Crochet Hook Size Chart

If you are in Australia for example, most crochet hooks are marked with both the metric size and the UK/Canadian sizes, but if you are buying crochet hooks manufactured in the United States the manufacturer will have used the US sizes. A crochet hook size chart can help avoid any confusion by comparing the different sizing in each jurisdiction.

In other words, a size 2 in one country is not necessarily the same size as a size 2 in another country!

I tend to use metric sizes as no matter where you are 2.0mm is still 2.0mm, and here in Australia, most of the patterns you buy will list both the metric size and the equivalent United Kingdom and/or Canadian size. The size of your crochet hook, along with the weight of the thread you use for your crochet projects will determine the overall size of your project. The finer the hook you use, the smaller the end product will be.

Another good tip, is that not all crochet hook sizing is uniform.  If you have hooks that are supposedly the same size but from two or more different manufacturers, the sizing might not be exactly the same.  Using different hooks that are supposed to be the same size (but aren't) can impact on your finished project.

I usually advise beginners to pick a brand and stick with that pick rather than buy from many different brands.  That way the different sizes of your hooks will at least be in proportion to each other.

A Handy Crochet Hook Size Chart

As a general guide for selecting your hook size if your yarn is:

• Fine Crochet Cotton - use 0.60mm to 1.75mm hooks
• Two or Three Ply - use a hook 2.00mm or smaller
• Four Ply Wool - use 2.75mm or 3.25mm hooks
• Double Knit or Eight Ply Wool - use 3.25mm or 4.0mm hooks
• Triple Knit or Twelve Ply Wool - use 5.0mm or 6.0mm hooks

Not all Hooks are Created Equal

As I mentioned above, one thing I have noticed over the years is that you can have several hooks that are supposed to be the same size but are actually quite different.  I have hooks from several different sources, some are from cheap sets sourced from China, others are expensive hooks that I purchased from craft shops here in Australia and I also have a set that I inherited from my Grandmother.

I have found that the sizing between different hooks is not always consistent.  For example I was working on a knee blanket for my grandson and I lost the hook I was using (it was a 4.0mm) so I grabbed another hook that was the same size - or at least if was supposed to be the same size - and continued working on the blanket.  After a couple of rows I noticed that the crochet fabric was much tighter in the new section than the part of the blanket that was made using the original hook.

This is also important if your pattern requires you to use more than one sized hook.  If you use hooks from different sets or manufacturers it is likely that the sizing will be in a different proportion to the hooks used by the designer when he or she was creating the pattern. This can create issues if a section of your project is smaller (or larger) than it should be.

The way to manage this is to pick your brand or style of hook, and only buy from that set.  I use Addi Swing ergonomic crochet hooks and I have a full set from 1.25mm up to 7.00mm.  (They also have an 8.00mm hook - but I haven't needed on this large as yet).  These hooks range between $20 - $28 each, so the full set is not exactly cheap but the sizing is consistent across the set and I have a hook that is suitable for pretty much anything I want to make.

Think of it as an investment.  Crocheting is a great pastime and if you spend more to buy quality crochet hooks in a range of sizes, they will last you a lifetime.