An expert guide to measuring your ring size at home
Always scared to buy rings online because you're never quite sure if they'll fit? Us too. Necklaces and earrings are an easy way to up your jewellery game and add to your wish list considering they fit pretty much every body, but rings... Well, they're a different story.
Some rings come in small, medium and large sizes, which makes it easier to make a guess at which of these styles will fit you, even if it's not the most size-inclusive. More often than not though, rings are sold in sizes that match the letters of the alphabet – that's less simple because who knows what an L is anyway?!
Luckily, Rosie Greener, founder of cute 'n' quirky independent jewellery brand Good Daze took time out to explain exactly how to measure your ring size at home. Every time I shop Good Daze in person at Salad Days Market, Rosie is super helpful in assisting me in finding the right size for each of my fingers, so who better to help you find your perfect fit?
Whether you're into delicate gold bands or chunkier pieces, here's how to measure your ring size at home and get it right every single time.
How to measure your ring size at home with a sizing tool
When you're shopping for jewellery in person – especially of the more expensive variety – there will usually be someone to help you measure your fingers with a professional tool that looks a bit like a giant key ring.
Thankfully, you don't need something that bulky to measure your ring size at home. Instead, Greener recommends picking up a plastic ring sizer, which should cost no more than a couple of pounds online. “These are usually pretty accurate, so it's worthwhile having one around,” she says. But how do you use it? Luckily, it's pretty simple.
UK Ring Sizer
First, pull the tail end through the buckle to form a loop, and slip your finger through the middle.
Pull the tail to tighten the tool around your finger until it feels comfortable, but still slips over the knuckle.
Once you've formed a loop, read what letter the arrow points to or the sizer highlights on the outer edge – this is your ring size.
As Greener explains, “UK ring sizes are measured from A-Z, with A being the smallest and Z being the largest size. Make sure you purchase a sizer with the correct metric system, as other countries measure ring sizes in different ways,” she adds.
How to measure your ring size at home with a printable chart
Not got a tool and urgently need your ring size? You can try a printable ring size chart, like this one from Oliver Bonas – Greener advises that these methods can be tricky to do accurately, so a ring-sizer is always preferable, but if you are in a pinch, here's how to try this out.
Print it out landscape on A4 paper at 100% to make sure the sizing is accurate.
Take a ring that you know fits your desired finger and place it over the circles until you find a size that matches the circle to the inner edge of the ring.
The number inside the circle is your ring size, but look for the letter below – remember that A-Z UK sizing?
How to measure your ring size at home with string
Got a string to hand? Here's another way to measure your ring size.
First, wrap a length of string around the base of your finger, where the ring would naturally sit. Don't pull the string too taut or you could measure too small.
Using a pen, mark the point where the end of the string meets the other side in a loop.
Lay the string out flat, then measure the string up to the mark in millimetres.
Compare the measurement to a ring size chart to find your closest size.
You can also do the same with paper, cutting a strip no wider then 1.5cm and measuring the size of the loop it makes around your finger.
How should my ring fit?
Nobody wants to lose their ring because it was too big and slipped off their finger somewhere unknown, so it's important to get the size right.
“You want to have to give the ring a bit of a ‘wriggle’ in order to get it off, and for it also to feel comfortable and not restrictive when it is on the finger,” Greener says.
Looking for something for your pinky? “Go a bit tighter,” Greener suggests. “The tapered shape of the finger means they are more liable to slip or fling off,” she says – nobody wants that!
Keep in mind that the fingers on your dominant hand tend to be larger, so measure each finger carefully and don't assume the size is the same on your left and right hands.
When is the best time to measure your ring size?
Now you know how to measure your ring size, don't be tempted to jump into it first thing in the morning. Our fingers, just like the rest of our bodies, can change with the heat, so Greener advises to measure your digits when you're not too hot (and your hands are swollen) or too cold (when your fingers can be up to half a size smaller.)
She also suggests measuring your ring size in the afternoon or evening as your fingers can get bigger throughout the day, and nobody needs a ring they can only wear in the mornings.
Does the band width affect ring size?
The short answer? Yes, it does. As Greener explains, “For rings with a thin or medium band width, stay true to size when ordering the jewellery. If the ring is thicker on the finger, you will want to size up a bit, but by no more than a half or full size, depending on how chunky the band is.”
How to find out someone else’s ring size
Need to pick up a present in secret, or planning to propose and want to do so with an engagement ring that's the perfect fit? There's a sneaky way to get someone's ring size without them knowing. If you can, borrow a ring of theirs that you know fits and measure the inside diameter from one edge of the ring to the other. Make sure you do this at the ring's widest point.
If you're struggling to eyeball it, try drawing around the inner circle of the ring and measuring on your piece of paper. Then, simply compare your measurements to the size chart above to calculate the correct ring size. Easy!
Are ring sizes different in different countries?
Annoyingly, yes. While the UK uses the alphabet system and fractions for half sizes, the US uses a numerical scale from around 3 to 13.5 for adults and the EU measures in millimetres.
How to convert ring sizes
Three different ring sizing systems can make things confusing, so here's a quick guide to convert ring sizes, from UK to US and EU, from diamond experts Beaverbrooks.
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