Cross stitch time calculator
A 100x100 design takes 45 to 100 hours at 100 to 220 stitches an hour. Enter your design size and pace to get total hours, weeks and a finish date.
How long does cross stitch take?
At 100 to 220 stitches an hour, with 5 hours a week at a steady pace:
- 50x50 (2,500 stitches): 11 to 25 hours, about 3.5 weeks
- 100x100 (10,000 stitches): 45 to 100 hours, about 3 months
- 200x200 (40,000 stitches): 182 to 400 hours, about a year
Slower: many color changes, linen over one, high fabric counts. Faster: long runs of one color, a frame or stand, good light.
Average cross stitch speed (stitches per hour)
Full cross stitches on 14 count Aida with 2 strands.
| Pace | Stitches per hour | 1 hour a day | 2 hours a day | 3 hours a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed | 100 | 100 stitches | 200 stitches | 300 stitches |
| Steady | 150 | 150 stitches | 300 stitches | 450 stitches |
| Quick | 220 | 220 stitches | 440 stitches | 660 stitches |
Stitching hours by project size
Square designs with full coverage. For partial coverage, scale by the stitched area: half coverage takes about half the time.
| Design size | Stitches | Relaxed (100/h) | Steady (150/h) | Quick (220/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50x50 | 2,500 | 25 hours | 17 hours | 11 hours |
| 100x100 | 10,000 | 100 hours | 67 hours | 45 hours |
| 150x150 | 22,500 | 225 hours | 150 hours | 102 hours |
| 200x200 | 40,000 | 400 hours | 267 hours | 182 hours |
| 250x250 | 62,500 | 625 hours | 417 hours | 284 hours |
| 300x300 | 90,000 | 900 hours | 600 hours | 409 hours |
Time calculator FAQ
How long does an average cross stitch project take?
50x50: 11 to 25 hours. 100x100: 45 to 100 hours. 250x250: 284 to 625 hours. Your pace and the number of color changes decide where you land in each range.
How many cross stitches can you do in an hour?
About 150 at a steady pace on 14 count Aida. Beginners and charts with many color changes: around 100. Experienced stitchers on long single-color runs: 220 or more.
How many stitches a day is normal?
At a steady 150 an hour: 150 stitches for 1 hour a day, 300 for 2 hours, 450 for 3 hours.
Does fabric count change my speed?
A little. Higher counts (18 and up) and linen stitched over one are slower. Color changes, lighting and how easy the chart is to read matter more.
How do I measure my own pace?
Stitch for 30 minutes, count the stitches, and double it. Enter that as a Custom pace. The Crossie app tracks your stitches per day automatically as you mark progress.