Yarn weights
Yarn Weights Explained: Needle Size, Hook Size and Gauge for All 8 CYC Weights
Yarn weight is the thickness of the strand, not the weight of the ball. The Craft Yarn Council groups yarn into eight categories, from 0 lace to 7 jumbo. Worsted, category 4, knits at 16 to 20 stitches per 4 inches on 4.5 to 5.5 mm needles, and heavier categories need fewer stitches and bigger tools.
The table below sets all eight CYC categories side by side, from lace to jumbo: worsted, category 4, sits in the middle at 16 to 20 stitches per 4 inches on 4.5 to 5.5 mm (US 7 to 9) needles.
| CYC | Weight | Other names | WPI | Knit gauge per 4 in | Needles | Crochet gauge per 4 in | Hooks | Yards per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace | Fingering (CYC type), 10-count crochet thread, Cobweb, Light fingering | 30 to 40 or more | 33 to 40 | 1.5 to 2.25 mm (US 000 to 1) | 32 to 42 | 1.4 to 2.25 mm (Steel 8 to B-1) | 600 or more |
| 1 | Super Fine | Sock, Fingering, Baby | 14 to 30 | 27 to 32 | 2.25 to 3.25 mm (US 1 to 3) | 21 to 32 | 2.25 to 3.5 mm (B-1 to E-4) | 380 to 600 |
| 2 | Fine | Sport, Baby | 12 to 18 | 23 to 26 | 3.25 to 3.75 mm (US 3 to 5) | 16 to 20 | 3.5 to 4.5 mm (E-4 to size 7) | 300 to 380 |
| 3 | Light | DK, Light Worsted | 11 to 15 | 21 to 24 | 3.75 to 4.5 mm (US 5 to 7) | 12 to 17 | 4.5 to 5.5 mm (size 7 to I-9) | 230 to 300 |
| 4 | Medium | Worsted, Afghan, Aran | 9 to 12 | 16 to 20 | 4.5 to 5.5 mm (US 7 to 9) | 11 to 14 | 5.5 to 6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10.5) | 170 to 230 |
| 5 | Bulky | Chunky, Craft, Rug | 6 to 9 | 12 to 15 | 5.5 to 8 mm (US 9 to 11) | 8 to 11 | 6.5 to 9 mm (K-10.5 to M-13) | 100 to 170 |
| 6 | Super Bulky | Super Bulky, Roving | 5 to 6 | 7 to 11 | 8 to 12.75 mm (US 11 to 17) | 7 to 9 | 9 to 15 mm (M-13 to Q) | under 100 |
| 7 | Jumbo | Jumbo, Roving | 1 to 4 | 6 or fewer | 12.75 mm (US 17) and larger | 6 or fewer | 15 mm (Q) and larger | Not published |
Knit gauge is stockinette stitches per 4 inches. Crochet gauge is single crochet per 4 inches, except lace, which CYC gives in double crochet. Needle and hook sizes are the most commonly used sizes for each category, not rules. Yards per 100 grams come from retailer charts rather than CYC, and fiber content changes them a lot. The categories span a wide range, from lace at 30 to 40 wraps per inch down to jumbo at only 1 to 4, so the category sets the tools, the stitch count and the hours a project takes. Measure what your own hands produce with the knitting gauge calculator. To swap one yarn for another, try the yarn substitution calculator, see how much yarn each project takes, or read how to choose yarn weight.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common yarn weight?
Worsted weight, CYC category 4, is the one most patterns and most yarn aisles are built around. It knits at 16 to 20 stitches per 4 inches on 4.5 to 5.5 mm (US 7 to 9) needles and crochets at 11 to 14 single crochet on 5.5 to 6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10.5) hooks, and a 100 gram skein holds about 170 to 230 yards. Bulky (5) and super bulky (6) come next, mostly for blankets.
How do I tell what weight my yarn is if the label is gone?
Wrap the yarn snugly around a ruler with the strands touching but not overlapping, then count the wraps in one inch. Lace runs 30 to 40 or more wraps per inch, worsted 9 to 12, super bulky 5 to 6 and jumbo only 1 to 4. That narrows it to a category or two, and a gauge swatch settles which. The yarn weight chart lists every category with its wraps per inch, gauge and tool sizes.
Can I substitute one yarn weight for another?
Only if you match the pattern gauge, because the category name is not a measurement. Keep a worsted stitch count at 18 stitches per 4 inches, work it in bulky at about 13 instead, and the piece comes out roughly 33 percent wider. Compare yards per 100 grams too, since a heavier yarn covers more area per yard and you will need fewer balls of it. Buy one ball and swatch it before you commit to a sweater quantity.
What yarn weight is best for a blanket?
Worsted and super bulky are the usual picks. A throw takes about 2,250 to 3,125 yards knit in worsted but only 1,625 to 2,000 yards in super bulky, so the heavier yarn is far fewer stitches and hours for the same blanket. Finer yarn gives a lighter, drapier blanket at the cost of time. See how much yarn a throw blanket takes in every weight.
Researched from manufacturer specifications, owner manuals and verified owner reviews, not hands-on testing, and not professional advice. As an Amazon Associate, Cozy Stitchery earns from qualifying purchases.
