How Many Skeins of Yarn for a Sweater?
An adult medium sweater takes about 1,400 yards of worsted-weight yarn — roughly 7 skeins of a standard 220-yard skein, with buffer. In fingering weight, plan on about 2,000 yards; in bulky, about 1,050 yards.
Sweaters are where dye lots really matter: buy every skein you'll need before you start, all from the same dye lot, and alternate skeins every couple of rows for the most even color.
Yardage chart: adult sweater by yarn weight
| Yarn weight | Estimated yardage | Skeins needed* |
|---|---|---|
| Super Fine / Fingering (1) | 2,000 yds | 5 skeins |
| Fine / Sport (2) | 1,900 yds | 7 skeins |
| Light / DK (3) | 1,700 yds | 7 skeins |
| Medium / Worsted (4) | 1,400 yds | 7 skeins |
| Bulky (5) | 1,050 yds | 10 skeins |
| Super Bulky (6) | 950 yds | 15 skeins |
*Skein counts use typical skein sizes for each weight and include a 10% safety buffer, rounded up. Always check your yarn label — skein sizes vary by brand.
Get your exact numbers
Run adult sweater through the free calculator with your yarn's label details.
Frequently asked questions
How many skeins for an adult sweater?
In worsted weight: about 6–7 skeins of 220-yard skeins for a medium (with buffer); size up or down by roughly one skein per size. In fingering: about 5 skeins of 440-yard skeins. In bulky: about 9 skeins of 120-yard skeins.
How much yarn for a plus-size sweater?
Add roughly 15–25% per size above medium — a 2X–3X sweater in worsted can need 1,800–2,000+ yards. Always check the pattern's yardage for your exact size.
Does a cardigan use more yarn than a pullover?
Usually yes — the button bands and often-longer body add roughly 10–15% more yardage than a pullover in the same size.
Should I swatch before buying sweater yarn?
Absolutely. Your personal gauge can shift yardage needs by 10–20% either way, and a swatch is cheap insurance on a big yarn investment.
