Remember when sizing your needles that there can be small inconsistencies between manufacturers. Also, converting from US or UK to metric is not always exact. Look for the closest match to what the pattern calls for, and more importantly, choose the needle that helps you get the right stitch gauge!
To check the metric or US size of your current needles, use my needle gauge and ruler.
The knitting needle conversion chart, also known as a needle gauge chart, shows the equivalent sizes for needles in different systems.
The US column shows current US standards for needle sizes based on the standards of the Craft Yarn Council.
The second is the same needle sizes under the metric needle system, with needle diameter measured in millimeters (mm).
The third and fourth are older US systems. You may come across these in pre-1950 pattern books and pamphlets released by yarn companies. Standard refers to the system using standard needles, while DPN refers to the steel double-pointed needles system of measurement.
Finally, the UK needle sizes are given in the last column.
The second knitting needle conversion chart shows the conversions from Japanese needle sizes to metric (millimeters). These are given in a conversion chart because they do not match North American and European needle sizes.
| US | Metric | US Old (Standard) |
US Old (DPN) |
UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/0 | 0.50 | -- | -- | 24 |
| 6/0 | 0.75 | -- | -- | 22 |
| -- | -- | -- | -- | 20 |
| 5/0 | 1.00 | -- | 18.00 | 19 |
| -- | 1.13 | -- | 17.00 | -- |
| 4/0 | 1.25 | -- | 16.00 | 18 |
| 000 | 1.50 | -- | 15.00 | 17 |
| -- | -- | -- | -- | 16 |
| 00 | 1.75 | -- | 14.00 | 15 |
| 0 | 2.00 | -- | 13.00 | 14 |
| 1 | 2.25 | -- | 12.00 | -- |
| 1 | 2.50 | 1.00 | -- | 13 |
| 2 | 2.75 | 2.00 | 11.00 | 12 |
| 2 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 10.00 | 11 |
| 3 | 3.50 | -- | -- | 10 |
| 4 | 3.50 | 4.00 | 9.00 | -- |
| 5 | 3.75 | 5.00 | 8.00 | 9 |
| 6 | 4.00 | -- | -- | 8 |
| -- | 4.25 | 6.00 | -- | -- |
| 7 | 4.50 | -- | -- | 7 |
| -- | 4.75 | 7.00 | -- | -- |
| 8 | 5.00 | 8.00 | -- | 6 |
| -- | 5.25 | 9.00 | -- | -- |
| 9 | 5.50 | -- | -- | 5 |
| -- | 5.75 | 10.00 | -- | -- |
| 10 | 6.00 | -- | -- | 4 |
| 10.5 | 6.50 | 10.50 | -- | 3 |
| -- | 7.00 | -- | -- | 2 |
| -- | 7.50 | -- | -- | 1 |
| 11 | 8.00 | -- | -- | 0 |
| 13 | 9.00 | -- | -- | 00 |
| 15 | 10.00 | -- | -- | 000 |
| 17 | 12.50 | -- | -- | -- |
| 18 | 14.00 | -- | -- | -- |
| 19 | 15.50 | -- | -- | -- |
| 35 | 19.00 | -- | -- | -- |
| 50 | 25.00 | -- | -- | -- |
| Japanese | Metric |
|---|---|
| 0 | 2.1 |
| 1 | 2.4 |
| 2 | 2.7 |
| 3 | 3.0 |
| 4 | 3.3 |
| 5 | 3.6 |
| 6 | 3.9 |
| 7 | 4.2 |
| 8 | 4.5 |
| 9 | 4.8 |
| 10 | 5.1 |
| 11 | 5.4 |
| 12 | 5.7 |
| 13 | 6.0 |
| 14 | 6.3 |
| 15 | 6.6 |