Chart
Macrame Cord Length Chart: Typical Cut Lengths by Project
Published
Short answer
Typical cut lengths per cord: keychain 3 ft 6 in to 3 ft 11 in, bracelet working cord 5 ft 2 in to 7 ft 9 in, small wall hanging 14 ft 4 in to 16 ft, 36 in plant hanger 13 ft 3 in to 16 ft 6 in. All include a 10 percent margin and assume folded cords. The rule behind them is about 4 times the finished length per strand, 8 times when folded.
This chart is a starting figure to look up before cutting. It does not replace the cut list of a pattern. Each row states the size and cord it assumes, because the same project in another length or knot pattern needs a different amount. Rows marked as calculated come from the rule alone, with no checked pattern behind them. Published rules for macrame cord range from about 2.5 to 8 times the finished length, which is why every figure is a range. When in doubt, cut the long end: leftover cord is normal, and a short cord has to be extended.
Macrame cord length chart by project
Cut each cord at the long figure unless a pattern says otherwise. The total is what to buy for one piece. Rows marked calculated use the standard knot rule only.
| Project and size | Cords | Cut each cord | Total cord | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychain: 4 in knotted, 3 in fringe, 3 mm cord | 2 | 3 ft 6 in to 3 ft 11 in (1.07 to 1.19 m) | 7 to 8 ft (2.2 to 2.4 m) | Bochiknot: 32 to 48 in per cord before fringe and margin |
| Bracelet: 7 in knotted, 1 mm cord | 1 working, 1 filler | Working 5 ft 2 in to 7 ft 9 in (1.57 to 2.36 m), filler 12 to 16 in | 7 to 10 ft (1.9 to 2.8 m) | Bochiknot multipliers. Marching North: 10 times the bracelet |
| Coaster: 4 in knotted, 1 in fringe, 3 mm cord | 16 | 3 ft 2 in to 3 ft 6 in (0.97 to 1.07 m) | 51 to 56 ft (15.5 to 17.1 m) | Calculated, no checked pattern |
| Small wall hanging: 18 in knotted, 6 in fringe, 4 mm cord | 16 | 14 ft 4 in to 16 ft (4.37 to 4.88 m) | 230 to 256 ft (70.0 to 78.1 m) | Standard knot rule from Marching North and Bochiknot |
| Large wall hanging: 24 in wide, 36 in knotted, 6 in fringe, 5 mm cord | 60 | 30 ft 2 in to 38 ft 3 in (9.19 to 11.66 m) | 1810 to 2295 ft (551.7 to 699.6 m) | Calculated, with 10 to 25 percent added for 5 mm cord |
| Plant hanger: 36 in, open arms, 4 mm cord | 8, plus 2 wrapping cords of 24 in | 13 ft 3 in to 16 ft 6 in (4.04 to 5.03 m) | 110 to 136 ft (33.6 to 41.5 m) | Sarah Maker: 13 ft cords for a 36 in hanger in 4 mm cord |
| Bag: 14 in knotted body, 4 in to close the base, 4 mm cord | 24 | 11 ft to 12 ft 4 in (3.35 to 3.76 m) | 264 to 296 ft (80.5 to 90.3 m) | Calculated, no checked pattern. Handles not included |
How to read the macrame length chart
Every cut length is for one cord before it is folded. A folded cord makes two strands, so 16 cords give 32 strands on the dowel. The low figure uses the short end of each published rule and the high figure the long end, both with the fringe and a 10 percent margin already added.
Two rows are limits more than typical pieces. The large wall hanging covers a 24 in dowel edge to edge with cords that touch, and most patterns space cords wider and use far fewer. The plant hanger assumes open arms. The pages on wall hangings and plant hangers break those two projects down by size.
To keep a paper copy, print this page or save it as a PDF from the print dialog. The cord calculator prints a cut list with a checkbox for each row.
Cord length multipliers by knot type
The chart rows come from these multipliers. Multiply the knotted length by the figure for its knot type, add the fringe to every strand, then add 10 to 15 percent. For dense work, sources give 5 to 5.5 times per strand and some calculators use 6 to 7. The site calculator uses 5 to 6.
A gathering knot is counted separately. It takes its own wrapping cord of 20 to 24 in, with sources ranging from 12 to 40 in, for 6 to 10 wraps.
| Knot or pattern | Per strand | Per folded cord |
|---|---|---|
| Open plant hanger arms | 2 to 2.5 times | 4 to 5 times |
| Light, open patterns with a lot of fringe | 3 to 3.5 times | 6 to 7 times |
| Square knots and alternating square knots | 4 to 4.5 times | 8 to 9 times |
| Square knot strip, working cords | 4 to 6 times | 8 to 12 times |
| Square knot strip, filler cords | 1.5 to 2 times | 3 to 4 times |
| Spiral knot (half knot repeated), working cords | 4 to 6 times, lean long | 8 to 12 times |
| Rows of double half hitch, berry knots | 5 to 6 times | 10 to 12 times |
How much macrame cord for a keychain or a bracelet?
A keychain is usually two folded cords, which gives 4 strands: enough for a strip of square knots or a spiral. Bochiknot's rule for keychains of 4 to 6 in finished length gives 32 to 48 in per cord before fringe and margin. With 3 in of fringe and the margin, a 4 in keychain comes to 42 to 47 in per cord. A published setup of two cords of about 40 in sits just under that.
A bracelet is one strip of square knots. The working cord is folded at its middle and tied around the filler, so it needs 8 to 12 times the knotted length and the filler only 1.5 to 2 times. Marching North's shortcut is 10 times the finished bracelet. With the margin, a 7 in bracelet takes a working cord of 62 to 93 in and a filler of 12 to 16 in. Tails for a closure are extra at both ends.
How much macrame cord do you need for a bag or a coaster?
No checked pattern stands behind these two rows. The bag row is a body of 14 in in alternating square knots with 24 folded cords of 4 mm and 4 in left to tie the base closed: 264 to 296 ft. An open net pattern with gaps between the knot rows needs less, about 204 to 234 ft for the same bag at the light multiplier. Handles or a strap are not included.
The coaster row is a square of about 4 in: 16 folded cords of 3 mm in alternating square knots with 1 in of fringe. Round coasters are built differently and the row does not apply to them: follow the pattern.
Changing a row to fit your project
The rows scale in simple ways, so a nearby row can be adjusted. For anything further from the chart, enter the numbers in the calculator.
- Longer or shorter piece: the knotted part of the cut length scales with the finished length. The fringe part stays the same.
- More or fewer cords: the cut length does not change. The total changes in proportion to the number of cords.
- Thicker cord at the same finished size: add 10 to 25 percent for 5 to 6 mm cord. Sources disagree here, so tie a test strip first.
- Different cord size in a written pattern: cut lengths and the finished size both scale with thickness. The conversion chart has the factors.
- Margin: the chart uses 10 percent. The usual range is 10 to 15 percent, and one cord brand suggests 15 to 20.
Quick answers
Short answers taken from the chart rows above. All figures include a 10 percent margin and are estimates, not measurements.
- Is there a macrame cord length chart PDF? Print this page or choose Save as PDF in the print dialog. The calculator prints a cut list for your own numbers.
- How much macrame cord do I need for a keychain? Two cords of 3 ft 6 in to 3 ft 11 in for a 4 in keychain with 3 in of fringe, 7 to 8 ft in total.
- How much cord for a macrame bracelet? One working cord of 5 ft 2 in to 7 ft 9 in and one filler of 12 to 16 in for a 7 in bracelet.
- How much macrame cord for a spiral knot? Working cords 4 to 6 times the length of the spiral, fillers 1.5 to 2 times. Lean to the long end.
- How much macrame cord do I need for a bag? About 264 to 296 ft for a 14 in body with 24 cords of 4 mm, calculated from the rule. Handles are extra.
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<a href="https://cordandknot.com/blog/macrame-cord-length-chart"><img src="https://cordandknot.com/charts/macrame-cord-length-chart/image.png" alt="Macrame Cord Length Chart: Typical Cut Lengths by Project" width="600" loading="lazy"></a> <p>Source: <a href="https://cordandknot.com/blog/macrame-cord-length-chart">Macrame Cord Length Chart: Typical Cut Lengths by Project</a>, Cord and Knot</p>
