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Quick answer: acupuncture needle size is described by shaft diameter (in millimetres, or as a gauge number) and shaft length (in millimetres). In one manufacturer’s catalogue the single-use needles run from 0.12 mm to 0.30 mm in diameter and from 13 mm to 75 mm in length. Gauge numbers are not universal, so the chart below pairs each diameter with the two gauge scales that manufacturer prints.
General product information only, not medical advice. This page does not describe how needles are used on patients.
Acupuncture needle size chart (diameter, gauge and length)
The values below are copied from one manufacturer’s product listing: the Millennia single-pack acupuncture needles sold by Lhasa OMS (checked 31 October 2026). They are one catalogue, not an industry standard.
| Diameter (mm) | Japanese gauge | Chinese gauge | Lengths offered (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.12 | 02 | 44 | 25 |
| 0.14 | 01 | 42 | 13, 25 |
| 0.16 | 1 | 40 | 13, 25 |
| 0.18 | 2 | 38 | 13, 25 |
| 0.20 | 3 | 36 | 13, 25, 40 |
| 0.22 | 4 | 34 | 13, 25, 40, 50, 75 |
| 0.25 | 5 | 32 | 13, 25, 40, 50 |
| 0.30 | 8 | 30 | 25, 50, 75 |
The same listing states that the needles have a stainless steel shaft, come 100 to a box, and are individually blister-packed with one guide tube per needle, with colour-coded tabs on each needle for immediate recognition. Not every diameter is offered in every length.
How to read the chart
Diameter and gauge describe the same dimension
Each row is one shaft thickness. The diameter column is the direct measurement; the two gauge columns are labels for that same thickness on two different numbering systems. A 0.20 mm needle is labelled 3 on the Japanese scale and 36 on the Chinese scale in this listing.
Length is a separate choice
Length is listed in millimetres and is independent of gauge. The thinnest needle in the table (0.12 mm) appears in only one length, while 0.22 mm appears in five.
Gauge and millimetre equivalence
Compare the two gauge columns going down the table. Diameter rises from 0.12 mm to 0.30 mm; the Chinese gauge number falls from 44 to 30, while the Japanese number rises from 02 to 8. So on the Chinese scale a smaller number means a thicker needle, and on the Japanese scale a larger number means a thicker needle. Because other suppliers can label their products differently, the millimetre diameter is the safest value to compare across brands.
The manufacturer above describes colour-coded tabs on each needle. Treat those colours as that product’s own tab system and read the diameter printed on the pack rather than relying on colour alone.
Check your product’s labelling. The pack, the instructions for use and the manufacturer’s catalogue are the authority for any specific needle.
Needle types and how they are regulated in the United States
What the FDA says an acupuncture needle is
Under 21 CFR 880.5580, an acupuncture needle is “a device intended to pierce the skin in the practice of acupuncture.” It consists of a solid stainless steel needle and may have a handle attached. The FDA classifies the device as Class II (special controls). Its product code is MQX, “Needle, Acupuncture, Single Use”, in the General Hospital specialty panel.
Single-use needles
The regulation exempts single-use acupuncture needles and acupuncture point locators from premarket notification, subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 880.9. The special controls include labelling for single use only, conformance with the prescription-device labelling requirements of 21 CFR 801.109, biocompatibility and sterility. For background on sterile versus non-sterile supply categories, see sterile versus non-sterile purchasing.
Handle styles
The manufacturer listing above describes a spring-style handle with a loop. The FDA definition only says a handle may be attached, so handle style is a product feature rather than part of the size.
Common mix-ups
- Gauge number versus millimetres. A gauge number is a label, not a measurement. Use the millimetre diameter when comparing packs.
- Japanese versus Chinese gauge. The two scales run in opposite directions in the chart above, so “3” and “36” are the same 0.20 mm thickness, not different ones.
- Needle length versus guide tube length. The listing describes one guide tube per needle; the length figures in the chart are needle lengths.
- Other needle families. Hypodermic, suture and insulin pen needles each have their own sizing conventions. See what a hypodermic needle is, suture needle sizes and insulin syringe and needle gauge sizing; do not transfer one family’s numbers to another.
FAQ
What are the standard acupuncture needle sizes?
There is no single size table in the FDA regulation. In the Millennia catalogue used for the chart above, diameters run from 0.12 mm to 0.30 mm and lengths from 13 mm to 75 mm.
What does the gauge number on an acupuncture needle mean?
It is a label for shaft thickness. This listing prints both a Japanese and a Chinese gauge for each diameter, and the two scales run in opposite directions.
What is the difference between acupuncture needle types?
Per 21 CFR 880.5580, the device is a solid stainless steel needle that may have a handle. Single-use needles are labelled for single use only; the regulation’s special controls cover sterility and biocompatibility.
Is there a size chart for every brand?
No. Each manufacturer publishes its own range, so confirm the diameter and length on the pack. For a wider view of what a clinic stocks, see the acupuncture clinic supply checklist.
Sources
- 21 CFR 880.5580, Acupuncture needle: eCFR and Cornell Legal Information Institute, checked 31 October 2026.
- FDA product classification, product code MQX, Needle, Acupuncture, Single Use, Class 2: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?id=MQX, checked 31 October 2026.
- Lhasa OMS, Millennia Acupuncture Needles Single Pack product listing: https://www.lhasaoms.com/millennia-acupuncture-needles-single-pack, checked 31 October 2026. Chart values are this one manufacturer’s.
