Hammock Size Calculator
| Height | Fabric length | Straps per side | Tree spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'6" (66 in) | ~9.5 ft | 8-10 ft | ~14 ft |
| 6'0" (72 in) | ~10.5 ft | 9-10 ft | ~15-16 ft |
| 6'4" (76 in) | ~11 ft | 10-11 ft | ~16-18 ft |
Hammock sizing runs off one number - your height - and two rules: the gathered-end fabric wants to be your height plus about two feet for a comfortable diagonal lie, and the suspension on each end wants roughly the fabric's length, which is why the trees need to sit about twice the hammock length apart.
Bottom line: a six-foot camper wants a 10-to-11-foot hammock, 8-to-10-foot straps per side, and trees about 14 to 18 feet apart - or a stand two feet longer than the hammock. The double hammock is wider, not longer, and it is the right choice for solo campers too: the extra width flattens the lie and holds a top quilt.
The honest part: the sag is the comfort, not a flaw - a hammock hung drum-tight fights the sleeper all night, and the 30-degree suspension angle the community settled on is what turns a diagonal lie into a flat one. Too-short straps and too-tight hangs are the two mistakes every first night makes.
How to use
- Enter your height and read the fabric length, suspension length per side and the tree spacing to look for - or the stand size if the trees are not cooperating.
- Hang at roughly 30 degrees from horizontal: the strap angle is what flattens the lie, and drum-tight hangs are the first-night mistake every hammocker makes once.
- Lie diagonally - 20 to 30 degrees off the centerline - and the fabric supports your back flat instead of banana-curving your spine along the seam.
Frequently asked questions
What size hammock do I need for my height?
Gathered-end fabric should run your height plus about two feet: a six-footer wants 10 to 11 feet of fabric, and taller campers shop the 11-foot models that the cottage industry settled on as the tall-person standard. Doubles are the same length and four to eight inches wider - the width that solo campers use for a flatter diagonal lie and a draped top quilt.
How far apart should trees be for a hammock?
About twice the hammock's fabric length, which lands most setups between 14 and 18 feet - the suspension straps each side run roughly the hammock's length, and the 30-degree hang angle needs the room. Straps 10 to 12 feet long with tree-friendly webbing cover the common spacings, and beech and oak are the hardwoods the straps are kind to.
What size hammock stand do I need?
A stand two feet longer than the hammock's fabric: a 10-foot hammock wants a 12-foot stand, and most universal stands run 9.5 to 15 feet to cover the range. The stand trades the trees for 25 to 40 pounds of steel, and its spread is fixed - which is why the 30-degree angle check happens at purchase, not at the campsite.
Is a double hammock better for one person?
For camping, usually yes: the extra width lets the sleeper lie flatter on the diagonal, holds a top quilt off the ground, and prices barely more than the single. The weight penalty is 4 to 8 ounces - the one number that backpackers care about - and backyard hammocks have no reason to choose the single at all.