Yarn Weight from Gauge Calculator

How to use

1. Pick Knitting or Crochet, then measure or read your stitch gauge over 4 inches (10 cm) — stockinette for knitting, single crochet for crochet.
2. Enter that number.
3. Read the yarn-weight category it falls into, with the standard gauge range for that weight.
4. Use it to pick a substitute yarn, or to sanity-check a mystery yarn against a pattern.

Good to know

• Gauge is the most reliable weight signal because it reflects how the yarn actually knits up, not just its thickness on the ball.
• The Sport and DK ranges overlap slightly (23–24 sts); a gauge there is reported as both weights — either can work, so swatch to be sure which suits your fabric.
• Switch the calculator to Crochet to read the standard single-crochet bands instead of knit stockinette. The crochet bands overlap heavily, so a crochet gauge often fits two neighbouring weights — the result says so rather than picking one for you.

FAQ

Why use gauge instead of just the ball band?

Ball bands sometimes lack a weight category, or you have wound-off yarn with no band. Gauge is measured from the yarn itself, so it works even when the label is gone.

My gauge sits between two weights — which is right?

The categories are rough bands and the Sport/DK ranges overlap. When a gauge could be either, this calculator lists every weight it fits, headlined by the finest; swatch with your needles to confirm which suits your fabric.

Is this knitting or crochet gauge?

Either — pick with the Knitting / Crochet toggle. Knitting reads stockinette stitches per 4 inches; crochet reads single crochet per 4 inches, which is the gauge the standard publishes. Lace weight is only listed in double crochet, so it is left out of the crochet answer.