If you are one of the 85% [1] of men or 55% of women [2] to experience hair loss at some point in life, you may have considered the possibility of getting a hair transplant. But it can be difficult to get an accurate representation of the costs and implications of this procedure without knowing how many hair grafts you need for adequate scalp coverage.
Our handy Hair Graft Calculator will help you get an idea of the average hair graft requirements for your hair loss stage. And our detailed account of the factors that influence the number of hair grafts patients need for a successful hair restoration surgery can help you fine-tune this estimation to your particular situation. However, keep in mind that you will still need a professional assessment for accurate and personalised recommendations for optimal graft number, placement and expected results.
This article provides practical tools to help you estimate how many hair grafts you may need for a natural-looking hair transplant. It includes a simple visual guide regarding the typical number of grafts used to cover different areas of the scalp, as well as the average graft requirements for each stage of male and female pattern baldness. Additionally, it explains the key factors that influence the total number of grafts needed and highlights why a professional evaluation is essential for an accurate assessment.
Key takeaways
“The insights and recommendations in this article are courtesy of Dr Peter Barron. Dr Barron specialises in FUE hair transplants and prides himself on his ultra-natural looking results”
Only a surgeon can provide you with an accurate estimation of how many hair grafts you need for adequate hair coverage, upon careful examination and measurements. However, when it comes to male pattern baldness, there is a rule of thumb that can give you a fair idea of the hair transplant volume you can expect, depending on the extent of your alopecia. The chart above can be used as a simple home Hair Graft Calculator. It has been created by our experts at the Wimpole Clinic, based on the average number of grafts used to restore the different areas of the scalp.
Using the Hair Graft Calculator is quite simple. All you have to do is assess the hair loss in the main areas of your scalp and cross-reference the chart to see how many grafts are normally needed to cover each thinning spot. Then, add them all together to obtain the estimated volume of your hair transplant. For more accurate results, you may want to follow these helpful tips:
This chart can help you understand whether your hair needs a simple touch-up or a higher volume procedure. Knowing the approximate number of grafts you may require allows you to estimate the hair transplant cost and duration you might expect. Thus, it can help you decide whether to have your hair restoration surgery in a single session or several successive ones.
Moreover, if the calculator shows you may need an over-3000-graft hair transplant, it is a sign that you should consider scheduling your surgery as soon as possible. Waiting longer can lead to your hair loss becoming too extensive for good results or to insufficient hair grafts in your donor area to cover your scalp.
Once you have calculated the estimated number of hair grafts you might need, it can be tempting to start making hair restoration plans based on your result. However, it is crucial to get an accurate assessment performed by an experienced hair transplant surgeon [3X]. Here is why:
The good news is that here, at the Wimpole Clinic, we provide a free, no-strings-attached hair transplant consultation to help you get accurate, personalised information about the number of hair grafts you will need. Our world-class surgeons will examine your scalp, ask about your medical history and about your expected results. Then, they will make the best recommendations for you. Here is how one of our patients describes this experience:
“[…]The surgeon came in the meeting room, he analysed my situation, he told me exactly how many grafts he could extract, how many options I had in terms of coverage and he started to draw different lines on my head, until we found something that was feasible and that I liked. I really appreciated that none of them was pushing me in any way to proceed with the surgery or to select a particular option. Even when I actually asked for some suggestion, they both told me that everything should be my own decision.
The surgeon then left the room and Simone started to cover the last topic: prices. He was extremely transparent, by showing me all the different quotes, based on the number of grafts.[…] “ (read the entire patient review on our Trustpilot page)
Experienced surgeons can often tell the number of grafts needed to provide adequate coverage simply by examining a patient’s scalp. Here is what they do during your pre-hair transplant consultation [3]:
However, for added certainty, they will often also use a set of specific tools, scales and measurements. For example, the surgeon may take a thin, transparent film, place it carefully over your scalp and draw the contours of your recipient area. Then, they superimpose the film on a 1 cm grid paper and measure the surface manually. Once this is accomplished, they use the rest of the gathered information to decide how densely your grafts should be packed. Simple math then allows them to calculate the number of grafts you will need.
Methodological innovations can make this process even easier. Recently, an international team of hair transplant surgeons have devised a new instrument for quantifying androgenetic alopecia, called the PRECISE scale [4]. While the previously used Norwood scale had 7 stages and relied on visual estimations, the PRECISE scale has 10 and bases its scoring on exact measurements. An additional point is awarded for each 30cm2 of bald or thinning scalp, and an estimated 1500 hair grafts are required for every additional stage on the scale.
A substantial part of hair transplant costs usually depends on the number of hair grafts used (the price is usually calculated per graft). Hence, some hair restoration clinics abroad tend to harvest and implant significantly more grafts than needed. This allows them to keep their price per graft lower than the UK, while still keeping the overall surgery cost profitable. However, this practice is unethical, invasive and carries the risk of hair transplant overharvesting, with potentially serious consequences.
If the number of grafts recommended by your surgeon is substantially (e.g. several thousand grafts) higher than you have calculated, you may want to get a second opinion. Furthermore, researching hair transplant clinics can help you determine their reputation and trustworthiness. Our surgeons at the Wimpole Clinic only harvest enough grafts to produce natural-looking results, a good practice that is noted and appreciated among our patients:
“Really enjoyed my experience with Wimpole, I did a LOT of research, like most people considering a medical procedure like this I compared UK clinics and those abroad, eventually deciding to go for the UK option simply because although the cost is higher than some clinics abroad, the results seem far more consistent, you get an ‘honest’ graft count (not a quote for 5000 grafts that clearly aren’t that many in reality), the doctors/technicians/surgeons are qualified to uk standards and obviously they’re easier to get to if there’s an issue. Once I’d nailed that down I did a bit of comparison and went with Wimpole, and I’m really pleased with the decision (and the results so far)[…]”(read the entire patient review on our Trustpilot page)
While it is not the only factor that affects the number of grafts you might need, your Norwood stage is a rather good predictor. That is because each stage involves progressive hair loss that extends to specific parts of your scalp, and this progression follows typical patterns.
This table contains the approximate number of grafts an average patient needs for each hair loss stage:
Grafts: 1,200
Procedure: FUE
This is the hair loss stage where you will normally start to be considered for a hair transplant. Before that, your alopecia was generally considered too mild, usually treatable with hair growth medications. Patients with Norwood stage 2-3 male pattern baldness usually develop a receding hairline or even an M-shaped hairline, as temple hair loss starts to set in. However, no bald spots on the crown have yet emerged.
Average grafts required to restore hair: 500-1,500
Grafts: 3,000
Procedure: FUT
These more advanced stages of hair loss involve significant frontal balding and a growing bald area on the crown. Norwood stage 4-5 alopecia requires a larger number of grafts to achieve full coverage and the surgical hair restoration may even be conducted in 2 sessions, one to correct the hairline and frontal area and one to cover the midscalp and crown.
Average grafts required to restore hair: 2000-4000 grafts
Procedure: FUT & FUE combination
Grafts: 4500
Most patients with male pattern baldness never reach these final hair loss stages [3]. And not all those with such extensive hair loss are eligible for a hair transplant, as they may not have sufficient donor hair left. At Norwood stage 6-7, most of your scalp is bald, with only a ring of hair remaining on the back and sides of your head. Should surgical restoration be possible, it is best to have realistic expectations regarding your results.
While you may achieve some additional hair growth, especially on the crown and mid-scalp, you are unlikely to obtain a full head of hair. If you are interested in pre-balding-level hair restoration, a natural-looking hair system for men may bring you closer to your expectations.
Average grafts required to restore hair: 4000+ grafts
Hair transplants for women use a different chart to measure progression of female pattern hair loss. This chart is known as the Ludwig Scale:
The table below shows the average number of grafts needed for each stage of the Ludwig Scale:
Grafts: 900
This incipient hair loss stage is only marked by diffuse hair thinning, a widening of your midline parting and perhaps a Christmas tree pattern. Only a small number of grafts are required to restore your coverage around your mid-scalp.
Average grafts required to restore hair: 500-1500
Grafts: 1600
At this more advanced stage, you may develop further hair thinning and a circular bald spot on your mid-scalp. A larger number of grafts will likely be needed to provide good coverage and a cosmetic density that prevents scalp visibility.
Average grafts required to restore hair: 1200-1800
Grafts: 2800
This final, very advanced stage of androgenetic alopecia can leave your mid-scalp, crown and frontal area almost fully bald. However, you may still recover significant coverage, especially if your hair is textured and you like to wear it longer. Just keep in mind that while a female hair transplant may improve your condition, you are unlikely to achieve a very full head of hair.
Average grafts required to restore hair: 1800+
As previously explored, your hair loss stage is the main factor that affects your required number of grafts. However, it is far from the only factor. Here are other aspects that need to be taken into consideration when determining an accurate hair graft requirement that can provide optimal scalp coverage:
Hair density affects both the number of grafts you are going to need for a natural-looking result, as well as how many you can safely harvest from your donor area. However, keep in mind that there is a significant difference between the number of implanted grafts and the number of hairs you can expect to grow. A graft is normally made of a follicular unit, which can contain between 1 and 4 hairs. On average, a single hair graft yields around 2.3 hairs [5]. This means that a 1500-graft hair transplant can produce around 3500 hair strands. Dr. Barron explains how this can impact the number of grafts you might need:
The number of grafts per cm^2 is very different from hairs per cm^2. You can do the exact same surgery in two different people but if one has a higher number of hairs per follicle, they’ll have more hairs overall and likely a more dense result. This can be to our benefit that the single hair follicle grafts we put into the very front of a hairline to keep it soft looking.
Density goals – cosmetic or natural?
Naturally, the human scalp has an average hair density of approximately 200 hairs/cm² [6][7]. However, people can have genetically fuller or sparser hair. Moreover, a variety of factors such as age, hair type, hormones and health conditions can substantially impact how dense your hair will grow [3].
When thinking about a successful hair transplant, many patients assume it involves enough grafts to replicate the natural density of healthy hair. However, your surgeon aims to create a good cosmetic hair density. This concept entails [3]:
Research shows that a hair transplant result of 65-140 hairs/cm² can often create adequate cosmetic density, if the grafts are skillfully implanted [7]. Patients who experience androgenetic alopecia already show significantly decreased hair density of up to 50% before their baldness even becomes visible. And research shows that reaching 50% of one’s healthy hair density is usually enough to provide natural-looking coverage [3].
Moreover, as Dr. Barron explains, attempts to achieve natural hair density instead of cosmetic can lead to poor outcomes:
Numerical density can be different from visual density. Achieving “natural hair density” is something that I never promise prospective patients, given that they often think this means the density they had when they were twenty years old, which is never possible with a transplant. Trying to reach “natural densities” often risks complications from trying to put too many hairs into too small an area where the scalp and blood vessels can’t withstand the trauma or oxygen demand from the grafts or skin and the grafts will fail or the scalp tissue will die.
One of the most important considerations in a hair transplant is not only how many grafts you need, but how many you can safely get. This depends on the size and fullness of your safe donor area.
What is the safe donor area?
A patient’s safe donor area is defined as the part of your scalp which will always be covered with hair (i.e. is not affected by androgenetic alopecia) and which can provide hair grafts that can be used for a permanent hair transplant [3].
Safe donor area size largely depends on each patient’s head size, scalp health and other personal characteristics (genes, hormones, etc). However, it is generally a curved band of scalp located at the back of the head, located between your temple area and your nape. On average, it is about 25-32 cm long and 4-8 cm wide (although it narrows on certain segments) [3] and has a surface of about 203 cm2 [8].
How many grafts can normally be safely harvested from the donor area?
Safe donor area size largely depends on each patient’s scalp characteristics. Some have larger safe donor areas, a greater hair density, or more hair in their follicular units than others. This allows for a higher graft yield. Researchers found that up to half the follicular units can be safely extracted from the donor area [8].
Patients with large safe donor areas and early-stage hair loss can have as many as 6500-7500 hair grafts safely harvested for high-volume hair restoration surgeries. But not everyone qualifies for this, as there is a risk of hair transplant overharvesting. Dr. Barron explains why this can be a serious problem:
Equally, a very important factor to consider is the number of grafts that they may be able to safely extract from the donor area without it looking sparse, and therefore prevent a new area of concern from forming. Sometimes, what a patient may “need” to reconstruct their recipient area to a reasonable extent isn’t actually possible because they don’t have enough hair to extract from the back of their head. I try to explain this in terms of “supply and demand” in which the supply of hairs that can safely be taken from the back of the head can’t fully meet the demand of the area at the recipient area and therefore compromise may have to happen in which the reconstruction is over a limited area, at a reduced density or not going ahead with a procedure at all if it is unlikely to meet their expectations.
Patients with advanced baldness (e.g. Norwood stage 4-5) can have as few as 4000 harvestable follicular units in their safe donor area or fewer (some may have none to spare) [3]. Since they need a large volume of grafts for natural-looking results, this can be problematic.
Hair type is crucial in determining the number of hair grafts you will need. For example, significantly fewer strands of thick and curly afro hair are needed to create an illusion of fullness than fine type 1A hair. Here are the main hair properties that can influence the number of grafts you need [3]:
Dr. Barron, explains how all these hair properties come into play in determining your required number of hair grafts:
Hair type plays a very large part when estimating the number of grafts required. You could perform the exact same procedure on different people and have very different results depending on the qualities of their hair. This can be most evident when estimating graft numbers for individuals with very curly hair, such as Afro-Carribean patients. Because the hair curls, it has the chance to overlap with other surrounding hair follicles a lot more readily and therefore reduce the visibility of the scalp.
Straight hair overlaps less than curly or wavy hair and so requires more follicles in a given region to reduce scalp visibility. Not all straight hair types are the same as well, Caucasian hair is typically finer compared to Asian hair, which is coarser/thicker and will therefore naturally overlap less. Again, some can argue that Caucasian individuals with blonde or grey coloured hair can have subjectively “better” results than people with brown/black hair due to the decreased contrast between the light coloured hair and underlying pale skin types.
Hair graft requirements differ with the surface and characteristics of the scalp areas that need to be covered. The hairline and temple areas normally require fewer grafts, as they are smaller and have a naturally lower hair density. Moreover, some thinning is expected in the respective areas over time, so using fewer or more loosely packed grafts can sometimes help preserve a natural, softer and more mature appearance.
The midscalp and crown, however, are larger and require more grafts to cover (to be discussed). Moreover, as hair loss progresses towards your vertex, your safe donor area also diminishes, so you may have fewer usable grafts left over to provide a full-looking result. Here is how Dr. Barron explains this:
The size of the recipient area and how many native hairs still exist in that area are important factors. If the scalp is completely bald, more grafts can be placed compared to someone who still has some pre-existing hairs that should be worked around. In patients who have multiple areas to be worked on e.g hairline and crown, this will require more grafts than if the same person just wanted to reconstruct one region.
When planning your hair transplant, a good surgeon won’t only consider your current coverage needs. They will also take into account how much your male or female pattern baldness can be expected to advance over time. Younger patients can be especially prone to losing more hair around their transplant area in the future. This means they may require a second hair transplant at some point.
If the surgeon anticipates significant future hair loss, they may choose to leave sufficient follicular units in the safe donor area for subsequent interventions. This means they may opt for a lower (albeit still adequate) graft density for your first procedure, and/or recommend a slightly higher hairline.
This is not only done to save hair follicles for later, but also to provide natural-looking results. As you age and your hair loss progresses, hair density declines and your hairline is expected to recede. An older patient with thinning hair everywhere except their hairline, which is set too low for their age and alopecia can be conspicuous and look uncanny.
Self-assessed hair graft requirements can fall far from professional estimations, especially if you have unique scalp properties or a less common hair loss pattern. Fortunately, our highly skilled and experienced surgeons are here to help you get the most accurate evaluation fully free of charge. All you need to do is book a free hair transplant consultation at your most convenient clinic location.
The award-winning Wimpole Clinic has a 50-year legacy of providing top-tier hair restorations and patient-centred, quality-oriented care. Our surgeons take pride in achieving excellent coverage with as few hair grafts as can be safely used. See some of our results for yourself in our before-and-after hair transplant gallery.
If you are curious to learn even more about the number of hair grafts you may need to achieve your desired coverage, take a look at the answers to these frequently asked questions:
The best thing you can do is to support your natural hair growth as much as possible. This includes using evidence-based hair loss treatments such as Minoxidil or Finasteride, therapies such as PRP hair treatments, or even some of the best essential oils for hair growth.
Moreover, adopting a healthier lifestyle can also improve your hair loss, reducing your overall graft needs. Reducing nicotine intake can be an important step, as smoking can cause hair loss by reducing blood flow to the scalp and worsening your androgenetic alopecia. Restrictive diets can also deprive your hair of the nutrients it needs to grow, so a healthy diet for hair can go a long way.
It’s difficult to accurately estimate how many grafts you’ll need for your hair transplant without professional assistance. Looking at a hair transplant gallery with graft count details may help you compare against others with similar rates of hair loss.
For the most accurate estimates, it’s best to consult with a professional. Many prospective patients get quotes from multiple clinics so they can be sure they’re getting an accurate quote (black market clinics have been known to inflate graft numbers unnecessarily to increase the price).
You can’t normally get a hair transplant if you are completely bald, for several reasons. On the one hand, hair transplants are not effective on the types of alopecia which cause full baldness (e.g. alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis).
On the other hand, hair restoration surgery requires a well-covered donor area to harvest healthy hair grafts from. While you may sometimes be able to use body hair for your hair transplant, there wouldn’t likely be enough grafts for a decent-looking result on a fully bald scalp, and the result would look unnatural.
However, if you are not totally bald but have some hair left on the back or sides of your head, a hair transplant may still be possible. A surgeon can help you determine the number of grafts that could be harvested and the coverage you would get.
The number of grafts required for a hairline-lowering hair transplant depends on several factors, such as your forehead width and hair texture. Most patients with healthy hair need around 1000 hair grafts for this surgery, but in some people, it can be as few as 500 grafts or as many as 1500. Only a surgeon can give you a precise estimation upon examining you.
It is not normally safe to harvest over 6000 grafts from an average patient’s donor area, as the risk of depleting it by overharvesting is quite high. Moreover, few patients really need more than a 6000-graft hair transplant for decent scalp coverage, even in advanced hair loss. It is best to be wary of surgeons who recommend such massive volume procedures, especially in a single megasession. While such surgeries have sometimes been successfully performed, they are rather rare, so it is best to ask for a second opinion, to be sure.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Peter Barron (GMC 7841164) is based at our London Harley Street surgical headquarters and specialises in FUE hair transplants. Dr Barron received his medical degree alongside a 1st class masters in medical sciences from the University of Southampton. He was awarded a distinction in his pre-clinical years, received a letter of commendation during his clinical placements and after graduation received a certificate recognising his work as a neurosurgical clinical fellow at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Alongside his career in the NHS, Dr Barron worked as an honorary research fellow within the University of Edinburgh. His work has been published and presented internationally and again culminated in awards.
Dr Barron sought to further incorporate his creative, precise and forward thinking nature within his surgical practice by joining the internationally renowned Wimpole Clinic as an FUE hair transplant surgeon. He had the privilege of learning from the elite team of surgeons under the prestigious Wimpole Training Academy. He received further advanced training at our world renowned Mayfair Hair Clinic, under the lead surgeon Dr Kieran Dayah. He has been able to master the sapphire blade to craft high density results whilst minimising inflammation and scarring. He continues to appraise the latest advances in hair restoration surgery to ensure his consultations with prospective clients are evidenced based, with his practice remaining at the cutting edge.
Dr Barron prides himself on working with his clients to reconstruct ultra natural looking results. He is able to utilise his interest in photography to ensure that symmetry and fine details are not overlooked. Attention is given to matching the angulation and direction of existing hairs as well as incorporating macro- and micro-irregularities to advance his work into the highest tiers of the industry. Alongside producing visually impressive results, Dr Barron aims to make sure that his clients have a positive, personalised and well supported experience from their first consultation through to their results follow up.
