Yarn Weight Chart and Conversion Guide
Yarn weight describes thickness, not the physical weight of a ball. A 100 g skein may be lace, DK, worsted or bulky depending on how much yarn it contains and how the yarn is constructed.
The table below is a practical translation between the Craft Yarn Council’s 0–7 system and common names. Terms vary by manufacturer and country, so use the label gauge and length per weight as well as the category.
| Number | Standard category | Common names | Substitution note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace | Lace, thread, light fingering | Large variation in fibre and halo; compare metres per gram. |
| 1 | Super Fine | Fingering, sock, 4 ply | Sock yarn structure and elasticity matter as much as thickness. |
| 2 | Fine | Sport, baby, 5 ply | Often between fingering and DK; check the stated gauge. |
| 3 | Light | DK, light worsted, 8 ply | DK ranges widely; compare length per 100 g. |
| 4 | Medium | Worsted, aran, 10 ply | Worsted and aran may not be identical despite sharing a category. |
| 5 | Bulky | Chunky, bulky, 12 ply | Loft can make two similarly weighted yarns produce different fabric. |
| 6 | Super Bulky | Super chunky, roving | Small gauge differences become large quickly. |
| 7 | Jumbo | Jumbo, ultra thick | Often intended for very large tools or hand crafting. |
Why UK, US and Australian terms can be confusing
US labels commonly use fingering, sport, DK, worsted and bulky. UK and Australian patterns may use ply terms such as 4 ply or 8 ply. Ply originally described construction, and modern usage does not always indicate the literal number of plies. Treat the translation as an approximate starting point.
How to compare two yarns in the same category
- Compare metres per 100 g or yards per ounce.
- Compare the label gauge range.
- Check fibre composition and elasticity.
- Check whether the yarn is smooth, brushed, chained or loosely spun.
- Make and wash a gauge swatch in the project stitch.
Can you substitute a different yarn weight?
Sometimes, especially for scarves, blankets or simple rectangles. For fitted projects, changing weight normally changes gauge, fabric and finished dimensions. It may require new stitch counts rather than a simple yarn swap.
Holding two strands together can create a thicker fabric, but there is no universal formula that guarantees the same gauge or behaviour. Swatch the actual combination.
Reference: Standard Yarn Weight System.
Comparing two yarn labels?
Use weight category, length per weight and gauge together.