How to Estimate Length of Macrame Cord Needed

If you're asking how much macrame cord do I need, you've come to the right place.

By: Dana Byerwalter, Editor, FaveCrafts.com

How much macrame cord do I need? Learn how to estimate length of macrame cord needed for any project with our handy guide. Below, we have methods for estimating how much cord you need based on a variety of factors such as thickness of the rope and how many knots the pattern calls for.

In general, your macrame cord needs to be about four times the length of your project. If the cords are doubled, meaning folded in half to create two cords, then aim for eight times the length of your project.

So, if you are making a wall hanging that is about a foot long with doubled strands, figure eight feet of rope per strand. When in doubt, ALWAYS cut more rope than you think you will need.

Factors to Consider

Note: these tips apply to projects made with macrame string, rope, and cord. For simplicity's sake, I'm only using the term "cord" below. Niroma Studio has a wonderful article on the difference between macrame cord, string, and rope, and you should check it out.

If your pattern calls for many knots/closed spaces, your cord may need to be longer.
If your pattern calls for mostly open spaces/straight cords, you may not need as much cord.
Follow the size cord suggested by the pattern, as adjusting the thickness could affect the amount of cord you need. If the pattern doesn't specify what cord to use, check out this article from My French Twist on tips for planning your next macrame project.
The thicker the cord, the longer the strands need to be because each knot is going to take up more real estate on a thicker cord than a thinner one.

Macrame Lovers has additional wonderful information on this topic as well. They go into detail about the length of knotting cords versus core cords for example (tip: longer cords are needed for knotting than for the core). Read more there.