Quilling Strip Length Calculator
Cut the right length of strip for the coil you want: convert a strip length to its finished coil diameter, or a target diameter back to the strip you need.
Coil result
Why longer strips grow slowly
A rolled strip stacks its thickness turn on turn, filling a disc of paper. The area of that disc is fixed by the length you rolled times the paper’s thickness, and area grows with the square of the radius — so the coil widens quickly at first and then far more slowly. That is why matching coil sizes across a piece is easier with a calculator than by eye.
Cut consistent strip lengths and your coils come out the same size, which keeps repeated flowers, scrolls, and borders looking even.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does strip length relate to coil size?
When a strip winds into a tight coil, the paper seen end-on fills the ring between the centre and the outer edge, and that ring's area equals the strip length times its thickness. So the coil's outer diameter grows with the square root of the strip length — doubling the diameter needs about four times the length.
What thickness should I enter?
Use the paper caliper, not the strip width. Common quilling strips are roughly 0.2 mm for light paper, 0.25 mm for standard, and 0.3 mm for heavier stock. The strip's width (3 mm, 5 mm, and so on) sets the coil's height and does not affect its diameter.
What is the core diameter for?
A loose or tooled coil leaves a hole in the middle. Enter that hole's diameter to model a coil wound around a slotted tool or a bead; leave it at zero for a solid tight coil rolled to the centre.
How accurate is the turn count?
It is a close approximation based on the average winding radius. Real coils vary a little with tension and how tightly the first turns are rolled, so treat the number of turns as a guide rather than an exact count.
Estimate only. It assumes a tight, evenly wound coil; tension, humidity, and hand-rolling all shift the finished size a little.