Yarn Weight Chart
Yarn weights run from 0 (lace, the finest) to 7 (jumbo). Worsted is weight 4 (medium), knit at 16–20 stitches per 4 inches on 4.5–5.5 mm (US 7–9) needles. DK is weight 3 and sport is weight 2.
Yarn weight finder
Source: Craft Yarn Council: Standard Yarn Weight System · All sources
Find a yarn's weight from your gauge swatch or needle size, or read across the chart to see which needles and hooks suit each weight.
Standard yarn weight chart
Gauge is stitches over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette for knitting and single crochet for crochet. Needle and hook sizes are the usual starting points, not rules.
| Weight | Yarn types | UK / AU | Knit stitches per 4 in | Needle size | Crochet sts per 4 in | Hook size | Wraps per inch* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Lace | Fingering, 10-count crochet thread | 1–2 ply | 33–40 | 1.5–2.25 mmUS 000–1 | 32–42 | 1.4–2.25 mmSteel 6–8, B-1 | 30+ |
| 1 Super Fine | Sock, fingering, baby | 3–4 ply | 27–32 | 2.25–3.25 mmUS 1–3 | 21–32 | 2.25–3.5 mmB-1 to E-4 | 14–30 |
| 2 Fine | Sport, baby | 5 ply | 23–26 | 3.25–3.75 mmUS 3–5 | 16–20 | 3.5–4.5 mmE-4 to 7 | 12–18 |
| 3 Light | DK, light worsted | 8 ply (DK) | 21–24 | 3.75–4.5 mmUS 5–7 | 12–17 | 4.5–5.5 mm7 to I-9 | 11–15 |
| 4 Medium | Worsted, afghan, aran | 10 ply (aran) | 16–20 | 4.5–5.5 mmUS 7–9 | 11–14 | 5.5–6.5 mmI-9 to K-10½ | 9–12 |
| 5 Bulky | Chunky, craft, rug | 12 ply (chunky) | 12–15 | 5.5–8 mmUS 9–11 | 8–11 | 6.5–9 mmK-10½ to M-13 | 6–9 |
| 6 Super Bulky | Super bulky, roving | 14 ply+ (super chunky) | 7–11 | 8–12.75 mmUS 11–17 | 7–9 | 9–15 mmM-13 to Q | 5–6 |
| 7 Jumbo | Jumbo, roving | — | 6 or fewer | 12.75 and larger mmUS 17 and larger | 6 or fewer | 15 and larger mmQ and larger | 4 or fewer |
* Wraps per inch are common guidance, not part of the Craft Yarn Council standard. The Craft Yarn Council has announced an updated system that adds a Size 8 category; this chart shows sizes 0–7 as currently published with gauge and tool ranges.
How to knit a gauge swatch
- Cast on enough stitches for about 6 inches (15 cm) and work 6 inches in the pattern's stitch.
- Wash and dry the swatch the way you'll treat the finished piece. Many yarns grow or shrink.
- Lay it flat and count the stitches across 4 inches in the middle, away from the edges.
- Too many stitches? Go up a needle size. Too few? Go down a size.
Yarn weight names around the world
The same yarn has different names in different countries. In the UK and Australia, weights are often given in ply: 4 ply is roughly fingering, 8 ply is DK and 10 ply is aran or worsted. Ply originally counted the strands twisted together, but today it's just a size name: a modern single-ply yarn can be DK weight.
US labels usually carry the Craft Yarn Council symbol, a yarn skein with a number from 0 to 7, which is the quickest way to compare yarns from different makers.
Frequently asked questions
What weight is worsted yarn?
Worsted is weight 4, medium. It knits at 16–20 stitches per 4 inches on 4.5–5.5 mm (US 7–9) needles. Aran is also usually classed as 4, at the heavy end.
What weight is DK yarn?
DK (double knitting) is weight 3, light: 21–24 stitches per 4 inches on 3.75–4.5 mm (US 5–7) needles. In Australia and New Zealand it's called 8 ply.
What is sport weight yarn?
Sport is weight 2, fine: 23–26 stitches per 4 inches on 3.25–3.75 mm (US 3–5) needles. It sits between fingering and DK and is popular for baby clothes and lightweight sweaters.
Can I substitute one yarn weight for another?
Only if you can match the pattern's gauge. Stay in the same weight category, knit a swatch, and change needle size until your stitch count matches. Swapping across categories changes the size of the finished piece.
What does WPI mean?
Wraps per inch: wrap the yarn snugly, without stretching, around a ruler or pencil for one inch and count the wraps. It's a quick way to estimate the weight of an unlabeled yarn. WPI isn't part of the Craft Yarn Council standard, so treat the ranges as a guide.
Sources
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- Last updated
- November 5, 2026
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