Paracord Project Length Calculator
Pick a weave pattern and enter your finished project length to get the exact amount of paracord you need — broken down by working strands and core. Covers bracelets, dog collars, lanyards, and more. Nothing uploaded.
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Paracord 550 Quick Reference
| Weave | Cord per 1" finished | Strands |
|---|---|---|
| Cobra / Solomon | ~12 in | 2 working + 1 core |
| King Cobra | ~24 in | 2 working + 1 core |
| Fishtail | ~7 in | 2 working |
| Diamond Braid | ~10 in | 4 working + 1 core |
| Box Braid | ~10 in | 4 working |
Learn more: how much paracord a weave uses
The weave multiplier
Every weave wraps its working cord around itself a different number of times. The tool gives each weave a multiplier in inches of cord per inch of finished length, for each working strand. Cobra, or Solomon bar, is 12, king cobra is 24 because it is a second layer of cobra knots over the first, and fishtail is 7. Diamond and box braid are 10 each, with four working strands.
Take an 8 inch cobra bracelet with 2 working strands and the default 15% buffer. Each working strand is 8 x 12 = 96 inches, so 192 inches for both. The core strand is cut at 8 x 1.15 = 9.2 inches. The total is (192 + 9.2) x 1.15 = 231 inches, or 19.3 feet.
King cobra doubles the working cord to 384 inches, which brings the total to about 37.7 feet. Fishtail at 8 inches comes to 10.7 feet, since it has no core strand and a lower multiplier.
Checking against published rules
Titan Survival's cobra bracelet guide says to allow 1 foot of paracord for each inch of the bracelet. Its example is a 5 inch woven section made from two 6 foot cords, 12 feet in all. The tool gives 12.1 feet for a 5 inch cobra, so the two agree.
Guides differ on how they count, for example whether the figure is per cord or in total, so work from the cord count your own pattern uses. If your pattern gives its own ratio, pick the custom weave and enter it.
Core strands and weight
Core strands run straight through the middle and are not wrapped, so the tool cuts each one at the finished length plus 15%, and then applies your buffer to the whole total. Fishtail and box braid have no core strand.
The weight estimate uses 2 g per foot. Ravenox lists genuine Type III 550 paracord as 4 mm (5/32 inch) thick with 7 inner cords of 3 strands each and 225 feet per pound, which works out to about 2 grams per foot. A 19.3 foot cobra bracelet is therefore roughly 39 g. Thinner or thicker cord will weigh differently.
FAQ
Why do some weaves have no core strand?
Fishtail and box braid have no separate core in the tool's data, so the working strands form the whole structure and the core part of the calculation is skipped.
Does the weight apply to other cord?
No. It is based on standard 550 paracord at about 2 g per foot. Craft cord and thicker rope weigh differently, so use the weight only as an estimate for 550.
When should I use a custom multiplier?
Use it when your pattern states its own cord-per-inch ratio, or when your weave tension differs from the presets. Enter the number directly instead of choosing the closest preset.