How do I weigh a partial ball of yarn?

Use a digital kitchen scale for best results. Place your partial ball on the scale and note the weight in grams. Most kitchen scales are accurate to 1g, which is plenty for yarn estimation.

How accurate is this calculation?

This method assumes the yarn has a consistent weight per metre throughout the ball. For most commercially wound yarn this is very accurate. Hand-spun or novelty yarns with varying thickness may be less precise.

How do I know how much yarn one row uses?

Knit a row and weigh your ball before and after. The difference in grams, multiplied by the metres-per-gram ratio, gives you the yardage per row. Alternatively, use a yarn metre counter or measure a length of yarn against a known distance.

Should I account for the ball band weight?

Yes — if your ball still has its label or band attached, remove it before weighing for the most accurate result. Paper bands weigh very little but thick card sleeves can add a few grams.

KnitCalcs

Yarn Wind-Off Calculator — Estimate Remaining Length

Weigh your partial ball of yarn to estimate how many metres you have left and whether it is enough for more rows.

Original Ball Weight

Weight stated on the ball band

Original Ball Length

Metres stated on the ball band

Current Ball Weight

Weigh your partial ball now

How We Calculate This

This calculator uses the ratio of length to weight from the original ball to estimate the remaining metres from the current weight.

The formula

Remaining length = Current weight x (Original length / Original weight)

Rows remaining = Remaining length / Yarn per row

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard yarn weights and gauge. Results may vary with individual tension, yarn brand, and needle size.