Sweater Size Calculator

Knit & crochet

Pick a size from XS to 5X, choose a fit from very close to oversized, and enter your gauge.

Quick answer. A woman's medium (37 in bust) with classic ease is a 40 in finished chest: 200 stitches in the round at 20 stitches per 4 in.

Source: Craft Yarn Council Woman Size Chart and Bust/Chest Fit and Ease Chart.

Your sweater

1. Size and fit

Size

Measured chest or bust

Fit

Length (women's sizes)

Custom chest uses the nearest chart size for arms and lengths.

2. Gauge

Stitches per 4 in (10 cm)

sts

Rows per 4 in (10 cm)

rows

Sleeve ease at upper arm

Result

Your numbers

Body length is measured from the back of the neck. Subtract the armhole depth for rows to the underarm.

Fit and ease

Bust and chest ease by fit
Fit	We use	Medium woman finished chest
Very close fitting (-2 to -4 in)	-3 in	34 in
Close fitting (zero ease)	0 in	37 in
Classic fit (+2 to +4 in)	+3 in	40 in
Loose fit (+4 to +6 in)	+5 in	42 in
Oversized (+6 in or more)	+7 in	44 in

Women's body measurements

Women's actual body measurements in inches
Size	Bust	Upper arm	Armhole	Arm to underarm	Back waist
X-Small	28 to 30	9.75	6 to 6.5	16.5	16.5
Small	32 to 34	10.25	6.5 to 7	17	17
Medium	36 to 38	11	7 to 7.5	17	17.25
Large	40 to 42	12	7.5 to 8	17.5	17.5
X-Large	44 to 46	13.5	8 to 8.5	17.5	17.75
2X	48 to 50	15.5	8.5 to 9	18	18
3X	52 to 54	17	9 to 9.5	18	18
4X	56 to 58	18.5	9.5 to 10	18.5	18.5
5X	60 to 62	18.5	10 to 10.5	18.5	18.5

Men's body measurements

Men's actual body measurements in inches
Size	Chest	Upper arm	Armhole	Arm to underarm	Back waist
Small	34 to 36	12	8.5 to 9	18	23 to 24
Medium	38 to 40	13	9 to 9.5	18.5	25 to 26
Large	42 to 44	15	9.5 to 10	19.5	26 to 27
X-Large	46 to 48	15.5	10 to 10.5	20	28
2X	50 to 52	16.5	11	20.5	29
3X	54 to 56	17.5	11.5	20.5	30
4X	58 to 60	18.5	12	21	30
5X	62 to 64	20	12.5	21.5	31

Cast on in the round by size, classic fit

Sweater cast on by size and gauge
Size	16 sts / 4 in	18 sts / 4 in	20 sts / 4 in	22 sts / 4 in	24 sts / 4 in
Woman X-Small	128	144	160	176	192
Woman Small	144	164	180	200	216
Woman Medium	160	180	200	220	240
Woman Large	176	200	220	244	264
Woman X-Large	192	216	240	264	288
Woman 2X	208	236	260	288	312
Woman 3X	224	252	280	308	336
Woman 4X	240	272	300	332	360
Woman 5X	256	288	320	352	384
Man Small	152	172	192	208	228
Man Medium	168	188	212	232	252
Man Large	184	208	232	252	276
Man X-Large	200	224	252	276	300
Man 2X	216	244	272	296	324
Man 3X	232	260	292	320	348
Man 4X	248	280	312	340	372
Man 5X	264	296	332	364	396

Rounded to a multiple of 4 for 1x1 or 2x2 ribbing. The calculator uses the middle of each chest range.

Sources

Craft Yarn Council, Woman Size Charts. https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/woman-size
Craft Yarn Council, Man Size Chart. https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/man-size
Craft Yarn Council, Standard Body Measurements/Sizing: fit and ease, length chart. https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/body-sizing

Common questions

How much ease should a sweater have?

The Craft Yarn Council's fit chart: very close fitting is 2 to 4 in less than your chest, close fitting is zero ease, classic is 2 to 4 in more, loose is 4 to 6 in more and oversized is 6 in or more.

How many stitches do I cast on for a sweater?

For a woman's medium (37 in chest) with classic ease at 20 stitches per 4 in, cast on 200 in the round, or 100 each for front and back.

What chest size is a woman's medium?

36 to 38 in (91.5 to 96.5 cm) actual bust, in the Craft Yarn Council chart.

What chest size is a man's large?

42 to 44 in (106.5 to 111.5 cm) actual chest, in the Craft Yarn Council chart.

How long should a women's sweater be?

Hip length is your back waist length plus 6 in, and tunic length is back waist length plus 11 in. For a medium that is about 23.25 in or 28.25 in.

Do I size by my bust or the pattern's finished size?

Pick the pattern size whose finished chest equals your actual chest plus the ease you want.