Knitting Needle Size Chart: Types & Comparisons
As a new knitter, it is important to have a good understanding of knitting needles, as well as the different sizes of knitting needles that are available. Use this post to learn about knitting needles, how to choose the best knitting needle size for a pattern, plus take a look at some FAQs below that might help answer some questions you have about knitting needles.
Types of Knitting Needles
Knitting needles are available in a wide variety of sizes (length & width), shapes, and materials; from wood, plastic, and metal. Learn more about the types of needles as well as the different lengths, shapes, and materials of knitting needles below.
Needle Types
Needle Materials
Knitting Needle Size Charts
Below you’ll find the knitting needle size charts for US to UK conversions and Japanese needle sizes as well.
Knitting Needle Sizes Chart US to UK
| Metric Size (mm) | US Size | UK Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mm | 00000 | 19 |
| 1.25 mm | 0000 | 18 |
| 1.5 mm | 000 | 17 |
| 1.75 mm | 00 | – |
| 2 mm | 0 | 14 |
| 2.25 mm | 1 | 13 |
| 2.5 mm | – | – |
| 2.75 mm | 2 | 12 |
| 3 mm | – | 11 |
| 3.25 mm | 3 | 10 |
| 3.5 mm | 4 | – |
| 3.75 mm | 5 | 9 |
| 4 mm | 6 | 8 |
| 4.5 mm | 7 | 7 |
| 5 mm | 8 | 6 |
| 5.5 mm | 9 | 5 |
| 6 mm | 10 | 4 |
| 6.5 mm | 10.5 | 3 |
| 7 mm | – | 2 |
| 7.5 mm | – | 1 |
| 8 mm | 11 | 0 |
| 9 mm | 13 | 0 |
| 10 mm | 15 | 0 |
| 12 mm | 17 | – |
| 16 mm | 19 | – |
| 19 mm | 35 | – |
| 25 mm | 50 | – |
| 35 mm | 70 | – |
Knitting Needle Size Chart Metric to Japanese
| Metric Size (mm) | Japanese Size |
|---|---|
| 2.1 mm | 0 |
| 2.4 mm | 1 |
| 2.7 mm | 2 |
| 3.0 mm | 3 |
| 3.3 mm | 4 |
| 3.6 mm | 5 |
| 3.9 mm | 6 |
| 4.2 mm | 7 |
| 4.5 mm | 8 |
| 4.8 mm | 9 |
| 5.1 mm | 10 |
| 5.4 mm | 11 |
| 5.7 mm | 12 |
| 6 mm | 13 |
| 6.3 mm | 14 |
| 6.6 mm | 15 |
How to Determine What Size Knitting Needle to Use
Knitting needles come in many sizes and types, so figuring out what size knitting needle to use can be confusing. They are always referenced in either the US, Japanese, UK or Metric sizes, which you can learn more about above with our conversion chart. Learning about knitting needles will help you as a knitter determine what size knitting needle is best for a pattern, as well as what type of needle is best to use. Use the three methods below to help decide which needle size is best for the project you are working on.
What Knitting Needles are Best for Beginners?
When you start knitting, it is important to choose the right needles. There are a few things to consider when choosing needles such as the yarn weight, size, and type of knitting. For example, thicker yarns require larger needles. My choice for beginners are knitting needles made of bamboo or wood because it is harder for knitting projects to slide off them.
There are many types of knitting needles available on the market; it is essential to find one that works best for you. Take a look at a few sets of knitting needles that I recommend below that are great for beginner knitters to start with.
Common Questions about Knitting Needles
Where is the best place to store knitting needles?
The best place to keep knitting needles safe and secure are in a knitting needle case, needle roll, flat storage drawer or a storage cup like a mason jar. You can experiment with what is best for you, or use a combination of the above storage options for your knitting needles.
My knitting needle doesn’t have a size listed. What is my knitting needle size?
You can use a knitting and crochet tool called a swatch ruler and needle gauge. It uses notches to determine the size of knitting needle as well as helps with determine the gauge of your project. The gauge tool has needle sizes listed in metric, US, and standard Japanese sizes.
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