What Size Embroidery Hoop Do I Need?

The hoop needs to fit your entire design with at least 5 cm of fabric clearance around the edges. Too small and you'll need to re-hoop mid-project, which leaves hoop marks and risks distorting stitches you've already placed. Too large and the fabric won't stay taut — the hoop needs to grip a reasonable width of fabric to hold tension.

Standard round hoops come in fixed sizes: 10, 13, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30, 35, and 38 cm diameter. This calculator finds the smallest standard size that fits your design with adequate clearance, plus the next size up for a more comfortable working experience.

For rectangular or irregular designs, the calculator uses the longest dimension (width or height, whichever is larger) to determine hoop requirements. If your design is very wide but short, you may want to use a rectangular or oval hoop instead — those aren't covered here but are available from most embroidery suppliers.

Cross-stitch on Aida fabric: hoops work well for small to medium projects. For projects over 25 cm, many stitchers prefer a scroll frame or stretcher bars — these hold large fabric without re-hooping. If using a hoop on Aida, remove it when you're not stitching to prevent permanent hoop marks on the fabric.

Embroidery on linen or cotton: tighter-woven fabrics hold hoop tension better than loose-weave Aida. Use the recommended comfort size (one size up from minimum) for most freehand embroidery — the extra fabric space makes it easier to hold and maneuver. For very small pieces (under 10 cm), a 13 or 15 cm hoop is usually more practical than a 10 cm one because there's more fabric to grip.