Yarn weight chart with needle and hook sizes

Yarn weight is how thick a yarn is, numbered 0 (lace) to 7 (jumbo) by the Craft Yarn Council. The most common weights are 3 (DK, light worsted), 4 (worsted, aran) and 5 (bulky, chunky). The label gives the weight and a suggested needle or hook size; use that as a starting point and check your gauge.

The chart

No.	Category	Also called	Knit gauge (sts per 10 cm / 4 in)	Needles	Crochet hook
0	Lace	lace, fingering 10-count thread	33–40	1.5–2.25 mm	steel hooks to 2.25 mm
1	Super fine	sock, fingering, baby, UK 4-ply	27–32	2.25–3.25 mm	2.25–3.5 mm
2	Fine	sport, baby, 5-ply	23–26	3.25–3.75 mm	3.5–4.5 mm
3	Light	DK, light worsted, AU/NZ 8-ply	21–24	3.75–4.5 mm	4.5–5.5 mm
4	Medium	worsted, aran, afghan, 10-ply	16–20	4.5–5.5 mm	5.5–6.5 mm
5	Bulky	chunky, craft, rug, 12-ply	12–15	5.5–8 mm	6.5–9 mm
6	Super bulky	super chunky, roving	7–11	8–12.75 mm	9–15 mm
7	Jumbo	jumbo, roving	6 and fewer	12.75 mm and larger	15 mm and larger

Ranges follow the Craft Yarn Council’s standard. Names such as aran and worsted overlap between brands, so the gauge on the label is the more reliable guide.

Substituting a yarn

Match the weight category first, then the gauge on the label.
Match the fibre where drape matters: cotton is heavier and less stretchy than wool.
Buy by length, not by weight: 100 g of cotton is far fewer metres than 100 g of mohair.
Knit or crochet a swatch before you commit. See how to make a gauge swatch.

Common questions

Is DK the same as worsted?

No. DK (weight 3) is a little thinner than worsted (weight 4). You can sometimes swap them by changing needle or hook size, but always knit a gauge swatch first.

What yarn weight is best for beginners?

Weight 4 (worsted or aran) in a smooth, light-coloured yarn. It is thick enough to see each stitch and works up quickly with a 5 mm hook or 4.5 to 5 mm needles.

What does "ply" mean on a yarn label?

Ply is the number of strands twisted together. In the UK, Australia and New Zealand it is also used as a weight name (4-ply, 8-ply), but the number of strands does not always match the thickness.

Stuck on this step? In the Purlwise app you can photograph your work and the coach tells you what went wrong and how to fix it. Get Purlwise

Updated 5 November 2026.