Based on listings checked on October 25, 2026, the Clover Amour set is the best all-round choice: 10 polished aluminum hooks with soft, nonslip grips. Choose the Susan Bates Silvalume set for inline heads, the Boye D to K set for tapered throats, Susan Bates Steelite hooks for thread, and Vodiye's 14 sizes for range on a budget.
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Comparison
| Product | Type | Material | Sizes | Head | Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set, 10 Sizes (3672) | soft-grip aluminum set | polished aluminum hook, nonslip soft grip | 10 hooks | tapered | not included |
| Susan Bates Silvalume Aluminum Crochet Hook Set, 6 Pieces | in-line aluminum set | anodized aluminum, no separate handle | F-5 3.75, G-6 4, H-8 5, I-9 5.5, J-10 6, K-10½ 6.5 mm | in-line | vinyl pouch |
| Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook Set, D to K, 8 Pieces | tapered aluminum set | anodized aluminum, no separate handle | 8 hooks: 3.125, 3.5, 3.75, 4.25, 5, 5.25, 5.75, 6.5 mm (D to K) | tapered throat | not listed |
| Susan Bates Steelite Steel Crochet Hook Set (12185) | steel thread hooks | nickel-plated steel | 6 hooks: 1.15, 1.25, 1.40, 1.50, 2.35, 2.55 mm (US steel 10 to 0) | not stated | vinyl case |
| Vodiye 14-Size Metal Crochet Hook Set, 2.0 to 10.0 mm | wide size range, budget set | aluminum, all-metal handle | 14 hooks, 2.0 to 10.0 mm | not stated | not mentioned |
Our picks
Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set, 10 Sizes (3672)
Ten polished aluminum hooks with soft, nonslip grips: the most comfortable everyday set to start with and grow into.
Susan Bates Silvalume Aluminum Crochet Hook Set, 6 Pieces
Six inline aluminum hooks from F-5 to K-10½ that cover medium yarn exactly, with a pouch, sold by Amazon.com.
Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook Set, D to K, 8 Pieces
Eight tapered-throat aluminum hooks from D to K (3.125 to 6.5 mm), the classic alternative to inline heads, sold by Amazon.com.
Susan Bates Steelite Steel Crochet Hook Set (12185)
Six nickel-plated steel hooks from 1.15 to 2.55 mm for crochet thread and lace, in a vinyl case.
Vodiye 14-Size Metal Crochet Hook Set, 2.0 to 10.0 mm
Fourteen all-aluminum hooks from 2 to 10 mm with the size marked on each: wide coverage, plain handles, metric sizes only.
A crochet hook looks simple, but sets differ in four ways that matter: the shape of the head, the handle, the range of sizes and the material. This comparison picks one set for each common need, from an everyday soft-grip set to fine steel hooks for thread. Each is described from its listing and maker information; we did not use these hooks ourselves.
At a glance
| Set | Material and handle | Sizes | Head | Yarn weights covered (CYC) | Best for | Not ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clover Amour (3672) | polished aluminum, soft nonslip grip | 10 hooks | tapered | Super Fine (1) to Medium (4) | an all-round first set | bulky yarn |
| Susan Bates Silvalume, 6 pieces | anodized aluminum, no separate handle | F-5 3.75 to K-10½ 6.5 mm | inline | Fine (2) to Medium (4) | worsted projects, even loops | fine or bulky yarn |
| Boye D to K, 8 pieces | anodized aluminum, no separate handle | 3.125 to 6.5 mm (D to K) | tapered throat | Super Fine (1) to Medium (4) | a classic tapered feel | crocheters who want a grip |
| Susan Bates Steelite (12185) | nickel-plated steel | 1.15 to 2.55 mm (US steel 10 to 0) | not stated | crochet thread, Lace (0) | doilies and lace edgings | yarn projects |
| Vodiye, 14 sizes | aluminum, all-metal handle | 2.0 to 10.0 mm | not stated | Super Fine (1) to Super Bulky (6) | wide coverage on a budget | patterns that give US letters only |
For medium (4) yarn, the Craft Yarn Council’s 2018 guidelines recommend 5.5 to 6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10½), a range that every set here except the steel hooks covers.
How to choose a hook set
- Sizes you will use. Most beginner patterns call for 5 to 6.5 mm. A set from about 3.5 to 6.5 mm covers almost everything; larger hooks matter for bulky yarn, steel hooks only for thread.
- Head shape. Inline heads keep the same width from tip to shaft; tapered heads narrow into a throat. Okie Girl Bling ‘n Things names Susan Bates as the classic inline brand and Boye as the classic tapered one, and PlanetJune’s June Gilbank notes that there is no best style.
- Handle. A plain aluminum hook is slim; soft-grip and ergonomic handles are thicker. See our separate comparison of ergonomic crochet hooks.
- Millimeters first. The Craft Yarn Council advises relying on the millimeter size, because letters vary from company to company. Our hook size chart lists every size.
Clover Amour: best overall
Who it suits: a beginner who wants one set to learn with and keep.
The 3672 set holds 10 polished aluminum hooks, each with a soft, warm-to-touch grip that Clover describes as made of nonslip material with a 3D curve. The grip makes the hook easier to hold than a bare shaft in either the pencil or the knife grip, while the aluminum head keeps the speed of a classic hook. Crochet reviewers describe the Amour head as tapered.
Keep in mind: the 3672 set comes without a case (the cased version is a different kit), and the exact list of sizes in the US set is given by retailers rather than on the listing.
Susan Bates Silvalume: best inline hooks
Who it suits: crocheters who like even, uniform loops, and anyone working mostly in medium yarn.
Six 5.5-inch anodized aluminum hooks with inline heads, color-coded, from F-5 (3.75 mm) through G-6 (4 mm), H-8 (5 mm), I-9 (5.5 mm) and J-10 (6 mm) to K-10½ (6.5 mm), in a vinyl pouch. That range matches the hooks most patterns in medium weight yarn call for. The set is sold by Amazon.com.
Keep in mind: the hooks have no separate handle; Yarnspirations lists this set of six as discontinued on its own store, although Amazon.com still sold it when we checked.
Boye D to K: best tapered hooks
Who it suits: crocheters who prefer a tapered throat, or who want to compare head styles.
Eight anodized aluminum hooks with tapered throats, color-coded, from D (3.125 mm) to K (6.5 mm): 3.125, 3.5, 3.75, 4.25, 5, 5.25, 5.75 and 6.5 mm. Note that several of these sizes sit between the standard letters in the Craft Yarn Council chart, such as 4.25 mm (G) and 5.25 mm (I), which is why checking millimeters matters when a pattern names a size. Sold by Amazon.com.
Keep in mind: no case is listed, and retailers do not always give the same millimeter values for Boye’s letters; we quote this listing’s values.
Susan Bates Steelite: best steel hooks for thread
Who it suits: crocheters ready to work with cotton thread for doilies, lace edgings or fine motifs.
Six nickel-plated steel hooks from 1.15 to 2.55 mm, corresponding to US steel sizes 10, 9, 8, 7, 1 and 0, in a vinyl case. Steel hooks follow a reverse numbering, as the Craft Yarn Council explains: the higher the number, the smaller the hook.
Keep in mind: these are not beginner hooks for yarn; you only need them when a pattern calls for thread.
Vodiye 14 sizes: best wide range on a budget
Who it suits: someone who wants every size from fine to bulky without spending much.
Fourteen aluminum hooks from 2.0 to 10.0 mm with the size marked on each handle. The range covers super fine yarn through super bulky.
Keep in mind: the handles are plain metal, despite the word “ergonomic” in the listing title; US letter sizes are not given, so you will match patterns by millimeters.
Hook materials compared
- Aluminum, as in the Clover, Susan Bates, Boye and Vodiye sets here, is light, smooth and quick; yarn slides easily over it. It suits acrylic and cotton and is the usual first hook.
- Steel is used for the smallest hooks, below about 2.75 mm, because fine aluminum shafts would bend. It is meant for thread and lace.
- Bamboo and wood are warm to hold and grip the yarn slightly, which some crocheters like with slippery yarns; they wear faster than metal in small sizes.
- Plastic is common in very large hooks for super bulky and jumbo yarns, where metal would be heavy.
Which set to buy
If you crochet mostly in medium yarn, a set from about 3.5 to 6.5 mm is enough: the Susan Bates or Boye sets here, or the Clover Amour set for a soft grip. If you plan to try everything from fine cotton to chunky yarn, a wide set such as Vodiye’s covers it. Add steel hooks only when a thread pattern calls for them, and bulky hooks only when you start a chunky project.
Sets we did not include
We left out two ergonomic hook sets that were currently unavailable, an original version of a molded hook that its own listing marks as discontinued, and a bamboo set whose pages would not load. We will add a bamboo or wood option when a listing can be checked.
Caring for your hooks
Store hooks in a case or roll so their heads do not get nicked, since a burr on the head snags yarn. Keep steel hooks dry. If a hook starts to catch, check the head for damage before blaming the yarn.
Next steps
If you are not sure which size you need, start with our crochet hook size chart. If you have just bought your first hook, our guide to holding a crochet hook shows the two common grips.
Key facts
- The Craft Yarn Council's 2018 Standards & Guidelines recommend a 5.5 to 6.5 mm (I-9 to K-10½) crochet hook for medium (4) yarn, the weight used in most beginner patterns, and advise relying on millimeter sizes because letter sizing varies between brands.Craft Yarn Council, Standards & Guidelines for Crochet and Knitting, 2018
- June Gilbank of PlanetJune wrote in 2015 that outside North America the tapered hook shape is used almost exclusively, that the inline head has the same size, shape and alignment as the shank, and that there is no best style of hook.PlanetJune, Crochet Hook Styles (June Gilbank), 2015
- Okie Girl Bling 'n Things explained in 2023 that inline hooks keep a consistent shaft diameter from the tip to the grip while tapered hooks have a gradually narrowing shaft, naming Susan Bates as inline and Boye as tapered.Okie Girl Bling 'n Things, Inline vs Tapered Crochet Hooks (Kylee Keller), 2023
- The Craft Yarn Council's 2018 guidelines note that steel hooks, used with thread and lace yarn, are sized in reverse: the higher the number, the smaller the hook.Craft Yarn Council, Standards & Guidelines for Crochet and Knitting, 2018
How we selected
We reviewed about twelve hook sets sold on Amazon.com on October 25, 2026, reading each listing's materials, sizes and head shape, and checking them against the manufacturer's pages where they could be opened. We excluded sets that were unavailable, discontinued on their own listing, or whose pages would not load. We kept one set per type, soft-grip, inline, tapered, steel and wide range, and ranked them by how well they suit a beginner working in medium weight yarn. We did not use these hooks ourselves, and where a detail comes only from a retailer, the page says so.
FAQ
What crochet hook brand is best for beginners?
There is no single best brand. Clover Amour hooks add a soft grip to a smooth aluminum hook, Susan Bates makes classic inline hooks and Boye classic tapered ones. For a beginner, the size matters more than the brand: a 5 or 5.5 mm (H-8 or I-9) hook for medium yarn.
Inline or tapered crochet hooks: which is better?
Neither. Inline hooks keep the same width from the tip to the grip, which helps loops come out even; tapered hooks narrow at the throat, which some crocheters find quicker. PlanetJune notes that there is no best style. If you can, try one of each.
Are aluminum or bamboo crochet hooks better?
Aluminum hooks are smooth and fast and suit most acrylic and cotton yarns. Bamboo and wood grip the yarn a little more, which can help with slippery yarns but slows some crocheters down. For a first set, aluminum is the most versatile.
How many crochet hooks do I need?
One to start: a 5 or 5.5 mm hook for medium yarn. A set covering roughly 3.5 to 6.5 mm handles most patterns, and steel hooks are only needed for thread. Buy larger or smaller sizes when a pattern calls for them.