You can measure your ring size at home to within about half a size, which is accurate enough to order online, as long as you use the right method at the right time of day. String and paper usually fail because they stretch, do not lie flat, and get measured at the wrong moment. The accurate method is to use a strip of paper or a flexible measuring tape, wrap it around the base of the finger where the ring sits, mark the overlap, measure the length in millimeters, and look that circumference up on a ring-size chart. Do this a few times, at the right time of day, and average the results. This is the method that matches what a jeweler will measure at the bench.
String stretches, which makes the circumference read longer than it is, which makes the ring size read larger. Paper, if it is twisted, folded, or held at an angle, gives a different number every time. Most people who complain that home measurements do not match the store simply used a method that flexes. The fix is to use a strip of paper that does not stretch, or a flexible measuring tape, and to lay the strip flat on a ruler after marking it. Measure the length in millimeters, not in inches, because ring-size charts are built on millimeter circumferences.
| Circumference (mm) | US ring size | Inside diameter (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 49.3 | 5 | 15.7 |
| 51.9 | 6 | 16.5 |
| 54.4 | 7 | 17.3 |
| 57.0 | 8 | 18.2 |
| 59.5 | 9 | 19.0 |
| 62.1 | 10 | 19.8 |
Fingers change size through the day. They are smallest in the morning when you wake up, larger in the afternoon, and largest in the evening. They are smaller in cold weather and larger in heat. Measure in the middle of the day, when your hands are at normal temperature, not first thing in the morning and not after a hot walk. If you measure when your finger is small, the ring will be too tight by the afternoon. The full explanation of why this happens is in why ring size changes with the weather and time of day.
If your knuckle is larger than the base of your finger, measure both. The ring has to slide over the knuckle, so the size needs to work for the knuckle even though it sits on the finger. The measurement that matters is the larger of the two, but a ring that fits over a large knuckle may be loose on the finger below. The full workaround for this hand shape is in ring size for large knuckles and a thin finger. The short version is to size for the knuckle and consider a spring-insert or a fitted shank if the ring spins.
Wide rings feel tighter than thin rings, because more of the band contacts the finger. If you normally wear a size 7 in a thin band, a 6-millimeter wide band may need to be an 8. The reason is that the wider band acts like a sleeve, squeezing more of the finger. The full math is in whether wide rings fit tighter than thin rings. When you measure at home, size the same band width you intend to buy, because the home measurement on a thin strip will not match a wide ring on your finger.
The most accurate home method is to compare against a ring that already fits. Lay a well-fitting ring on a ruler and measure the inside diameter, not the outside. Match that diameter to a ring-size chart. This is more accurate than wrapping paper, because the ring itself is the reference. If you are ordering a new ring in the same style and width, the size of an existing ring is the best starting point. If the new ring is wider, go up half a size. If it is a surprise proposal, the steal-an-existing-ring method is in measuring her ring size without spoiling the surprise.
If your measurement falls between two sizes, size up. A slightly loose ring is safer than a slightly tight one, because a loose ring can be tightened later, while a tight ring cuts off circulation. If the ring is wide, size up a half size again. If you are ordering an engagement ring that will be worn next to a wedding band, consider the combined width, because the two bands together act like a wider ring. Resizing is possible but not unlimited, which is the subject of whether rings can be resized and what the limits are. Starting with a slightly generous size saves a resize.
Measure with a non-stretching strip in the middle of the day, wrap it snugly at the base of the finger, read the circumference in millimeters, and look it up on a chart. Compare against an existing well-fitting ring for the best result. Size up if you are between sizes, and remember that wide bands feel tighter. The home method is accurate enough for online ordering, and a jeweler can fine-tune the first ring you buy.
If you want a more accurate home result than paper, print a ring-size chart from a reputable jewelry site, making sure the printout is at 100 percent scale and not shrunk by the printer. The chart has a circle you can drop an existing ring onto, and a strip you can wrap around your finger. This is more reliable than cutting your own paper, because the circles and the strip are calibrated. Before you trust the printout, measure the test line on the page against a ruler, because printer scaling is the most common error. Once the page is correctly scaled, the printable sizer matches what a jeweler would measure.
People have different sizes on different hands. The dominant hand is usually slightly larger, because it is used more and the muscles are more developed. Measure the actual finger on the actual hand that will wear the ring. A ring for the right hand is not the same size as a ring for the left. The ring finger on the left hand is the one for engagement rings, but if you wear your wedding band on the right, measure that finger. Most people find the left ring finger and right ring finger differ by about half a size, which is enough to matter when ordering.
Ring sizes are numbered differently in the US, UK, and Europe. US sizes run from about 3 to 13 in half-size increments. UK sizes run letters from F to Z. European sizes are the circumference in millimeters, from about 44 to 70. When you buy online, check which system the store uses, because a size 7 in the US is a size N in the UK and a size 54 in Europe. The millimeter circumference is the universal reference, so measure in millimeters and convert to whichever system the store uses. This avoids the confusion that comes from ordering a US size when the store uses UK letters.
There are several situations where sizing up is the safe move. If you are between two sizes, go up. If the ring is a wide band, go up half a size, because wide bands feel tighter. If you are buying an engagement ring that will be worn with a wedding band, the combined width feels tighter, so size up. If you live in a warm climate or your fingers swell in the afternoon, size up. The cost of sizing up is a ring that spins slightly; the cost of sizing down is a ring that cuts off circulation. When in doubt, the generous size is the safer choice, and a jeweler can always size down later.
Even with the best home measurement, the first ring you buy may need a small adjustment. Most jewelers resize a new ring within the first few months for a small fee or free. The home measurement gets you close enough that the ring is wearable, and the jeweler fine-tunes it. Do not be discouraged if the first ring is half a size off; that is normal. The limits of resizing are in whether rings can be resized and what the limits are. The home method is accurate enough to order, but not so precise that you should skip the jeweler's final check.
If you want a more accurate home result than paper, print a ring-size chart from a reputable jewelry site, making sure the printout is at 100 percent scale and not shrunk by the printer. The chart has a circle you can drop an existing ring onto, and a strip you can wrap around your finger. This is more reliable than cutting your own paper, because the circles and the strip are calibrated. Before you trust the printout, measure the test line on the page against a ruler, because printer scaling is the most common error. Once the page is correctly scaled, the printable sizer matches what a jeweler would measure.
People have different sizes on different hands. The dominant hand is usually slightly larger, because it is used more and the muscles are more developed. Measure the actual finger on the actual hand that will wear the ring. A ring for the right hand is not the same size as a ring for the left. The ring finger on the left hand is the one for engagement rings, but if you wear your wedding band on the right, measure that finger. Most people find the left ring finger and right ring finger differ by about half a size, which is enough to matter when ordering.
Ring sizes are numbered differently in the US, UK, and Europe. US sizes run from about 3 to 13 in half-size increments. UK sizes run letters from F to Z. European sizes are the circumference in millimeters, from about 44 to 70. When you buy online, check which system the store uses, because a size 7 in the US is a size N in the UK and a size 54 in Europe. The millimeter circumference is the universal reference, so measure in millimeters and convert to whichever system the store uses. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
There are several situations where sizing up is the safe move. If you are between two sizes, go up. If the ring is a wide band, go up half a size, because wide bands feel tighter. If you are buying an engagement ring that will be worn with a wedding band, the combined width feels tighter, so size up. If you live in a warm climate or your fingers swell in the afternoon, size up. The cost of sizing up is a ring that spins slightly; the cost of sizing down is a ring that cuts off circulation. When in doubt, the generous size is the safer choice, and a jeweler can always size down later. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
Even with the best home measurement, the first ring you buy may need a small adjustment. Most jewelers resize a new ring within the first few months for a small fee or free. The home measurement gets you close enough that the ring is wearable, and the jeweler fine-tunes it. Do not be discouraged if the first ring is half a size off; that is normal. The limits of resizing are in whether rings can be resized and what the limits are. The home method is accurate enough for online ordering, but not so precise that you should skip the jeweler's final check.
The most common home sizing mistakes are measuring with string that stretches, which reads too large; measuring first thing in the morning, which reads too small; measuring the outside diameter of an existing ring instead of the inside; ordering a wide band in a thin-band size; and measuring over the knuckle instead of at the base of the finger. Avoid those five and your home measurement will match the jeweler's within half a size. The weather-and-time explanation is in why ring size changes with the weather and time of day, and the wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
Ring sizes are numbered differently in the US, UK, and Europe. US sizes run from about 3 to 13 in half-size increments. UK sizes run letters from F to Z. European sizes are the circumference in millimeters, from about 44 to 70. When you buy online, check which system the store uses, because a size 7 in the US is a size N in the UK and a size 54 in Europe. The millimeter circumference is the universal reference, so measure in millimeters and convert to whichever system the store uses. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
There are several situations where sizing up is the safe move. If you are between two sizes, go up. If the ring is a wide band, go up half a size. If you are buying an engagement ring that will be worn with a wedding band, the combined width feels tighter, so size up. If you live in a warm climate or your fingers swell in the afternoon, size up. The cost of sizing up is a ring that spins slightly; the cost of sizing down is a ring that cuts off circulation. When in doubt, the generous size is the safer choice. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
People have different sizes on different hands. The dominant hand is usually slightly larger, because it is used more and the muscles are more developed. Measure the actual finger on the actual hand that will wear the ring. A ring for the right hand is not the same size as a ring for the left. The ring finger on the left hand is the one for engagement rings, but if you wear your wedding band on the right, measure that finger. Most people find the left ring finger and right ring finger differ by about half a size, which is enough to matter when ordering. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
If you want a more accurate home result than paper, print a ring-size chart from a reputable jewelry site, making sure the printout is at 100 percent scale and not shrunk by the printer. The chart has a circle you can drop an existing ring onto, and a strip you can wrap around your finger. This is more reliable than cutting your own paper, because the circles and the strip are calibrated. Before you trust the printout, measure the test line on the page against a ruler, because printer scaling is the most common error. Once the page is correctly scaled, the printable sizer matches what a jeweler would measure. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
Even with the best home measurement, the first ring you buy may need a small adjustment. Most jewelers resize a new ring within the first few months for a small fee or free. The home measurement gets you close enough that the ring is wearable, and the jeweler fine-tunes it. Do not be discouraged if the first ring is half a size off; that is normal. The limits of resizing are in whether rings can be resized and what the limits are. The home method is accurate enough for online ordering, but not so precise that you should skip the jeweler's final check.
There are several situations where sizing up is the safe move. If you are between two sizes, go up. If the ring is a wide band, go up half a size. If you are buying an engagement ring that will be worn with a wedding band, the combined width feels tighter, so size up. If you live in a warm climate or your fingers swell in the afternoon, size up. The cost of sizing up is a ring that spins slightly; the cost of sizing down is a ring that cuts off circulation. When in doubt, the generous size is the safer choice, and a jeweler can always size down later. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.
Even with the best home measurement, the first ring you buy may need a small adjustment. Most jewelers resize a new ring within the first few months for a small fee or free. The home measurement gets you close enough that the ring is wearable, and the jeweler fine-tunes it. Do not be discouraged if the first ring is half a size off; that is normal. The limits of resizing are in whether rings can be resized and what the limits are. The home method is accurate enough for online ordering, but not so precise that you should skip the jeweler's final check.
People have different sizes on different hands. The dominant hand is usually slightly larger, because it is used more and the muscles are more developed. Measure the actual finger on the actual hand that will wear the ring. A ring for the right hand is not the same size as a ring for the left. The ring finger on the left hand is the one for engagement rings, but if you wear your wedding band on the right, measure that finger. Most people find the left ring finger and right ring finger differ by about half a size, which is enough to matter when ordering. The wide-band note is in whether wide rings fit tighter.