculator adds these automatically when you toggle pillow tuck on or set overhang inches.