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BLOG Nº 31Crochet Hook Size Chart Guide
SageandSilky / The Journal — HANDMADE. ICONIC. REIMAGINED.
HUMAN-MADE CRAFTS IN AN AI WORLD. MAKE SOMETHING REAL. This is the complete crochet hook size chart and selection guide — the reference you come back to when you are reading a pattern, buying yarn, or trying to figure out why your gauge swatch is wrong. Hook sizes are not arbitrary: they are a system, and understanding the system makes every project go faster.
How crochet hook sizing works
Crochet hooks are sized by their diameter at the working end — the shaft, not the tip. The diameter determines how large each stitch loop sits on the hook as you work, which determines the stitch size, which determines the gauge.
Hooks are measured in millimetres (the universal metric standard) and also carry regional letter or number codes. The metric measurement is the one that matters — letter and number codes vary by manufacturer and country, and two hooks labelled “H” can have different millimetre diameters from different brands.
Always use the millimetre size when reading a pattern gauge note. Always measure your hook when in doubt.
The full metric size chart
| Metric (mm) | US Letter/Number | UK/Canadian Old | Common Yarn Weight |
|—|—|—|—|
| 2.0 | B/1 | 14 | Lace / thread |
| 2.25 | B/1 | 13 | Lace / thread |
| 2.5 | — | 12 | Fingering |
| 2.75 | C/2 | — | Fingering / sock |
| 3.0 | — | 11 | Fingering |
| 3.25 | D/3 | 10 | Sport |
| 3.5 | E/4 | 9 | Sport / DK |
| 3.75 | F/5 | — | DK |
| 4.0 | G/6 | 8 | DK / light worsted |
| 4.5 | 7 | 7 | Worsted |
| 5.0 | H/8 | 6 | Worsted |
| 5.5 | I/9 | 5 | Worsted / bulky |
| 6.0 | J/10 | 4 | Bulky |
| 6.5 | K/10.5 | 3 | Bulky |
| 8.0 | L/11 | 0 | Super bulky |
| 9.0 | M/13 | — | Super bulky |
| 10.0 | N/15 | — | Super bulky |
| 12.0 | O/P | — | Jumbo |
| 15.0 | P/Q | — | Jumbo |
| 25.0 | S | — | Arm knit equivalent |
Hook sizes for amigurumi
Amigurumi requires a hook smaller than the yarn’s label recommendation. The reason is fabric density: amigurumi fabric must be tight enough that stuffing does not show through the stitches and that the figure holds its shape under handling.
The standard rule: go one to two hook sizes smaller than the yarn label recommends.
Practical amigurumi hook sizes by yarn weight:
| Yarn weight | Label hook range | Amigurumi hook |
|—|—|—|
| Fingering / sock | 2.25–3.25 mm | 1.75–2.25 mm |
| Sport | 3.25–3.75 mm | 2.5–3.0 mm |
| DK | 3.75–4.5 mm | 3.0–3.5 mm |
| Worsted | 4.5–5.5 mm | 3.5–4.0 mm |
| Bulky | 5.5–6.5 mm | 4.5–5.0 mm |
Every SageandSilky amigurumi PDF specifies the amigurumi hook size, not the yarn-label hook size. The recommended hook in the PDF is the one to use, not the one on the yarn band.
Hook sizes for garments
For garments, use the hook size that produces the specified gauge on a swatch. The yarn label is a starting point, not a specification.
Garment hook selection process:
- Make a 15 × 15 cm swatch in the specified stitch.
- Block the swatch as you would block the finished garment.
- Measure the gauge: how many stitches and rows per 10 cm.
- If your stitch count is higher than the pattern gauge (stitches are smaller), go up one hook size.
- If your stitch count is lower than the pattern gauge (stitches are larger), go down one hook size.
- Swatch again. Repeat until the gauge matches.
The wheat stitch cardigan (https://sageandsilky.com/product/wheat-stitch-cardigan-%c2%b7-xs-5x-crochet-pattern/) and the granny square cardigan (https://sageandsilky.com/product/granny-square-cardigan-%c2%b7-xs-5x-crochet-pattern/) both specify the swatch gauge in the PDF. The graded schematic dimensions are calculated from that gauge — if your gauge does not match, your dimensions will not match.
Hook material and ergonomics
Hook material affects the working experience, not the stitch size. The diameter is the diameter regardless of whether the hook is aluminium, steel, wood, bamboo, or resin.
Aluminium: The standard. Yarn moves smoothly off the shaft, the tip is consistent, and the price is low. The correct choice for most yarn types.
Steel: Used for thread crochet (lace, size 10 thread). Much smaller diameters — the numbering system for steel hooks runs opposite to standard: a higher number means a smaller hook.
Wood and bamboo: Slightly more friction than aluminium, which can help if your yarn is very slippery (silk, some superwash wool). Warm to the touch. Can develop minor surface wear over time.
Ergonomic handled hooks: The handle size and shape do not affect the stitch — only the shaft diameter matters for gauge. Ergonomic handles reduce hand fatigue in long sessions. Recommended for makers who work for more than ninety minutes at a time.
Hook care and gauge drift
A hook that is bent, scratched at the throat, or worn at the tip will produce inconsistent gauge. Inspect your hooks occasionally:
- Bent shaft: Aluminium hooks can bend in a bag. A bent shaft changes the effective stitch depth. Replace rather than straighten.
- Scratched throat: The throat is the indented part between the tip and the shaft. A scratch on the throat catches yarn and creates drag. Light sanding with 600-grit sandpaper removes minor scratches on aluminium.
- Loose tip (ergonomic hooks): Some ergonomic hooks have a replaceable shaft system. A loose tip creates wobble. Tighten the connection point or replace the shaft.
FAQ
My pattern says “3.5 mm” but my hook says “E.” Are they the same?
Not necessarily. The US letter “E” corresponds to 3.5 mm on most US-made hooks, but not all. Always verify the metric diameter stamped on the hook shaft or handle. If there is no metric marking, use a hook gauge (a small metal plate with labelled holes) to measure it.
Can I use the same hook for amigurumi and garments?
Yes, if the diameter is appropriate for both. Amigurumi in DK weight requires a 3.0–3.5 mm hook; a DK garment gauge typically requires 3.75–4.0 mm. They are different hooks. Keep a range.
What hook does SageandSilky recommend for beginner amigurumi?
A 3.5 mm aluminium hook with worsted cotton is the combination we use most often across the amigurumi PDF catalog. The Jigglypuff pattern (https://sageandsilky.com/product/jigglypuff-crochet-pattern-low-sew-amigurumi-pdf/) is a good calibration make — the sphere is unforgiving of gauge error and will tell you immediately if your hook size needs adjusting.
From this guide to the patterns
Understanding hook size removes one of the two main failure modes of pattern work (the other is the gauge swatch, covered in https://sageandsilky.com/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern/). The patterns in the catalog — from the Jigglypuff sphere (https://sageandsilky.com/product/jigglypuff-crochet-pattern-low-sew-amigurumi-pdf/) to the wheat stitch cardigan (https://sageandsilky.com/product/wheat-stitch-cardigan-%c2%b7-xs-5x-crochet-pattern/) — all specify the hook size that produces the result shown.
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