The picks
Best Size H Crochet Hook
Five millimeters, and the one size worth owning on its own rather than waiting for a set to supply it.
By Sawyer V. · Published October 29, 2026
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The short answer
Size H is 5.0mm. It is the size most American worsted yarn labels print, which makes it the hook people reach for most and the one worth owning on its own rather than waiting for a set to supply it. Buy the Clover Amour single if you want one hook and no decisions - a gripped handle and a rounded head that suits most people. If your yarn splits, buy a tapered head; if you crochet tightly and cannot get into a stitch, buy an in-line head - the bare Boye and Susan Bates cost about the same and settle that question better than any page can. If your hands ache, the specification to buy on is handle diameter rather than material. And watch the numbering: this hook is an H in the US system, a 5.0mm in metric and an 8/0 in the Japanese system, and the Japanese 5/0 is 3.00mm, not 5mm.
| # | Product | Best for | Head | Grip | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clover Amour Crochet Hook, H-8 (5.0mm)The Amour grip on a single hook in the size most worsted labels name. If you are buying one H, buy this one. | One hook that covers most worsted crochet | Rounded | Elastomer | $7.99 - View on Amazon |
| 2 |  Susan Bates Silvalume Crochet Hook, H-8 (5.0mm)The bare in-line aluminum hook at 5mm - cheap enough to buy alongside the Boye below and settle the question properly. | Finding out whether an in-line head suits you | In-line | None | $5.75 - View on Amazon |
| 3 |  Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook, H-8 (5mm)The other half of the head-shape question at the same size and nearly the same price. | Yarn that splits | Tapered | None | $8.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 5, 2026 |
| 4 |  Tulip ETIMO Rose Crochet Hook, 8/0 (5.00mm)The Japanese cushioned hook at 5mm - sold as an 8/0 rather than an H, which is the confusing part. | Long sessions, and anyone who finds the Amour grip too firm | Tulip profile | Cushioned | $9.98 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 5, 2026 |
| 5 |  Furls Streamline Wood Crochet Hook (Ebony and Maple)A 16 to 17mm handle at the same 5mm hook size - the biggest published grip diameter here by a distance. | Hands that ache after an hour | Streamline | Solid wood | $36.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 5, 2026 |
| 6 |  Clover Amour Steel Crochet Hook SetSteel hooks run a separate numbering with no H on it at all. If a steel hook is in your basket, check why. | Crochet thread, which is a different craft | Thread hooks | Elastomer | $34.80 - View on Amazon |
Clover Amour Crochet Hook, H-8 (5.0mm)
Clover · Best for one hook that covers most worsted crochet
The Amour grip on a single hook in the one size most worsted labels name - the set's comfort without the set's price.
- Size
- H-8 (5.0mm)
- Grip
- Elastomer rubber, latex free
- Shaft
- Aluminum
- Head
- Rounded, between inline and tapered
- Sold as
- One hook, one size
- Article
- 1047/H
Who it suits
Anyone whose pattern says 5mm or H-8, and anyone who crochets for more than half an hour at a time.
Why it is here
H-8 (5.0mm), article 1047/H, with Clover's molded elastomer grip - the same latex-free handle as the ten-piece Amour set - on an aluminum shaft with a rounded head that sits between in-line and tapered. The grip is the reason to pay single-hook money rather than buying the cheapest 5mm on the shelf: a wider handle needs less pinch force to hold securely, and worsted is the weight people crochet blankets in. The rounded head is the safe default if you do not already know whether you prefer in-line or tapered.
What you give up
You pay roughly a sixth of the set price for a tenth of the set, so if you will use three or more sizes the set is better value. The rubber grip also perishes eventually, which a bare aluminum hook never does.
Specifications from Clover USA - Amour crochet hooks. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Susan Bates Silvalume Crochet Hook, H-8 (5.0mm)
Susan Bates · Best for finding out whether an in-line head suits you
The bare in-line aluminum hook at 5mm - the cheapest honest way to find out whether an in-line head suits your hands.
- Size
- H-8 (5.0mm)
- Length
- 5.5in
- Head
- In-line (head sits flush with the shaft)
- Material
- Anodized aluminum, heat treated and polished
- Grip
- None - bare shaft
- Sold as
- One hook, one size
Who it suits
Anyone who crochets tightly and struggles to get the hook into a stitch, and anyone on a budget.
Why it is here
H-8 (5.0mm), 5.5in, anodized aluminum that is heat treated and polished, with an in-line head - meaning the hook sits flush with the shaft rather than projecting past it. In-line is the head that slides into a tight stitch without a wider shoulder to force through, which is why tight crocheters usually get on with it. At this price buying it and the tapered Boye together costs less than most single ergonomic hooks and answers the head-shape question from your own hands rather than from a page.
What you give up
No grip at all - a bare 5.5in shaft, which is the thing that makes long sessions ache. The flush head also catches the yarn more readily if you crochet loosely.
Specifications from Susan Bates Silvalume retail specification. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook, H-8 (5mm)
Boye · Best for yarn that splits
The tapered-throat hook at 5mm - the other half of the in-line versus tapered question, in single form.
- Size
- H-8 (5mm)
- Length
- 6in
- Head
- Tapered throat with a rounded head
- Shaft
- Anodized aluminum
- Grip
- None - bare shaft
- Model
- 332621800HM
Who it suits
Anyone whose hook keeps diving into the ply and splitting the yarn.
Why it is here
H-8 (5mm), 6in, anodized aluminum, with a tapered throat and a rounded head. A tapered throat catches the whole strand rather than burrowing into it, which is the fix when your yarn splits - the commonest complaint in worsted crochet, and one that is a head-shape problem rather than a technique problem. Half an inch longer than the Susan Bates, which some hands prefer and others do not notice.
What you give up
Bare shaft, same as the Susan Bates, with the same fatigue cost. The wider shoulder behind the head is also harder to push into a very tight stitch, which is precisely the trade against the in-line.
Specifications from Boye - ergonomic crochet hooks (manufacturer). We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Tulip ETIMO Rose Crochet Hook, 8/0 (5.00mm)
Tulip · Best for long sessions, and anyone who finds the amour grip too firm
The cushioned Japanese hook at 5mm, sold under its own 8/0 numbering rather than a US letter.
- Size
- 5.00mm - sold as Japanese size 8/0
- Grip
- Cushioned rubber grip
- Head
- Polished tip, Tulip's own hook profile
- Sold as
- One hook, one size
- Model
- TER-10
- Made in
- Hiroshima, Japan
Who it suits
Anyone who already knows a cushioned grip helps, and anyone buying a hook as a gift.
Why it is here
5.00mm, model TER-10, cushioned rubber grip, polished tip on Tulip's own hook profile, made in Hiroshima. The grip is softer and slightly thicker than the Amour's elastomer, and the finish on the tip is the thing people notice first - it moves through yarn with less resistance than a standard anodized hook. Note the size marking: Tulip sells it under the Japanese numbering as 8/0, not as an H.
What you give up
Costs more than the Clover for a difference that is genuinely a preference rather than an upgrade. The Japanese numbering also makes it easy to buy the wrong size if you are shopping by number - see the section below.
Specifications from Tulip ETIMO Rose TER-10, 8/0 (5.00mm) - retail listing. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Furls Streamline Wood Crochet Hook (Ebony and Maple)
Furls · Best for hands that ache after an hour
The Streamline handle in solid wood rather than resin: the same 16 to 17mm grip at about half an ounce.
- Size
- H (5.00mm)
- Total length
- Approximately 6.75in
- Handle diameter
- 16-17mm at the widest point
- Weight
- Approximately 0.5oz
- Material
- Solid wood, food-grade wax finish
- Line size range
- D/3.25mm to Q/15mm across the Streamline Wood line
- Made in
- India
Who it suits
Anyone whose hands hurt, and anyone who has found a standard cushioned grip still too thin.
Why it is here
H (5.00mm), approximately 6.75in long, 16-17mm at the widest point of the handle, about 0.5oz, solid wood with a food-grade wax finish, handcrafted in India. The published diameter is the specification that matters: a larger handle needs less pinch force, which is the entire mechanism behind every ergonomic hook claim. Most makers in this category do not publish a figure at all, and Furls does.
What you give up
Several times the price of every other single hook on this page, and solid wood wants keeping dry - never wash it, and do not leave it in a damp project bag. [Best wooden crochet hooks](/crochet-hooks/best-wooden-crochet-hooks) covers the wider wooden category.
Specifications from Furls Crochet - Streamline Wood crochet hooks. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Clover Amour Steel Crochet Hook Set
Clover · Best for crochet thread, which is a different craft
The same elastomer handle fitted to steel thread hooks, sized for crochet cotton rather than yarn.
- Sizes
- Steel hooks, sub-2mm range (No. 10 is 0.75mm)
- Grip
- Elastomer rubber, latex free
- Shaft
- Steel
- Intended yarn
- Crochet thread, not worsted or DK yarn
Who it suits
Nobody shopping for a 5mm hook, which is the point of listing it.
Why it is here
Clover's steel Amour hooks sit in the sub-2mm range - No. 10 is 0.75mm - and are intended for crochet thread rather than worsted or DK yarn. They are on this page as a warning rather than a recommendation, because the steel scale runs backwards: the numbers get BIGGER as the hook gets SMALLER, and nothing on it corresponds to an H. Searching a bare number like 5 or 10 can land you on a steel hook a fraction of the size you wanted.
What you give up
Genuinely the right tool for thread work and doilies - [best steel crochet hooks](/crochet-hooks/best-steel-crochet-hooks) covers that properly. Just not an alternative to anything else on this page.
Specifications from Clover USA product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Three numbering systems, one hook
More confusion in this category comes from numbering than from anything about the hooks themselves, because three systems are in use on the same shelf and two of them use bare numbers.
| System | This hook | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US letter | H-8 | The letter and the number both appear; H and 8 mean the same size |
| Metric | 5.0mm | The only one that cannot be ambiguous |
| Japanese | 8/0 | Tulip sells this exact hook as TER-10, size 8/0 (5.00mm) |
| Japanese 5/0 | 3.00mm - NOT 5mm | Tulip's TER-06 is 5/0 and measures 3.00mm |
| Steel scale | No H exists | A separate scale running sub-2mm, numbers rising as hooks shrink |
The fourth row is the one that costs people money. A search for a 5/0 hook looks like it should mean 5mm and does not - on the Japanese scale it is 3.00mm, a size and a half finer. Buy on the millimeter figure whenever a listing gives you one, and treat any bare number as unverified until you find it.
The crochet hook size chart has the full letter-to-millimeter table for the US scale, and crochet thread sizes explained covers the steel scale properly.
Why this is the size to buy singly
Nearly every recommendation on this site is a set, for a good reason: sets cost far less per hook and a crocheter ends up wanting most of the sizes. H is the exception worth making, and there are three reasons for it.
- It is the size you use most. American worsted is the commonest yarn weight in the craft, and 5mm is what a large share of worsted labels print.
- It is the size you lose. A hook in daily use travels, and the one that goes missing out of a set is almost always the H - leaving a case that is worth less than the sum of its remaining parts.
- It is the size worth choosing deliberately. Head shape and grip matter most on the hook you hold for hours, and buying it singly lets you pick both instead of accepting whatever the set has.
- And one reason against it: if you will use three or more sizes, a set is cheaper per hook and you should buy one. Hook sets vs single hooks does that arithmetic.
In-line against tapered, at one size
This is the specification that changes how a hook behaves, and holding two hooks of the same size with different heads is the only honest way to understand it.
| In-line (Susan Bates) | Tapered (Boye) | |
|---|---|---|
| Head position | Flush with the shaft | Projects past the shaft, with a throat behind it |
| Into a tight stitch | Easier - no wider shoulder to force | Harder |
| Splitting yarn | More likely - the flush head finds the ply | Less likely - the throat catches the whole strand |
| Suits | Tight crocheters, loosely plied yarn | Loose crocheters, splitty yarn |
| Length here | 5.5in | 6in |
Inline vs tapered crochet hooks has the full comparison. The short version for this page: neither is better, both are cheap at 5mm, and the Clover Amour's rounded head is the deliberate compromise if you would rather not choose.
What 5mm is actually for
The yarn bands are the most useful evidence here, because they are what the manufacturer thinks the hook is for.
| Yarn | Published hook | Published crochet gauge |
|---|---|---|
| Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling | H-8 (5mm) | 16 sc x 18 rows / 4in |
| Caron Simply Soft | 5mm (US H/8) | 13 sc x 14 rows / 4in |
| Red Heart Super Saver | 5.5mm (US I/9) | 12 sc x 15 rows / 4in |
| Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton | 5.5mm (US I/9) | 16 sc x 18 rows / 4in |
- Worsted at a firm gauge - the default use, and what most of those bands describe.
- Amigurumi, worked several sizes tighter than the band says so the stuffing does not show through. Many amigurumi patterns in worsted name a hook well below 5mm for exactly that reason.
- Blankets and granny squares, where 5mm gives a denser fabric than the 5.5mm or 6mm some labels suggest - firmer, warmer and slower.
- Bags and baskets, where you want structure rather than drape.
- Garments, usually not. A garment in worsted generally wants the looser end of the band - best crochet hook for worsted weight yarn covers how the half sizes change the fabric.
When the set is the better buy
An honest page about one hook has to say when one hook is the wrong purchase.
A ten-piece gripped set runs from about 2.25mm to 6.0mm and costs roughly five times a single gripped hook - so the break-even is around five sizes, and any crocheter who moves between amigurumi, blankets and garments will pass that quickly. If you already know you want more than the H, the ten-hook Amour set is the sensible purchase and this page has done its job by telling you so.
Buy a single when you want a specific head shape or grip the set does not offer, when you are replacing a lost H, or when you genuinely crochet one weight of yarn and nothing else. Best crochet hooks ranks the sets.
How we picked
Ranked on the two published specifications that change how a hook works - head shape and grip - and then on price, since several of these are close enough in function that cost decides. Every figure comes from the manufacturer's own documentation or, where a maker does not publish one, from the retail listing; all are cited below. We have not held or crocheted with any of these hooks and make no claim about how they feel. How we pick explains the method.
Questions people actually ask
What size is an H crochet hook in mm?
H is 5.0mm. The US system writes it as H-8 - the letter and the number refer to the same size - and the sizes either side are G at 4.0mm and I at 5.5mm.
What size crochet hook is 5mm?
5mm is a US size H, also written H-8. In the Japanese numbering the same hook is an 8/0, which is how Tulip sells it. On the steel hook scale there is no equivalent at all, because that scale covers sub-2mm thread hooks.
Is a 5/0 crochet hook 5mm?
No, and this catches people out. 5/0 is a Japanese size and measures 3.00mm - Tulip's ETIMO Rose TER-06 is sold as 5/0 (3.00mm). The Japanese hook equivalent to 5mm is 8/0. Always buy on the millimeter figure when a listing gives one.
What yarn do you use with a size H crochet hook?
Worsted weight, mostly. Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling and Caron Simply Soft both print H-8 (5mm) on the band. Some worsted yarns name 5.5mm or 6mm instead, which gives a looser, drapier fabric - the same weight category covers all three.
Should I buy an in-line or a tapered hook?
Buy whichever fixes your problem. In-line heads sit flush with the shaft and slide into tight stitches more easily, so they suit tight crocheters. Tapered heads have a throat that catches the whole strand, so they split yarn less. Both are inexpensive at 5mm, and buying one of each is the cheapest way to find out which your hands prefer.
Is it worth buying a single crochet hook instead of a set?
For an H, often yes - it is the size you use most, the one most likely to go missing from a set, and the one where grip and head shape are worth choosing deliberately. If you expect to use three or more sizes, a set costs less per hook and is the better buy.
Why do my hands hurt when I crochet with a 5mm hook?
Usually because the handle is thin. A bare aluminum shaft needs more sustained pinch force to hold securely than a thick one, and 5mm is the size people crochet blankets in - the longest sittings in the craft. The fix is handle diameter rather than material: the Furls Streamline Wood publishes 16 to 17mm at its widest point.
What is the difference between H and H-8?
Nothing - they are the same size. The US system carries both a letter and a number for each hook and they are printed together, so H, 8 and H-8 all mean 5.0mm. The same doubling applies across the scale, which is why G is also G-6 and I is also I-9.
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council - crochet hook sizes
- Clover USA - Amour crochet hooks
- Susan Bates Silvalume retail specification
- Boye - ergonomic crochet hooks (manufacturer)
- Tulip ETIMO Rose TER-10, 8/0 (5.00mm) - retail listing
- Tulip ETIMO Rose TER-06, 5/0 (3.00mm) - retail listing
- Furls Crochet - Streamline Wood crochet hooks
- Clover USA - Amour steel crochet hooks
- Lion Brand - Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling specification
- Yarnspirations - Caron Simply Soft specification
- Yarnspirations - Red Heart Super Saver specification
- Lion Brand - 24/7 Cotton specification