Gear and tools
Best Crochet Hooks for Beginners
You don't need expensive hooks to learn to crochet, but the difference between a decent hook and a rough one shows up fast in hand fatigue and how easily yarn glides. Here's what's actually worth buying at different points in learning the craft.
Do you need a full set at all
If you're just testing the waters, you technically only need one hook. A single 5mm (H-8) aluminum hook, the size most beginner patterns and guides default to, costs a few dollars from any craft store or Amazon and is enough to get through your first several projects. A full size set becomes useful once you start following patterns that call for different yarn weights.
Yarniss Ergonomic Crochet Hook Set (9 sizes)
- Price
- Typically $12 to $15
- Rating
- Amazon's #1 best seller in crochet hooks, with reviewers reporting years of regular use out of the set
What's in the box
- Sizes 2.0mm to 6.0mm, covers the range most beginner projects call for
This is the set to start with. Soft rubber grip, smooth aluminum heads, and a price low enough that it's not a big loss if crochet doesn't end up being your thing. One long-time reviewer specifically noted using the same set for four years of regular crocheting, which says more about durability than any spec sheet.
Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set
- Price
- Around $50 for a 9 or 10-size set
- Rating
- Widely regarded in the crochet community as one of the smoothest, most comfortable hooks made
What's in the box
- Sizes 2.25mm to 6mm (varies by set)
Clover Amour hooks come up constantly in crochet communities as the hooks people upgrade to once they're sure they're sticking with the hobby. The handles are noticeably more comfortable over long sessions, and the hook heads are polished smooth enough that yarn glides with less resistance than cheaper aluminum.
Where it falls short
$50 is a lot to spend before you know if crochet is something you'll keep doing. This isn't the hook set to buy on day one, it's the one to buy after a few months once you know you're in it for the long haul.
How to pick a size
Hook sizing and how it relates to yarn weight is covered in more detail in our crochet hook size guide. Short version: 5mm is the standard beginner starting point.
Prefer everything bundled together
If picking hooks and yarn separately feels like more decisions than you want to make right now, our best crochet kits for beginners guide covers kits where the hook is already matched to the yarn and project. And if you haven't learned the stitches yet, start with how to crochet for beginners.
Looking for something more specific
- How hook sizing actually works → crochet hook size guide
- Picking yarn to go with it → best crochet yarn for beginners
- All the gear guides → gear and tools