Embroidery Hoop Size Calculator
A hoop is round and a design is rectangular, so what has to fit is neither the width nor the height but the diagonal. An 18 × 25 cm design with 2 cm of working margin becomes 22 × 29 cm, and the diagonal is √(22² + 29²) = 36.4 cm, or 14.3 in. Choosing an 8 in (20 cm) hoop because the design is only 22 cm across puts part of it outside the ring.
Your numbers
Hoop diameter
36.4cm
Hoop size in inches
14.3in
Cut width
52.4cm
Formula
Hoop diameter = √((Design width + 2 × Overhang per side)² + (Design height + 2 × Overhang per side)²)
The fabric needs at least 8 cm beyond the hoop on every side so there is something to grip at the screw. Large designs are usually worked by moving the hoop rather than buying a bigger one, but clamping over finished stitches crushes them and leaves a mark — a scroll or stretcher frame avoids that.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Design width (cm)The stitched design across. | 18 | 1 and up |
| Design height (cm)The stitched design down. | 25 | 1 and up |
| Overhang per side (cm)Extra beyond each edge, absorbing shift while quilting. | 2 | 0 and up |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Design width (cm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Design width (cm) | Hoop diameter (cm) | Hoop size in inches (in) | Cut width (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 31.8 | 12.5 | 47.8 |
| 13.5 | 33.9 | 13.3 | 49.9 |
| 18 | 36.4 | 14.3 | 52.4 |
| 27 | 42.4 | 16.7 | 58.4 |
| 36 | 49.4 | 19.5 | 65.4 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Hoop diameter (cm)The inside diameter of the ring; the design's diagonal has to fit inside it. | 36.4 |
| Hoop size in inches (in)The same diameter in inches, which is how hoops are sold. | 14.3 |
| Cut width (cm)The width to cut — finished size plus allowance. | 52.4 |
Common mistakes
The fabric needs at least 8 cm beyond the hoop on every side so there is something to grip at the screw. Large designs are usually worked by moving the hoop rather than buying a bigger one, but clamping over finished stitches crushes them and leaves a mark — a scroll or stretcher frame avoids that.
Glossary
- Design width
- The stitched design across.
- Design height
- The stitched design down.
- Overhang per side
- Extra beyond each edge, absorbing shift while quilting.
- Hoop diameter
- The inside diameter of the ring; the design's diagonal has to fit inside it.
- Hoop size in inches
- The same diameter in inches, which is how hoops are sold.
- Cut width
- The width to cut — finished size plus allowance.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Embroidery Hoop Size Calculator calculated?
Hoop diameter = √((Design width + 2 × Overhang per side)² + (Design height + 2 × Overhang per side)²) — A hoop is round and a design is rectangular, so what has to fit is neither the width nor the height but the diagonal. An 18 × 25 cm design with 2 cm of working margin becomes 22 × 29 cm, and the diagonal is √(22² + 29²) = 36.4 cm, or 14.3 in. Choosing an 8 in (20 cm) hoop because the design is only 22 cm across puts part of it outside the ring.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Design width 18cm, Design height 25cm, Overhang per side 2cm, the answer is Hoop diameter 36.4cm.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Design width, Design height, Overhang per side. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Design width (cm) moves the answer to Design width (cm) 9 → Hoop diameter (cm) 31.8 and Design width (cm) 36 → Hoop diameter (cm) 49.4. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
The fabric needs at least 8 cm beyond the hoop on every side so there is something to grip at the screw. Large designs are usually worked by moving the hoop rather than buying a bigger one, but clamping over finished stitches crushes them and leaves a mark — a scroll or stretcher frame avoids that.
Related calculators
Materials differ in density and absorption. If your label states a figure, use it — the defaults here are only common values.