Knitting needle sizes can be very confusing and therefore we decided to shine a bit of light on the topic.
Today we tell you everything you need to know about knitting needle and crochet hook sizes and show you the differences depending on your country.
Last but not least, we also provide you with a handy (and free) knitting needle size chart for you to download.
Knitting Needle Size Chart
Depending on the designer, they will either use metric sizes, US sizes or even UK sizes.
But don’t worry, nobody expects you to learn them all by heart.
Simply download the chart below. Whether you’d like to have it ready on your phone or print it for your project bag, this chart can be really handy if you’re out and about when starting a new project.
Knitting Needle Size Chart |
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| Metric (mm) | US Size | UK Size | Crochet |
| 2.0 mm | 0 | 14 | – |
| 2.25 mm | 1 | 13 | B |
| 2.5 mm | 1.5 | – | – |
| 2.75 mm | 2 | 12 | C |
| 3.0 mm | 2.5 | 11 | – |
| 3.25 mm | 3 | 10 | D |
| 3.5 mm | 4 | – | E |
| 3.75 mm | 5 | 9 | F |
| 4.0 mm | 6 | 8 | G |
| 4.5 mm | 7 | 7 | – |
| 5.0 mm | 8 | 6 | H |
| 5.5 mm | 9 | 5 | I |
| 6.0 mm | 10 | 4 | J |
| 6.5 mm | 10.5 | 3 | K |
| 7.0 mm | – | 2 | – |
| 7.5 mm | – | 1 | – |
| 8.0 mm | 11 | 0 | L |
| 9.0 mm | 13 | 0 | – |
| 10.0 mm | 15 | 0 | – |
| 12-12.75 mm | 17 | – | – |
| 15-16 mm | 19 | – | – |
| 19.0 mm | 35 | – | – |
| 20.0 mm | 36 | – | – |
| 25 mm | 50 | – | – |
US sizes start with US size 0 which equals to 2.0mm and go all the way up to size 50 which equals to size 25.0mm.
UK Sizes run the opposite way. They start with size 14 for 2.0mm and run up to size 000 which equals 10.0mm.
Crochet hook sizes are named after a letter of the alphabet or can also be measured in mm. They start with size B for 2.25mm and go up to size N for 10.0mm.
How Do I Know What Size Knitting Needles to Use?
When you start a new project make sure to read the designers instructions carefully. Normally they will tell you what size needle or crochet hook they used to achieve a certain gauge.
This is always a good reference but to achieve the exact measurements it is vital for you to knit or crochet a little swatch and measure your gauge.
The other indication that helps you to choose the right needle or hook size is the recommendation from the yarn manufacturer.
Normally they will include a size guide to achieve a certain gauge on the yarn banderols.
What Can I Use If I Don't Have the Right Size Knitting Needles?
You can always use a smaller or a bigger size needle or hook, but that will result in a finished project that will have slightly different measurements than initially intended.
The best advice would be to knit or crochet a little swatch to see how different your gauge is. Afterwards you can decide, depending on your swatch, whether to knit or crochet a smaller or a bigger size.
How To Measure Knitting Needles with A Gauge?
Most of our knitting needles and crochet hooks have the sizes imprinted. Due to wear and tear (normally because you have been doing a lot of knitting or crocheting) these imprints can become a little worn.
Therefore, we recommend to use a knitting needle and crochet hook gauge.
These gauges are really easy to use. The little holes have different sizes, so you simply slide the needle or the hook in one of the holes. Once you’ve found the hole where the needle can hardly move around you can read the size off the gauge.
Conclusion
Knitting needle sizes and crochet hook sizes can get a bit confusing. You will make your life much easier by using a knitting needle size chart.
And as important as it is to follow the designers’ instructions, don’t be afraid in choosing your needle size by making a swatch first. Do you want to make sure that the finished project has the right size? Then don’t miss this step!
If you want to have a look at our knitting needle and crochet hook gauges, have a look at our website. We have different designs for different purposes and they can be incredibly handy.
