Convert machine gauge (GG) into needle pitch in millimetres and the yarn weight it typically suits, and switch stitch and row gauge between per-10cm and per-inch. The pitch maths is exact; the yarn-weight guide is indicative — always confirm on a knitted swatch.
| Machine gauge | Needle pitch | Typical yarn weight |
|---|---|---|
| 3 gg | 8.47 mm | Chunky / bulky |
| 5 gg | 5.08 mm | Aran / heavy worsted |
| 7 gg | 3.63 mm | DK / worsted |
| 10 gg | 2.54 mm | Sport |
| 12 gg | 2.12 mm | 4-ply / fingering |
| 14 gg | 1.81 mm | Fingering |
| 16 gg | 1.59 mm | Very fine / lace |
| 18 gg | 1.41 mm | Very fine / lace |
⚠️ Needle pitch and the stitch/row conversions are exact maths. The typical yarn-weight column is an indicative planning guide, not a rule — ply, fibre and the handle you want all shift it, and machine gauge (needles on the bed) is not the same number as a hand-knit gauge measured on finished fabric. Always confirm the working gauge on a knitted swatch before locking a production yarn.
A higher GG packs more needles into the same inch, so the knit is finer and lighter. A lower GG spreads the needles out for a chunkier, heavier fabric. That single number quietly decides the whole feel of the piece.
Needle pitch is pure arithmetic — 25.4 ÷ GG. The yarn-weight column beside it is an industry starting point, not a promise. Land in the right band here, then let the swatch decide the exact yarn.
Machine GG counts needles per inch on the bed. Hand-knit gauge counts finished stitches over a swatch. They are related but not the same figure, which is why this tool keeps the two conversions separate.
The only gauge that matters for production is the one measured on a real knitted sample in the intended yarn. Use these numbers to brief a mill accurately, then confirm on cloth before committing.
New here? Pair this with the cost calculator to budget the run, split each colourway across sizes with the size run calculator, and see the full picture on our knitwear manufacturer for startups and small-batch production pages — or start at our knitwear manufacturer hub.
Needle pitch (mm) = 25.4 ÷ GGAn English inch is 25.4 mm, and GG is the needle count in that inch. A 7gg machine: 25.4 ÷ 7 = 3.63 mm between needles.
Needle density (needles/cm) = GG ÷ 2.54Spreads the same needle count over a centimetre. 7 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 2.8 needles per cm.
Stitches per inch = stitches per 10cm × 2.54 ÷ 10One inch is 2.54 cm, so a 10 cm span holds 10 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 3.94 inches. 22 sts / 10cm × 0.254 = 5.6 sts / inch. Rows use the same factor.
Stitches per 10cm = stitches per inch × 10 ÷ 2.54The reverse: multiply a per-inch gauge by about 3.94 to read it over a 10 cm swatch.
Machine gauge (GG) is the number of needles per English inch (25.4 mm) on the knitting machine's needle bed. More needles per inch means a finer knit. The needle pitch — the spacing between needles — is 25.4 ÷ GG, so a 7gg machine has needles about 3.63 mm apart while a 12gg machine has them 2.12 mm apart. Gauge decides how fine or chunky the fabric can be and which yarn weight suits it.
One inch is 2.54 cm, so stitches per inch = stitches per 10 cm × 2.54 ÷ 10 (that is, × 0.254). A swatch measuring 22 stitches over 10 cm works out to about 5.6 stitches per inch. To convert the other way, multiply stitches per inch by 10 ÷ 2.54 (about 3.94). Rows convert with exactly the same factor.
As a rough industry guide: 3gg suits chunky or bulky yarn, 5gg aran, 7gg DK or worsted, 10gg sport, 12gg 4-ply or fingering, 14gg fingering, and 16–18gg very fine or lace weights. It is only a starting point — the real choice also depends on ply, fibre and the handle you want, and is always confirmed on a knitted swatch.
No. The needle-pitch and stitch-conversion maths are exact, but the yarn-weight column is an indicative planning guide rather than a rule. Two mills can knit the same yarn on different gauges to get a different handle. Use it to land in the right range, then confirm with a physical sample before committing a production yarn.
Know your target gauge and yarn band? Send it over with your tech pack (or use our free template) and we'll reply within one business day with the machine gauge we'd run it on, a sample plan and honest feedback on the yarn.