Paracord Needed Calculator
Cut once. Pick your weave and finished length and get the cord length to buy, with an allowance for the buckle and finishing knot.
Paracord to buy
Different weaves eat different amounts of cord
The Cobra (Solomon bar) weave is the default for a reason: it’s fast, flat, and efficient with cord. Bulkier weaves like Fishtail add texture and thickness by working more cord into the same finished span, and King Cobra stacks a second layer of Cobra weave directly over the first for extra width and rigidity — both cost noticeably more material per inch than a plain Cobra bracelet.
If you’re making several identical pieces — a batch of bracelets for a troop or a gift run — multiply once by the project count instead of measuring cord for each one individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the 'about a foot of cord per inch' rule come from?
It's a widely used rule of thumb in the paracord-crafting community for a basic Cobra (Solomon bar) weave: because the weave doubles the cord back and forth across the core strands, roughly a foot of paracord is consumed for every inch of finished bracelet length. It's a practical estimate, not an exact formula — the real ratio shifts slightly with how tightly you weave and your cord's exact diameter.
Why does King Cobra need about twice as much cord?
A King Cobra weave is a second Cobra weave tied directly over the first, doubling the material worked into the same finished length — so it roughly doubles the cord consumption per inch as well.
What's the buckle allowance for?
It covers the cord used to fold around and mount the buckle or clasp at the start, plus the tail left for the finishing knot once the weave is complete. A default of about a foot is generous enough for most single-buckle bracelets; adjust it down for a simple loop-and-knot closure or up for bulkier hardware.
Should I cut exactly the calculated length?
Cut a little long rather than exact — a few extra inches costs nothing but gives you room to adjust tension as you weave and still finish cleanly, whereas coming up short mid-project means starting over.
General craft estimate based on common weave ratios, not an exact spec — weave tightness and cord diameter shift the real number slightly.