Types of Crochet Hooks

There are numerous types of crochet hooks, and which you should use, will be purely based on preference. How they feel in your hand and how they work with the yarn varies by style, shape, and material it’s made from.

Crochet Hook Style

The first thing you will want to figure out is your preference for the “head” of the hook. There are two main shapes which are represented by the two most well-known brands of hooks – Susan Bates and Boye. A Boye style hook head is slighted raised out and has a tapered neck and a smooth contoured hook. The Susan Bates style head is in line with the shaft with a more defined notch for the hook.

Which style you prefer may take some testing – and may also change depending on the type of yarn you are working with. I prefer the Susan Bates style head as for my style of crocheting, it hooks the yarn more and doesn’t slide as much. Other crocheters prefer the Boye style because of the ease of the stitches sliding off the hook. This will be a factor you will have to determine for yourself as to which you prefer.

Crochet Hook Material

Crochet hooks are made out of just about anything you can think of. There are even epoxy molds you can buy to make your own custom hooks with resin. Most basic hooks are made out of aluminum, bamboo, or plastic. Thread size crochet hooks are typically made of steel.

What you use will just be personal preference. Each material has its own weight and feel. I prefer a bit of weight to my hooks, while other crocheters find the heavier hooks uncomfortable to work with and cumbersome.

Crochet Hook Handles

Basic hooks have a thumb rest on a straight shaft, which may not work best for you and your hands. On Susan Bates style hooks the thumb rest is closer to the hook end than it is on Boye hooks. There are also ergonomic handled hooks or even needle cushions you can slide over your hooks. Some people even create form fit polymer clay handle covers. Figure out what’s a good fit for your hand and won’t cause any frustration with your grip or pain in your hands while crocheting.

Crochet Hook Sizes

Sizing on crochet hooks differs between the US and the UK. Hooks will list up to three different sizes on the shaft needle – a letter, a number (corresponds with the knitting needle of the same diameter), and a millimeter measurement.

Standard Crochet Hook Sizes

Sizes listed in chart below that have an asterisk * can vary depending on brand.

Metric Needle Diameter EU/UK Crochet Hook Size	US Crochet Hook Size	US Knitting Needle Size
2 mm		
2.25 mm	B	1
2.5 mm		
2.75 mm	C	2
3 mm		
3.25 mm	D	3
3.5 mm	E	4
3.75 mm	F	5
4 mm	G	6
4.5 mm		7
5 mm	H	8
5.5 mm	I	9
6 mm	J	10
6.5 mm	K	10.5
7 mm		
8 mm	L	11
9 mm	M/N *	13
10 mm	N/P *	15
12.75 mm		17
15 mm	P/Q *	19
16 mm	Q *	
19 mm	S	35
20 mm	U	50

Steel Thread Crochet Hook Sizes

Sizes listed in chart below that have an asterisk * can vary depending on brand.

Metric Needle Diameter Crochet Hook Size	US Crochet Hook Size	UK/Canada Crochet Hook Size
3.5 mm	00	
3.25 mm	0	0
2.75 mm	1	1
2.25 mm	2	1.5
2.1 mm	3	2
2 mm	4	2.5
1.9 mm	5	3
1.8 mm	6	3.5
1.65 mm	7	4
1.5 mm	8	4.5
1.4 mm	9	5
1.3 mm	10	5.5
1.1 mm	11	6
1 mm	12	6.5
0.85 mm	13	7
0.75 mm	14	

Crochet hook sizes listed in patterns are guidelines because they are based on that particular designer’s tension and hook style choice. For accuracy, always make a gauge swatch prior to starting a project to get the right size and change your hook size to match the pattern’s gauge. Over time your tension may fluctuate, so what was the right size hook before may not be the right size hook now for you to use.

Specialty Crochet Hooks

Tunisian Crochet Hook (Afghan Hook)

There are three types of standard Tunisian hooks – straight (look like a knitting needle with a crochet hook end), afghan (have a long cord at the end of the shaft), or interchangeable hook sets (they have a screw end to swap out various length cords).

Cro-Hook

A Cro-Hook is a specialty Tunisian crochet hook that has a crochet hook end on both ends of the needle. It is used in double sided crocheting and certain Tunisian crochet patterns for its ease of changing colors of yarn from either end of the needle.

Miscellaneous and Novelty Crochet Hooks

There are crochet hooks with lights, hooks that are the entire shaft is illuminated, hand carved hooks, interchangeable hook handles, etc.

What Crochet Hook Should You Choose?

Whatever one you like and works best for you, or be like me and collect ALL of them. You can never have too many crochet hooks.