Yarn weight is the thickness of the yarn — and it decides your hook size, your gauge and how your finished piece looks and feels. Use this chart to understand yarn labels and to substitute yarns with confidence.
Standard yarn weight chart
| Weight | Common names | Typical sc per 4 in (10 cm) | Recommended hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – Lace | Lace, crochet thread, fingering 10-count | 32–42 dc* | Steel 1.4–1.6 mm, or 2.25 mm (B-1) |
| 1 – Super Fine | Sock, fingering, baby, UK 4-ply | 21–32 sc | 2.25–3.5 mm (B-1 to E-4) |
| 2 – Fine | Sport, baby, UK 5-ply | 16–20 sc | 3.5–4.5 mm (E-4 to 7) |
| 3 – Light | DK, light worsted, UK 8-ply | 12–17 sc | 4.5–5.5 mm (7 to I-9) |
| 4 – Medium | Worsted, afghan, aran, UK 10-ply | 11–14 sc | 5.5–6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10½) |
| 5 – Bulky | Chunky, craft, rug, UK 12-ply | 8–11 sc | 6.5–9 mm (K-10½ to M-13) |
| 6 – Super Bulky | Super bulky, super chunky, roving | 7–9 sc | 9–15 mm (M-13 to Q) |
| 7 – Jumbo | Jumbo, roving | 6 sc or fewer | 15 mm and larger (Q and up) |
*Lace weight gauge is usually given in double crochet. These ranges follow the Craft Yarn Council’s standard guidelines; always check your yarn label and pattern.
How to read a yarn label
- Weight symbol — a skein icon with a number from 0 to 7.
- Fiber content — acrylic, cotton, wool, blends and more.
- Length and weight — yards/meters and grams/ounces per ball. Use length, not grams, to work out how many balls you need.
- Recommended hook and gauge — a helpful starting point for your swatch.
- Dye lot — buy all the yarn for one project from the same dye lot to avoid color differences.
- Care instructions — washing and drying symbols.
Choosing fiber for your project
| Fiber | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Blankets, toys, everyday projects | Affordable, washable, huge color range |
| Cotton | Dishcloths, bags, summer tops, amigurumi | Strong, crisp stitch definition, little stretch |
| Wool | Hats, sweaters, winter accessories | Warm and elastic; check washing instructions |
| Blends | Wearables and baby items | Combine softness, warmth and easy care |
Substituting yarn
To swap the yarn in a pattern, pick one of the same weight, a similar fiber and similar yardage per gram, then make a gauge swatch. Calculate the total length needed (number of balls × length per ball in the original yarn) and divide by the length per ball of your new yarn.
See also: Crochet hook size chart · Start here