Embroidery Hoop Size Chart & Calculator
Enter your design’s width and height and this gives the smallest hoop that will actually take it, plus the fabric to cut. The number that matters is the diagonal, not the width — a 5″ × 7″ design measures 8.6″ corner to corner, so it needs a 9″ hoop and not the 7″ one the height suggests. That is the single most common hoop-buying mistake.
How to use it
- Measure the design at its extremes, including any lettering or stray stems.
- Take the hoop size given, or go one up if you want easy access to the edges.
- Cut your fabric to the size shown — two inches of spare all round the hoop.
A worked example
A 5″ × 7″ botanical panel. The diagonal is 8.60″, so the smallest workable hoop is a 9 inch, and fabric should be cut at about 13″ square. Choosing a 7″ hoop on the strength of the height alone would leave the corners of the design permanently under the rim.
Embroidery hoop size chart
| Hoop | Largest design (square) | Largest design (portrait) | Cut fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3″ | 1.8″ × 1.8″ | 1.2″ × 2.2″ | 7″ |
| 4″ | 2.5″ × 2.5″ | 2″ × 3″ | 8″ |
| 5″ | 3.2″ × 3.2″ | 2.5″ × 3.9″ | 9″ |
| 6″ | 3.9″ × 3.9″ | 3″ × 4.8″ | 10″ |
| 7″ | 4.6″ × 4.6″ | 3.5″ × 5.6″ | 11″ |
| 8″ | 5.3″ × 5.3″ | 4″ × 6.5″ | 12″ |
| 9″ | 6.0″ × 6.0″ | 4.5″ × 7.3″ | 13″ |
| 10″ | 6.7″ × 6.7″ | 5″ × 8.2″ | 14″ |
| 12″ | 8.1″ × 8.1″ | 6″ × 10″ | 16″ |
| 14″ | 9.5″ × 9.5″ | 7″ × 11.7″ | 18″ |
Maximum design sizes allow half an inch of clearance inside the ring, because stitching right against the rim is close to impossible.
Frequently asked questions
- What size embroidery hoop do I need?
- Big enough that the design’s diagonal fits inside the ring with room to spare. A 5″ × 7″ design has an 8.6″ diagonal, so it needs a 9″ or 10″ hoop — not a 7″ one, which is the mistake the width alone leads you to.
- How much fabric do I need beyond the hoop?
- At least two inches all round, so a 6″ hoop wants fabric cut to about 10″ square. Less than that and there is nothing to grip when you tighten, and the fabric pulls out mid-stitch.
- Can I move the hoop across a larger design?
- You can, but it crushes finished stitches and leaves a visible ring. If the design is bigger than your largest hoop, use a scroll frame or stretcher bars instead.
- What is the most useful hoop size to own?
- A 6″ and an 8″ cover most projects. If you only buy one, buy the 8″ — a design can sit in a hoop larger than it needs, but never in one smaller.
- Does hoop size change the finished piece?
- Only if you plan to display the work in the hoop, which is common for hoop art. In that case pick the hoop for the composition — the design usually wants an inch or more of clear fabric inside the ring.
Related free tools
Cross stitch size calculator — finished size on any fabric count · Craft pricing calculator — pricing finished hoop art · All free craft tools
Our embroidery hoop art kits ship with the hoop, the backing felt and the cord — the finishing step every tutorial leaves out.