How to Find Your Ring Size at Home: A Simple Guide

A ring that spins around your finger or leaves a dent at the end of the day isn't one you'll reach for often. Getting the size right is the least exciting part of buying a ring, and it matters more than anything else. The good news: you can find your size at home in about five minutes, and a few small habits make the result far more accurate.

• US ring sizes run from about 3 to 13 in half-size steps. Most women wear a 5 to 8, and most men wear an 8 to 12.
• Measure at the end of the day when your hands are warm. Fingers are smallest in the morning and in cold weather.
• Your ring has to slide over the knuckle. If your knuckle is larger than the base of your finger, size for the knuckle.
• Wide bands (6 mm and up) fit snugger, so go up a quarter or half size.

Three Ways to Find Your Ring Size at Home

1. Measure a ring you already own

This is the most reliable method. Pick a ring that fits the finger you're shopping for, lay it on a ruler and measure the inside diameter in millimeters, edge to edge, not including the metal. Then match it to the chart below.

2. Use a strip of paper

Wrap a thin strip of paper around the base of your finger, mark where it overlaps, then lay it flat and measure the length in millimeters. That's your circumference. Paper works better than string because it doesn't stretch. Measure two or three times and use the average.

3. Get professionally sized

If the ring is an engagement ring or a wide band, a jeweler's sizing set is worth the trip. It takes two minutes, and it's free at most jewelry counters.

US Ring Size Chart

• Size 4: 14.9 mm diameter, 46.8 mm circumference
• Size 5: 15.7 mm diameter, 49.3 mm circumference
• Size 6: 16.5 mm diameter, 51.9 mm circumference
• Size 7: 17.3 mm diameter, 54.4 mm circumference
• Size 8: 18.1 mm diameter, 57.0 mm circumference
• Size 9: 19.0 mm diameter, 59.5 mm circumference
• Size 10: 19.8 mm diameter, 62.1 mm circumference
• Size 11: 20.6 mm diameter, 64.6 mm circumference
• Size 12: 21.4 mm diameter, 67.2 mm circumference

Falling between two sizes? Each half size adds about 0.4 mm to the diameter. For a thin band, round down. For a wide band, round up.

Things That Change Your Fit

• Temperature: heat and humidity make fingers swell, and cold makes them shrink. A ring that's loose in January can feel tight in July.
• Time of day: fingers swell a little after salty meals, flights and workouts. Late afternoon is the best time to measure.
• Band width: a 2 mm stacking band and an 8 mm men's band in the same size won't feel the same. Wider metal covers more skin and feels tighter.
• Your dominant hand: fingers on your writing hand are often slightly larger. Measure the exact finger you'll wear the ring on.
• Stacking: two or three rings on one finger feel tighter than any single band. Many people size up a quarter size for stacks.

Browse slim stacking bands, statement styles and solitaires in our rings collection.

Buying a Ring as a Gift

Borrow a ring they wear on the same finger for an evening and trace the inside on paper, or press it into a bar of soap for an impression. Asking a close friend or family member also beats guessing. If you have to guess, US women's rings sell most often in sizes 6 to 7, and a ring that can be resized is the safest choice. Most plain gold and silver bands can be resized one or two sizes, while eternity bands and some gemstone settings can't.

Ring Size FAQ