Bulky Weight Yarn (Chunky, CYC 5): Needle Size, Hook Size and Gauge
Bulky weight yarn, CYC 5, knits at 12 to 15 stitches per 4 inches on 5.5 to 8 mm needles and crochets at 8 to 11 single crochet on 6.5 to 9 mm hooks. It measures 6 to 9 wraps per inch and runs about 100 to 170 yards per 100 grams.
Yarn weight means the thickness of the strand, not how heavy the ball is. The Craft Yarn Council (CYC) numbers its categories from 0 for lace to 7 for jumbo, and bulky weight yarn is category 5. Labels also call it Chunky, Craft, Rug. Its typical projects are quick blankets, cowls, hats, rugs, outerwear sweaters.
| CYC category | 5 (Bulky) |
|---|---|
| Other names | Chunky, Craft, Rug |
| Wraps per inch | 6 to 9 |
| Knit gauge (stockinette, per 4 in) | 12 to 15 stitches |
| Recommended needles | 5.5 to 8 mm (US 9 to 11) |
| Crochet gauge (per 4 in) | 8 to 11 single crochet |
| Recommended hooks | 6.5 to 9 mm (K-10.5 to M-13) |
| Yards per 100 g (retailer charts) | 100 to 170 |
What size knitting needles do you use for bulky weight yarn?
CYC recommends 5.5 to 8 mm (US 9 to 11) needles for bulky weight yarn. Every size below falls inside that range. Start in the middle and change size until your swatch matches the pattern gauge; each size links to its own page with cast-on estimates.
| Needle | Metric | US | Old UK | Also suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 9 | 5.5 mm | 9 | 5 | medium (worsted) |
| US 10 | 5.75 mm | 10 | None | Only this weight |
| US 10 | 6 mm | 10 | 4 | Only this weight |
| US 10.5 | 6.5 mm | 10.5 | 3 | Only this weight |
| 7 mm | 7 mm | None | 2 | Only this weight |
| 7.5 mm | 7.5 mm | None | 1 | Only this weight |
| US 11 | 8 mm | 11 | 0 | super bulky |
What size crochet hook do you use for bulky weight yarn?
CYC recommends 6.5 to 9 mm (K-10.5 to M-13) hooks for bulky weight yarn, at 8 to 11 single crochet per 4 inches. The smallest recommended hook is 1 mm off the smallest recommended needle, because crochet fabric is denser than knitting.
| Hook | Metric | Old UK | Also suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-10.5 | 6.5 mm | 3 | medium (worsted) |
| 7 mm | 7 mm | 2 | Only this weight |
| L-11 | 8 mm | 0 | Only this weight |
| M/N-13 | 9 mm | 00 | super bulky |
How much bulky weight yarn do you need for a project?
These are planning ranges from published yardage guides for bulky weight yarn. Crochet figures run 25 to 33 percent above knitting. Skeins assume 100 gram skeins at 100 to 170 yards each.
| Project | Knit (yd) | Crochet (yd) | 100 g skeins, knit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Hat | 125 to 200 | 150 to 275 | 1 to 2 |
| Mittens | 100 to 150 | 125 to 200 | 1 to 2 |
| Scarf | 250 to 375 | 325 to 500 | 2 to 4 |
| Adult Socks | 250 to 350 | 325 to 475 | 2 to 4 |
| Shawl | 350 to 500 | 450 to 675 | 3 to 5 |
| Adult Sweater | 950 to 1,125 | 1,200 to 1,500 | 6 to 12 |
| Baby Blanket | 875 to 1,000 | 1,100 to 1,325 | 6 to 10 |
| Throw Blanket | 2,000 to 2,250 | 2,500 to 3,000 | 12 to 23 |
| Twin Size Blanket | 3,650 to 4,100 | 4,550 to 5,450 | 22 to 41 |
| Full Size Blanket | 4,450 to 5,000 | 5,550 to 6,650 | 27 to 50 |
| Queen Size Blanket | 5,550 to 6,250 | 6,950 to 8,300 | 33 to 63 |
| King Size Blanket | 6,650 to 7,500 | 8,300 to 10,000 | 40 to 75 |
Tools and yarn for bulky weight yarn
Lykke Driftwood 5 inch Interchangeable Circular Needle Set, US 4 to 17
$138.97Twelve pairs of 5 inch birch tips from US 4 to 17 (3.5 to 12 mm), reaching past the 10 mm top of most sets.
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Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook Set, US D to K
$16.79Eight color-coded aluminum hooks from 3.125 to 6.5 mm, an inexpensive way to own every common size.
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Authentic Knitting Board 38 inch Adjustable Blanket Loom
$69.99A 38 inch solid hardwood loom with 170 pegs, 84 of them double, for wide panels such as blankets.
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How many stitches do you cast on with bulky weight yarn?
These counts use the full CYC gauge range for bulky weight yarn: 12 to 15 stitches per 4 inches knit and 8 to 11 single crochet crocheted. Knit hat counts are rounded to a multiple of 4 for ribbing, and crochet counts add 1 turning chain. Treat them as estimates and swatch first.
| Piece | Knit stitches | Crochet starting chain |
|---|---|---|
| Hat, 20 in around | 60 to 76 | 41 to 56 |
| Scarf, 8 in wide | 24 to 30 | 17 to 23 |
| Baby blanket, 42 in wide | 126 to 158 | 85 to 117 |
| Throw, 50 in wide | 150 to 188 | 101 to 139 |
| Queen blanket, 90 in wide | 270 to 338 | 181 to 249 |
How do you identify bulky weight yarn by wraps per inch?
Wraps per inch (WPI) tells you the weight of an unlabeled yarn. Wrap it snugly around a ruler with the strands touching but not overlapping, count the wraps in one inch, and compare with the CYC ranges. Bulky yarn measures 6 to 9 wraps per inch.
| CYC weight | WPI | Knit gauge per 4 in | Yards per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 lace | 30 to 40 or more | 33 to 40 | 600 or more |
| 1 super fine (fingering) | 14 to 30 | 27 to 32 | 380 to 600 |
| 2 fine (sport) | 12 to 18 | 23 to 26 | 300 to 380 |
| 3 light (DK) | 11 to 15 | 21 to 24 | 230 to 300 |
| 4 medium (worsted) | 9 to 12 | 16 to 20 | 170 to 230 |
| 5 bulky (chunky) | 6 to 9 | 12 to 15 | 100 to 170 |
| 6 super bulky | 5 to 6 | 7 to 11 | under 100 |
| 7 jumbo | 1 to 4 | 6 or fewer | Not published |
Can you substitute bulky weight yarn for another yarn weight?
You can, as long as you match gauge. The last column shows what happens if you keep a pattern's stitch count for chunky yarn at 13.5 stitches per 4 inches but knit the neighboring weight at the middle of its CYC gauge range.
| Weight | Knit gauge per 4 in | Needles | Same stitch count comes out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (worsted) | 16 to 20 | 4.5 to 5.5 mm (US 7 to 9) | about 25 percent narrower |
| Bulky (chunky) | 12 to 15 | 5.5 to 8 mm (US 9 to 11) | This weight |
| Super bulky | 7 to 11 | 8 to 12.75 mm (US 11 to 17) | about 50 percent wider |
Estimates, not promises
Planning estimates only. The yardage stated on the pattern always wins. Buy 10 to 15 percent extra, from the same dye lot. The yarn substitution calculator works out how many skeins of a different yarn you need.
Frequently asked questions
What size knitting needles do you use for bulky weight yarn?
The Craft Yarn Council lists 5.5 to 8 mm (US 9 to 11) needles for bulky weight yarn, which is CYC category 5. Those are the most commonly used sizes, not a rule. Go down a size if your swatch has fewer stitches per 4 inches than the pattern, and up a size if it has more. Loose knitters often start one size smaller than the label suggests.
What size crochet hook do you use for bulky weight yarn?
CYC lists 6.5 to 9 mm (K-10.5 to M-13) hooks for bulky weight yarn, at a typical gauge of 8 to 11 single crochet per 4 inches. The smallest recommended hook is 1 mm larger than the smallest recommended knitting needle, because crochet fabric is denser. Many yarn labels print both a needle and a hook suggestion, and your gauge swatch has the final say.
What is the knitting gauge for bulky weight yarn?
CYC gives 12 to 15 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette on 5.5 to 8 mm (US 9 to 11) needles. At 13.5 stitches per 4 inches, a 20 inch wide piece needs about 68 stitches and a 20 inch hat about 68. Your hands, the fiber and the stitch pattern all shift gauge, so knit a 6 inch swatch, wash it and measure the center.
How many wraps per inch is bulky weight yarn?
Bulky weight yarn measures 6 to 9 wraps per inch (WPI) on the CYC scale. Wrap the yarn snugly around a ruler, strands touching but not overlapping, and count the wraps in one inch. The range overlaps medium (worsted) and super bulky, so an unlabeled yarn near the edge needs a gauge swatch to confirm. Fuzzy yarns read thicker than they knit.
How much bulky weight yarn do I need for a blanket?
Published planning ranges put a throw blanket at about 2,000 to 2,250 yards to knit and 2,500 to 3,000 yards to crochet in bulky weight yarn. That is 12 to 23 skeins of 100 grams for knitting. A queen size blanket takes about 5,550 to 6,250 yards knit. Pattern yardage always wins, and buy 10 to 15 percent extra from one dye lot.
What can I substitute for bulky weight yarn?
The nearest weights are medium (worsted) and super bulky. If you work a pattern written for chunky at 13.5 stitches per 4 inches with super bulky yarn at its typical gauge, the piece comes out about 50 percent wider. Match the pattern gauge with a swatch, not the weight name, and compare yards per 100 grams so you buy enough.
How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.