How much ribbon does a bow take?
Rather more than most people expect, which is how so many of us end up two loops short with the shop already closed. Every loop uses roughly twice its width in ribbon — a five-inch loop takes about ten inches — plus a little extra where it gathers at the centre. Add the tails, the wrap around the middle, and a sensible allowance for mistakes, and a modest six-loop wreath bow comes to around three yards.
Buy a whole roll. Ribbon is one of those supplies where the difference between "just enough" and "comfortably enough" is a pound or two. Having spare means you can redo a bow that hasn't sat right, and leftover ribbon is never wasted in a craft room.
Choosing a ribbon width
Width sets the character of the bow. Wired ribbon of 2.5 inches is the everyday workhorse and holds its shape beautifully; 4 inch reads as generous and full on a large wreath; 1.5 inch suits gift bows and smaller arrangements. As a rough guide, match the ribbon width to the wreath: a slim 18 inch wreath looks best with 2.5 inch ribbon, while a full 24 inch wreath can carry 4 inch handsomely.
Wired versus unwired
Wired ribbon has a fine wire along both edges, which means loops stand up on their own and can be fluffed and reshaped as often as you like. It is far more forgiving for wreath bows and worth the extra cost. Unwired ribbon drapes softly and is lovely for tails and for gift wrapping, but it will not hold a loop upright without help.
Making the bow itself
- Leave your first tail length hanging free, then pinch the ribbon between finger and thumb.
- Make a loop to one side and pinch it back at the centre, giving the ribbon a half twist so the right side always faces out.
- Make a matching loop on the other side. Keep alternating, and make each pair slightly smaller than the last for a fuller, layered look.
- When all your loops are made, wrap a length of floral wire or a pipe cleaner tightly around the pinched centre and twist at the back.
- Cut the tails at an angle or in a V, then fluff every loop into place. This last step matters more than any measurement.
Questions we're often asked
How much ribbon do I need for a wreath bow?
A classic six-loop bow with five-inch loops and twelve-inch tails takes about three yards of 2.5 inch ribbon. A larger eight-loop bow with six-inch loops needs closer to four and a half yards. Buying a standard ten-yard roll gives you enough for three bows with a little spare.
How much ribbon per loop?
Roughly twice the loop width, plus about an inch for the gather at the centre. A four-inch loop uses about nine inches of ribbon, and a six-inch loop about thirteen.
What size ribbon is best for a wreath?
2.5 inch wired ribbon suits most wreaths and is the easiest to work with. Step up to 4 inch for large or deluxe wreaths where you want the bow to be the centrepiece, and down to 1.5 inch for small wreaths and gift bows.
How long should the tails be?
Twelve inches is the usual starting point for a wreath bow, and longer tails of sixteen to twenty inches give a lovely flowing look on a door. Cut them longer than you think you need — you can always trim, but you cannot add.
How many yards is a standard roll of ribbon?
Craft store rolls are most often ten yards, though five, fifteen and twenty-five yard rolls are all common. The calculator above tells you how many standard ten-yard rolls your project needs.