Yarn weight chart
A worsted (Medium, 4) yarn knits at 16 to 20 stitches per 4 inches on 4.5 to 5.5 mm (US 7 to 9) needles, or crochets on a 5.5 to 6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10 1/2) hook. These are the Craft Yarn Council's eight standard yarn weights, from 0 Lace to 7 Jumbo.
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Standard yarn weight chart (0 to 7)
| Weight | Yarns in this category | Knit gauge (4 in) | Needle | Crochet gauge (4 in) | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Lace | Fingering, 10-count crochet thread | 33 to 40 sts | 1.5 to 2.25 mm US 000 to 1 | 32 to 42 double crochets | Steel hooks 1.6 to 1.4 mm (US steel 6, 7, 8), or a regular 2.25 mm hook |
| 1 Super Fine | Sock, Fingering, Baby | 27 to 32 sts | 2.25 to 3.25 mm US 1 to 3 | 21 to 32 sts | 2.25 to 3.5 mm US B-1 to E-4 |
| 2 Fine | Sport, Baby | 23 to 26 sts | 3.25 to 3.75 mm US 3 to 5 | 16 to 20 sts | 3.5 to 4.5 mm US E-4 to 7 |
| 3 Light | DK, Light Worsted | 21 to 24 sts | 3.75 to 4.5 mm US 5 to 7 | 12 to 17 sts | 4.5 to 5.5 mm US 7 to I-9 |
| 4 Medium | Worsted, Afghan, Aran | 16 to 20 sts | 4.5 to 5.5 mm US 7 to 9 | 11 to 14 sts | 5.5 to 6.5 mm US I-9 to K-10 1/2 |
| 5 Bulky | Chunky, Craft, Rug | 12 to 15 sts | 5.5 to 8 mm US 9 to 11 | 8 to 11 sts | 6.5 to 9 mm US K-10 1/2 to M-13 |
| 6 Super Bulky | Super Bulky, Roving | 7 to 11 sts | 8 to 12.75 mm US 11 to 17 | 7 to 9 sts | 9 to 15 mm US M-13 to Q |
| 7 Jumbo | Jumbo, Roving | 6 sts and fewer | 12.75 mm and larger US 17 and larger | 6 sts and fewer | 15 mm and larger US Q and larger |
Yarn weight names in the UK and Australia
| CYC weight | US names | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Lace | Fingering, 10-count crochet thread | 1 ply, 2 ply | n/a |
| 1 Super Fine | Sock, Fingering, Baby | 3 ply, 4 ply | 3 ply, 4 ply |
| 2 Fine | Sport, Baby | n/a | 5 ply |
| 3 Light | DK, Light Worsted | DK (double knit), 8 ply | 8 ply |
| 4 Medium | Worsted, Afghan, Aran | Worsted, Aran | 10 or 12 ply |
| 5 Bulky | Chunky, Craft, Rug | Chunky | 12 or 16 ply |
| 6 Super Bulky | Super Bulky, Roving | Super chunky | n/a |
| 7 Jumbo | Jumbo, Roving | n/a | n/a |
How to read a yarn label
Most labels print the weight symbol: a skein with a number from 0 to 7. If there is no symbol, look for the recommended needle or hook size and the gauge, and match them to the chart above. The Craft Yarn Council gives these sizes as guidelines only, so knit or crochet a gauge swatch before you swap one yarn for another.
Need the hook or needle itself? The crochet hook and knitting needle size chart converts mm to US letters and numbers and shows each size at actual thickness.
Good to know
- Lace (0): CYC says lace yarns are usually knitted or crocheted on larger needles and hooks to make openwork, so a gauge range is hard to set. Its crochet gauge for lace is counted in double crochets, not single crochets.
- Steel crochet hooks are sized the other way round from regular hooks: the higher the number, the smaller the hook (CYC).
- UK and Australian names are not part of the CYC standard. They come from Wikipedia's international yarn weight table (which cites older UK and Australian knitting guides); treat them as secondary and check the meters per 100 g on the label when in doubt.
Related tools
Related: Knitting gauge calculator, How much yarn do I need.
Questions
What weight is worsted yarn?
Worsted is category 4, Medium, together with afghan and aran yarns: 16 to 20 knit stitches per 4 inches on 4.5 to 5.5 mm (US 7 to 9) needles.
Is DK yarn the same as light worsted?
Yes. The Craft Yarn Council puts DK and light worsted together in category 3, Light: 21 to 24 knit stitches per 4 inches on 3.75 to 4.5 mm (US 5 to 7) needles.
Is aran the same as worsted?
Both are in category 4, Medium, on the Craft Yarn Council chart, so they take the same needle and hook range. Yarns within one category still vary, so swatch before you swap one for the other.
What weight is chunky yarn?
Chunky is category 5, Bulky: 12 to 15 knit stitches per 4 inches on 5.5 to 8 mm (US 9 to 11) needles, or a 6.5 to 9 mm (K-10 1/2 to M-13) hook.
What does 4 ply mean in US yarn weights?
UK and Australian 4 ply is a fingering yarn: category 1, Super Fine, on 2.25 to 3.25 mm (US 1 to 3) needles. It is not the same as US worsted, which is category 4.
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council: Standard Yarn Weight System (checked 2026-10-13)
- Wikipedia: Yarn weight (International standard weights) (checked 2026-10-13)
Last checked: 13 October 2026