Yarn weight chart
Every yarn weight from lace to jumbo, with UK and Australian ply names, wraps per inch, typical gauge, and the needle and hook sizes to use.
Yarn weights at a glance
| Weight | US names | UK / AU | Wraps per inch | Knit gauge (4 in) | Needles | Crochet gauge (4 in) | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Lace | Lace, fingering 10-count thread | 1-2 ply | 35+ | 33-40 sts | 1.5-2.25 mm (US 000-1) | 32-42 dc | Steel 1.6-1.4 mm, or 2.25 mm (B-1) |
| 1 Super fine | Fingering, sock, baby | 3-4 ply | 19-22 | 27-32 sts | 2.25-3.25 mm (US 1-3) | 21-32 sc | 2.25-3.5 mm (B-1 to E-4) |
| 2 Fine | Sport, baby | 5 ply | 15-18 | 23-26 sts | 3.25-3.75 mm (US 3-5) | 16-20 sc | 3.5-4.5 mm (E-4 to 7) |
| 3 Light | DK, light worsted | DK / 8 ply | 12-14 | 21-24 sts | 3.75-4.5 mm (US 5-7) | 12-17 sc | 4.5-5.5 mm (7 to I-9) |
| 4 Medium | Worsted, afghan, aran | Aran / 10 ply | 9-11 | 16-20 sts | 4.5-5.5 mm (US 7-9) | 11-14 sc | 5.5-6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10½) |
| 5 Bulky | Chunky, craft, rug | Chunky / 12 ply | 7-8 | 12-15 sts | 5.5-8 mm (US 9-11) | 8-11 sc | 6.5-9 mm (K-10½ to M-13) |
| 6 Super bulky | Super bulky, roving | Super chunky / 14 ply | 5-6 | 7-11 sts | 8-12.75 mm (US 11-17) | 7-9 sc | 9-15 mm (M-13 to Q) |
| 7 Jumbo | Jumbo, roving | Jumbo | 4 or fewer | 6 sts or fewer | 12.75 mm and larger (US 17+) | 6 sc or fewer | 15 mm and larger (Q+) |
Gauges are stockinette stitch for knitting and single crochet for crochet, over 4 inches (10 cm). Wraps per inch varies with how tightly you wrap, so use it as a guide.
Typical length per 100 g
| Weight | Metres per 100 g | Yards per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Lace | 600-800 | 656-875 |
| 1 Super fine | 350-460 | 383-503 |
| 2 Fine | 270-330 | 295-361 |
| 3 Light | 200-260 | 219-284 |
| 4 Medium | 160-210 | 175-230 |
| 5 Bulky | 100-140 | 109-153 |
| 6 Super bulky | 50-90 | 55-98 |
| 7 Jumbo | 20-50 | 22-55 |
Wool, cotton and acrylic of the same weight have different lengths per gram, so check the ball band. Working out how much you need? Use the yarn calculator. For hooks and needles, see the crochet hook size chart and the knitting needle size chart.
Questions
What is the difference between DK and worsted yarn?
DK (light, #3, 8 ply) is thinner than worsted (medium, #4). DK knits at about 21 to 24 stitches per 4 inches; worsted at about 16 to 20. Aran is a little thicker than worsted and is in the same #4 group.
What is 8 ply yarn in US terms?
8 ply is DK, a light (#3) yarn. 10 ply is worsted or aran (#4), 12 ply is chunky (#5) and 4 ply is fingering (#1). Ply names are used in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
What does the number on a yarn label mean?
It is the Craft Yarn Council weight, from 0 (lace) to 7 (jumbo). It tells you roughly how thick the yarn is and which needles or hook to start with.
How do I find the weight of a yarn with no label?
Wrap it around a ruler without stretching, side by side, and count the wraps in one inch (wraps per inch, WPI). Compare the count with the chart: about 12 to 14 wraps is DK, 9 to 11 is worsted.
Can I substitute one yarn for another?
Yes, if they are the same weight and you can match the pattern gauge. Compare metres or yards per 100 g too: yarns of the same weight and similar length per gram behave alike. Always knit or crochet a swatch first.