Yarn Weight & Gauge Conversion Reference
Yarn-weight categories overlap, and the same yarn can be labelled differently in the UK, US, and Australia. This reference cross-walks the common names alongside their typical gauge in stockinette over 4 inches (10 cm).
Recommended A printable technique cheat-sheet for your knitting bag.
Reference table
| Weight | CYC | UK name | Sts/4 in | Needle metric | Needle US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lace | 0 | 1-ply / 2-ply | 32–42 | 1.5–2.25 mm | 000–1 |
| Fingering | 1 | 4-ply / sock | 27–32 | 2.25–3.25 mm | 1–3 |
| Sport | 2 | 5-ply | 23–26 | 3.25–3.75 mm | 3–5 |
| DK | 3 | DK / 8-ply | 21–24 | 3.75–4.5 mm | 5–7 |
| Worsted | 4 | 10-ply (close) | 16–20 | 4.5–5.5 mm | 7–9 |
| Aran | 4 | Aran / 10-ply | 16–18 | 5.0–6.0 mm | 8–10 |
| Bulky | 5 | Chunky | 12–15 | 5.5–8.0 mm | 9–11 |
| Super Bulky | 6 | Super Chunky | 7–11 | 8.0–12.75 mm | 11–17 |
| Jumbo | 7 | — | ≤ 6 | ≥ 12.75 mm | 17+ |
Tips
- Wraps per inch (WPI) — the number of times a yarn can be wrapped around a ruler over one inch — is a quick way to compare unlabelled yarns.
- Two strands of fingering held together approximate a worsted; two strands of DK approximate a chunky.
- When in doubt, swatch in the actual stitch pattern at three needle sizes and pick the fabric you like.
In depth
The Craft Yarn Council CYC numbers (0–7) appear inside a small skein-shaped icon on most modern yarn ball-bands. The number is your most reliable cross-brand reference — gauge bands vary wildly, but the CYC number is fixed.