About this tool
Macrame Cord Length Calculator is a free, in-browser tool that estimates how much cord to cut before you start a wall hanging, plant hanger or bag. Enter your project's finished length, choose a knot density, and set how many working cords hang from the dowel or ring; the tool returns the length to cut each folded cord and the total cord to buy. Everything is computed locally — nothing is uploaded.
The method starts from the classic rule that each working strand needs several times the finished length, scaled by knot density: about 3× for loose, open designs, 4× for medium, 6× for dense and 8× for very dense knotting, plus a 20% buffer for take-up and finishing. Because most cords are mounted folded in half with a lark's head knot, the length you actually cut is twice the per-strand length, and the number of cords to cut is half the number of hanging strands. The total is the cut length multiplied by the number of cords, shown in meters and yards.
Use the density that matches your pattern: tight square-knot panels and heavy fringe eat far more cord than airy open designs. Cord is hard to splice invisibly, so it is always safer to cut a little long — the buffer built into the estimate helps, but check a small sample if the pattern is unfamiliar.