Household machine needles
Sewing needle size chart
The NM number is the needle-blade diameter in hundredths of a millimeter: NM 75 has a 0.75 mm blade. The paired Singer/US number is an older sizing convention still used on household-needle packaging.
NM and Singer sewing needle size conversion
| NM metric size | Blade diameter | Singer / US size |
|---|---|---|
| NM 60 | 0.6 mm | 8 |
| NM 65 | 0.65 mm | 9 |
| NM 70 | 0.7 mm | 10 |
| NM 75 | 0.75 mm | 11 |
| NM 80 | 0.8 mm | 12 |
| NM 90 | 0.9 mm | 14 |
| NM 100 | 1 mm | 16 |
| NM 110 | 1.1 mm | 18 |
| NM 120 | 1.2 mm | 19 |
| NM 130 | 1.3 mm | 21 |
How NM works
The metric number describes diameter.
Divide the NM number by 100 to obtain the nominal blade diameter in millimeters. For example, NM 90 corresponds to 0.90 mm.
A larger number means a larger blade. That does not mean “better” for heavy material: point geometry, eye, scarf, coating, machine compatibility, and thread must also match the job.
Source notes
Last reviewed September 1, 2026
- SCHMETZ: Anatomy of a Household Sewing Machine Needle NM/Singer size conversion and explanation of the metric NM system.