What size acupuncture needle should I use for facial acupuncture?

For facial acupuncture, auricular, and cosmetic acupuncture, use needles in the 0.16-0.20mm (gauge 40-36) diameter range and 7-15mm length. These thinner, shorter needles minimize discomfort and bruising in the sensitive facial tissue.

What size acupuncture needle is best for back pain?

For back pain and abdominal points, use needles in the 0.25-0.30mm (gauge 32-30) diameter range and 30-75mm length. These thicker, longer needles can reach deeper tissue layers required for effective treatment of back pain and abdominal conditions.

What size acupuncture needle should I use for scalp acupuncture?

For scalp acupuncture and neurological protocols, use needles in the 0.18-0.25mm (gauge 38-32) diameter range and 15-30mm length. The scalp has relatively thin tissue over bone, so moderate gauge needles at shorter lengths work best.

What size acupuncture needle is best for hands and feet?

For distal points on hands and feet, use needles in the 0.20-0.25mm (gauge 36-32) diameter range and 13-25mm length. These moderate-sized needles work well for sensitive patients and the relatively shallow tissue depth at these locations.

What size acupuncture needle is best for arms and legs?

For musculoskeletal conditions, sports therapy, and trigger points on the arms and legs, use needles in the 0.25-0.30mm (gauge 32-30) diameter range and 30-50mm length. These sizes provide good tissue penetration for extremity points.

Acupuncture Needle Size Chart

The complete reference for gauge conversions, length standards, and brand availability. Bookmark this page — you'll use it.

Acupuncture needle sizing varies by manufacturer and country of origin. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean gauge systems use different numbering for the same physical diameters. This chart covers all of them, with clinical application recommendations and direct links to shop every size we carry.

Gauge & Diameter Reference

Industry-standard color codes with Chinese and Japanese gauge equivalents

Handle Color	Metric (mm)	Chinese Gauge	Japanese Gauge
Dark Green	0.12	44	02
Lime Green	0.14	42	01
Red	0.16	40	1
Ivory / Yellow	0.18	38	2
Blue	0.20	36	3
Pink	0.22	34	4
Purple	0.25	32	5
Brown	0.30	30	8
Gray	0.35	28	10

Industry-standard color coding applies to diameters 0.12–0.30mm.
0.35mm is not part of the standard color system. Gray is used as a common industry convention for this gauge.
Gauge numbering may vary slightly between manufacturers.
Higher Chinese gauge number = thinner needle.

Length Reference

Chinese, Korean/Japanese, and Imperial length equivalents

Chinese (mm)	Korean / Japanese (mm)	Approximate Inches
7	—	¼″
13	15	½″
25	30	1″
30	30	1.2″
40	40	1½″
50	50	2″
60	60	2½″
75	—	3″
90	—	3½″
100	—	4″
125	—	5″

Chinese lengths are measured from tip to the base of the handle.
Korean and Japanese standards match Chinese from 40mm and above.
The 13mm Chinese length is typically listed as 15mm in Japanese catalogs.

What’s Available by Brand

See which gauge and length combinations each brand offers. Click any dot to shop that product.

← Scroll horizontally to see all brands →

Choosing the Right Size

General guidelines by treatment area. Always adjust based on patient comfort and your clinical judgment.

Treatment Area	Gauge Range	Length Range	Best For
Face & Ears	0.16–0.20mm (40–36)	7–15mm	Facial rejuvenation, auricular, cosmetic acupuncture
Scalp	0.18–0.25mm (38–32)	15–30mm	Scalp acupuncture, neurological protocols
Hands & Feet	0.20–0.25mm (36–32)	13–25mm	Distal points, sensitive patients
Arms & Legs	0.25–0.30mm (32–30)	30–50mm	Musculoskeletal, sports therapy, trigger points
Back & Abdomen	0.25–0.30mm (32–30)	30–75mm	Deep tissue, back pain, abdominal points

These are general guidelines. Needle selection depends on patient sensitivity, body composition, treatment technique (Japanese-style practitioners typically favor thinner needles), and clinical experience. When in doubt, start thinner and shorter.

What Makes Needles Different

Materials, coatings, handles, and guide tubes

Shaft Material. All professional acupuncture needles use surgical-grade stainless steel shafts. The steel alloy, tempering process, and surface finish determine flexibility, tensile strength, and insertion feel. Korean manufacturers (DBC) and Japanese manufacturers (Seirin) use slightly different alloy compositions, which is why needles from different origins have a subtly different feel even at the same gauge.

Silicone Coating. Most modern acupuncture needles are coated with medical-grade silicone to reduce insertion friction. The coating thickness and application method vary by manufacturer. Seirin uses Dow Corning medical-grade silicone applied in a proprietary process. Some practitioners prefer uncoated needles for certain techniques—Mac offers uncoated options for traditional insertion methods.

Handle Types. Plastic handles (Seirin J-Type, Energy Flo J-Type, Peace Classic) are lightweight, color-coded for gauge identification, and the most popular style in the US. Spring-style metal handles (DBC Spring, SMC) conduct heat and electricity, making them the standard choice for moxa-on-needle and electro-acupuncture. Copper wire-wound handles (some Mac models) are the traditional Chinese style.

Guide Tubes. Most needles sold in the US come with individual guide tubes for tap-insertion technique. Japanese-style practitioners rely heavily on guide tubes. Some needle lines (particularly bulk packs and some Chinese-style needles) come without tubes for practitioners who prefer free-hand insertion.