I'm a big fan of the ChiaoGoo Premium Stainless Steel Red Lace Circular needles. And I hope you will be too! I've been creating with my ChiaoGoo needles for at least 15 years, and they're still going strong.
 
These needles are fixed circular needles. We have a range of different cable lengths and needle sizes (diameter) - see below.
 
Needle Sizes (Diameter)
2.25mm
2.5mm
3.75mm
4mm
4.5mm
5mm
 
Cable Length (including length of needle)
23cm (9")
40cm (16")
60cm (24")
80cm (32")
 
Beginner Tip!
Circular knitting needles come in a range of needle sizes and cable lengths because different projects have different needs. The needle size (diameter) affects the size of your stitches and how your finished knitting looks and feels. It's important you use a needle size that works with the yarn you've chosen. While the cable length determines how many stitches the needle can hold comfortably.
 
For example, a baby sock might be knitted on fine 2.25 mm needles with a short cable, while a cosy blanket could use 8 mm needles with a much longer cable. Your knitting pattern will usually recommend both a needle size and a cable length, making it easy to choose the right combination for your project.