Embroidery Thread Calculator
Calculate thread and bobbin usage — and how many cones a job needs.
Quick answer: Machine embroidery consumes about 5 metres of top thread and 3 metres of bobbin thread per 1,000 stitches. A typical 7,000-stitch logo therefore uses about 35 m of top thread per piece; one standard 5,000 m cone covers roughly 140 pieces. The calculator below scales this to your exact job.
Work out how much thread a job will consume — top thread and bobbin — and how many cones to order, from the stitch count and quantity.
The calculation uses the standard industry consumption rule of about 5 metres of top thread and 3 metres of bobbin per 1,000 stitches. Real usage varies with stitch length and density, so order with a margin.
How it works
- Enter the design's stitch count (use the stitch calculator or DST viewer if you don't know it).
- Enter the quantity and your cone size (1,000 m and 5,000 m are the common sizes).
- Read total thread metres and cones required for the run.
Good to know
- Multi-color designs split the top-thread total across colors — a 6-color design needs at least one cone per color even if total usage is low.
- Add 10–15% margin for thread breaks, trims and test sew-outs.
Frequently asked questions
How much thread does 1,000 stitches use?
The standard planning figure is about 5 metres of top thread plus roughly 3 metres of bobbin thread per 1,000 stitches. Long satin stitches use more; short run stitches use less.
How many garments will one 5,000 m cone embroider?
At a typical 7,000-stitch logo (~35 m of top thread), one 5,000 m cone covers roughly 140 pieces — split across however many colors that cone's color actually sews.
Do I need special bobbin thread?
Machine embroidery uses lightweight 60–90wt bobbin thread, usually white or black regardless of top colors. It's cheaper than top thread and sold pre-wound for most commercial machines.