# What Size Crochet Hook for Macrame Cord? Chart by Cord Size Source: https://cordandknot.com/blog/crochet-hook-size-for-macrame-cord Published: 2026-10-01 Publisher: Cord and Knot **Short answer:** For 3 mm macrame cord use a **5 to 8 mm** crochet hook (US H-8 to L-11). For 4 mm cord use 6 to 7 mm, and for 5 mm cord **7 to 10 mm**. The small end of each range makes stiff fabric for baskets, the large end a looser fabric for bags. If the label on your cord prints a hook size, follow the label. Macrame cord is thicker and firmer than yarn and has little stretch, so yarn weight charts do not cover it. The numbers here come from two kinds of published sources: the hook size a cord brand prints on its label, and the chart of a crochet pattern blog. They do not match exactly, and this page shows both. Where you land inside a range depends on what you are making and how tightly you crochet, so plan on a short swatch before you start a bag or basket. ## Crochet hook size chart for 2 mm to 6 mm macrame cord Find your cord size, then pick the end of the range that fits the project. A smaller hook makes tighter stitches that hold their shape. A larger hook makes softer fabric with more drape. Buy hooks by the millimeter size: US letters differ between makers, and 7 mm has no US size in the Craft Yarn Council table. Cord sizes in inches are in the [conversion chart](https://cordandknot.com/tools/macrame-cord-conversion-chart). | Cord size | Hook range | US hook sizes | Stiff fabric (baskets) | Looser fabric (bags) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2 mm (5/64 in) | 4 to 5 mm | G-6 to H-8 | 4 mm | 5 mm | | 3 mm (about 1/8 in) | 5 to 8 mm | H-8 to L-11 | 5 to 6 mm | 7 to 8 mm | | 4 mm (about 5/32 in) | 6 to 7 mm | J-10 to K-10 1/2; 7 mm has no US size | 6 mm | 7 mm | | 5 mm (about 3/16 in) | 7 to 10 mm | L-11 to N/P-15; 7 mm has no US size | 7 to 8 mm | 9 to 10 mm | | 6 mm (about 1/4 in) | 8 to 10 mm | L-11 to N/P-15 | 8 mm | 10 mm | Scope: macrame cord of 2 to 6 mm. Ranges combine a cord brand label and a pattern blog chart. US sizes follow the Craft Yarn Council hook table. ## What size crochet hook for 3mm macrame cord? Use a 5 to 8 mm hook. A cord brand label on 3 mm braided cotton cord prints 6 to 8 mm. A pattern blog chart gives 5 to 6 mm for the same thickness. The one size inside both is **6 mm (US J-10)**, which makes it the natural hook to swatch with first. Go down to 5 mm (H-8) if the swatch is floppy and you want a basket that stands up. Go up to 8 mm (L-11) if the fabric is too stiff to fold for a bag. US sizes in this range are H-8 for 5 mm, J-10 for 6 mm, K-10 1/2 for 6.5 mm and L-11 for 8 mm. ## What size crochet hook for 4mm macrame cord? Use a **6 to 7 mm** hook: 6 mm (J-10) for firm fabric, 7 mm for a looser one. This range comes from the pattern blog chart only, because no brand label for 4 mm cord was checked for this page. On 3 mm and 5 mm cord the brand label runs 1 to 2 mm above the blog chart, so a label on 4 mm cord may also print a larger hook. If it does, follow it. For 5 mm cord the range is 7 to 10 mm, and 8 mm (L-11) sits inside both sources. For 6 mm cord the blog chart gives 8 to 10 mm for cord of 6 mm and thicker. For 2 mm cord it gives 4 to 5 mm, which is G-6 to H-8. ## Where the cord label and pattern blogs differ The gap is about 1 to 2 mm. A likely reason is purpose. The label names 6 mm for regular patterns on its 3 mm cord and larger hooks for a looser effect, while the blog chart is written for bags, which want dense fabric that does not sag. Neither is wrong. The label on your cord wins as the starting point, because makers build cord differently: a soft cord and a hard braided cord of the same thickness do not crochet alike. Then let the swatch decide. | Cord size | Cord brand label | Pattern blog chart | In both | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2 mm | not checked | 4 to 5 mm | no label to compare | | 3 mm | 6 to 8 mm | 5 to 6 mm | 6 mm (J-10) | | 4 mm | not checked | 6 to 7 mm | no label to compare | | 5 mm | 8 to 10 mm | 7 to 8 mm | 8 mm (L-11) | | 6 mm | not checked | 8 to 10 mm | no label to compare | Sources: the hook sizes one cord brand prints for its 3 mm and 5 mm cord, and one crochet pattern blog chart. ## Stiff for baskets, looser for bags: choosing inside the range Hook size against cord thickness sets how much air is in the fabric. Baskets and bowls need fabric that holds its shape, so take the small end. Bags and totes need to fold and hang, so take the middle or the large end. A swatch settles it faster than a chart. 1. Start with the hook that sits in both sources, or the middle of the range: 6 mm for 3 mm cord, 8 mm for 5 mm cord. 2. Chain about 12 stitches and work 5 or 6 rows of single crochet. That is enough fabric to judge and uses little cord. 3. Stand the swatch on its edge. If it holds up, the fabric suits a basket. If it folds over, it suits a bag. 4. Change the hook by 1 mm in the direction you need and work a second swatch. Keep the one that matches the project. ## Can you crochet with macrame cord? Which type works best Yes. Macrame cord is a common material for crochet bags and baskets, and it is worked with the same stitches as yarn. Braided cord is the easiest type. Its surface is smooth and closed, so the hook slides over it and cannot split it. Stitches come out even and the fabric keeps its shape. 3 ply cord can be crocheted, but the hook tends to catch between the plies. Single strand cord is soft and untwists as it is worked, so stitches look fuzzier. The [cord types comparison](https://cordandknot.com/blog/macrame-cord-types) explains the three constructions, and the [guide to cord for crochet](https://cordandknot.com/best/best-macrame-cord-for-crochet) lists cords by weight and length per skein. [See all cord sizes in mm and inches](https://cordandknot.com/blog/macrame-cord-size-chart) ## How to crochet with thick macrame cord without tiring your hands Cord does not stretch around the hook the way yarn does, so every stitch takes more force, and more so from 5 mm up. A few habits make it easier. - Use the larger hook in the range. Tight stitches in thick cord are the hardest to pull through. - Choose a hook with a thick or cushioned handle. A wider grip is easier to hold when each stitch needs a firm pull. - Keep the tension loose and let the hook size, not your grip, set the stitch size. - Let the spool turn freely or pull from the center, so the cord feeds without twisting or dragging. - Work in short sessions and stop when your hands feel tired. Note: Buying cord for a crochet pattern: check that the thickness on the spool matches the pattern. A pattern for [3 mm cord](https://cordandknot.com/best/best-3mm-macrame-cord) worked in [5 mm cord](https://cordandknot.com/best/best-5mm-macrame-cord) comes out larger and needs a bigger hook. ## Quick answers Hook sizes are in millimeters with the US size in brackets. All of them are starting points to confirm with a short swatch in your own cord. - **What size crochet hook for 3mm macrame cord?** 5 to 8 mm (H-8 to L-11). Start with 6 mm (J-10). - **What size crochet hook for 4mm macrame cord?** 6 to 7 mm. 6 mm is US J-10. 7 mm has no US size in the standard table. - **Can you use macrame cord to crochet?** Yes. Braided cord is the easiest because the hook cannot split it. - **How to crochet with macrame cord?** Use the usual stitches with a hook 2 to 5 mm wider than the cord, keep the tension loose and swatch first. - **Does crochet with macrame cord need a special hook?** No. A standard hook in the right millimeter size works. A thicker handle helps with thick cord. ## Gear guides for this topic - https://cordandknot.com/best/best-macrame-cord-for-crochet - https://cordandknot.com/best/best-3mm-macrame-cord - https://cordandknot.com/best/best-4mm-macrame-cord - https://cordandknot.com/best/best-5mm-macrame-cord ## Sources - [Craft Yarn Council: Hooks and needles](https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/hooks-and-needles) - [Bobbiny: Braided cord 3 mm product page](https://shop.bobbiny.com/en/braided-cords/9259-nude-5903816684486.html) - [Sweet Sam Design: Best crochet hook size for macrame cord](https://www.sweetsamdesign.com/2026/06/best-crochet-hook-size-for-macrame-cord.html)