Yarn Weight Chart
Yarn weight describes how thick a yarn is, on a scale from 0 (lace) to 7 (jumbo). Worsted is a number 4, medium weight. Use the chart below to compare names, UK and Australian ply, knitting gauge, needle and hook sizes, and wraps per inch, or find a weight from your own wraps per inch.
Yarn weights 0 to 7
| # | Name | Common names | UK / AU ply | Knit gauge per 4 in | Needle (mm / US) | Hook (mm / US) | Wraps per inch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace | lace, light fingering, crochet thread | 2-ply | 33-40 sts | 1.5-2.25 / 000-1 | steel 1.4-1.6, or 2.25 / steel 6-8, or B-1 | 30-40+ |
| 1 | Super Fine | fingering, sock, baby | 3-4 ply | 27-32 sts | 2.25-3.25 / 1-3 | 2.25-3.5 / B-1 to E-4 | 14-30 |
| 2 | Fine | sport, baby | 5 ply | 23-26 sts | 3.25-3.75 / 3-5 | 3.5-4.5 / E-4 to #7 | 12-18 |
| 3 | Light | DK, light worsted | 8 ply | 21-24 sts | 3.75-4.5 / 5-7 | 4.5-5.5 / #7 to I-9 | 11-15 |
| 4 | Medium | worsted, afghan, aran | 10 ply | 16-20 sts | 4.5-5.5 / 7-9 | 5.5-6.5 / I-9 to K-10.5 | 9-12 |
| 5 | Bulky | chunky, craft, rug | 12 ply | 12-15 sts | 5.5-8 / 9-11 | 6.5-9 / K-10.5 to M/N-13 | 6-9 |
| 6 | Super Bulky | super bulky, roving | 14 ply | 7-11 sts | 8-12.75 / 11-17 | 9-15 / M/N-13 to Q | 5-6 |
| 7 | Jumbo | jumbo, roving | - | 6 sts and fewer | 12.75 and up / 17 and up | 15 and up / Q and up | 4 and fewer |
Last reviewed October 23, 2026. Reference: the Craft Yarn Council standard yarn weight system, shown here in our own table. Ply names differ by country and brand, so the ply column is a guide. Wraps-per-inch ranges overlap on purpose. Need a hook? See the crochet hook size chart. Need needles? See the knitting needle size chart.
Find a weight from wraps per inch
How to find a yarn's weight without a label
- Wrap the yarn snugly around a ruler for one inch, with no overlaps.
- Count the number of wraps in that inch.
- Enter the number in the wraps-per-inch finder.
- Knit or crochet a small swatch.
- Compare your stitches per 4 inches with the gauge column in the chart.
Yarn substitution helper
Swap one yarn for another by matching yardage, not ball count. Enter what the pattern asks for and the yardage of your new yarn.
Worked example
The pattern wants 8 balls of 220 yd. That is 8 × 220 = 1,760 yd (1,609.3 m). Your new yarn has 180 yd per ball, so you need ceil(1,760 ÷ 180) = ceil(9.78) = 10 balls. Match the weight number, swatch for gauge, and buy one extra ball in case dye lots differ.
Worsted weight yarn
Worsted is the everyday name for a number 4 medium yarn. It sits between DK and bulky, and it is a popular pick for sweaters, hats and blankets. Labels also call this range aran or afghan. Because names shift between brands and countries, trust the weight number and your gauge swatch.
Frequently asked questions
What are the yarn weights in order of thickness?
From thinnest to thickest, the standard system runs: 0 lace, 1 super fine, 2 fine, 3 light, 4 medium, 5 bulky, 6 super bulky and 7 jumbo. Lace and fingering sit at the thin end, worsted is in the middle at 4, and chunky and roving are at the thick end. The chart above shows each step with its common names.
How do you figure out what weight your yarn is?
Check the label first: most list a number from 0 to 7, a name, a suggested gauge and a needle size. With no label, wrap the yarn around a ruler for one inch, count the wraps, and use the finder above. You can also knit a small swatch and compare its stitches per four inches with the gauge column.
What does #4 yarn mean?
A number 4 yarn is medium weight, which most knitters and crocheters call worsted. It usually knits at about 16 to 20 stitches over four inches on needles around 4.5 to 5.5 mm, and it pairs with hooks of roughly 5.5 to 6.5 mm. Aran and afghan yarns are sold under the same number.
How can you identify yarn weight without a label?
Use wraps per inch. Wind the yarn snugly around a ruler or pencil for one inch without overlapping, count the wraps, and enter the number in the finder above. For example, 9 to 12 wraps points to a number 4 medium yarn. Because the ranges overlap, confirm with a swatch before you start a big project.
What is worsted weight yarn?
Worsted weight is the common name for a number 4 medium yarn, a popular choice for sweaters, blankets and hats. It sits between DK and bulky. Labels also use the names aran and afghan for this range, and ply counts vary by country, so rely on the weight number and the gauge, not the name alone.
How do I substitute one yarn for another?
Pick a yarn in the same weight number, then match yardage rather than ball count. Multiply the balls the pattern asks for by the yards in each ball, divide that total by the yards in your new ball, and round up. Swatch first, because fiber and twist change gauge and drape. The helper above does the math.