How To Measure Ring Size Quickly and Accurately

So you order a gorgeous ring online, wait a few days (and even weeks) till it arrives, put it on your finger… and it doesn’t fit. What can be more frustrating than this? You can blame it all on the seller but what if you identified your finger size incorrectly? No doubt everybody knows their shoe and clothes sizes but when it comes to fingers (and jewelry that goes on them) the story is a little bit different. Let’s eliminate guesswork from your shopping experience and learn how to measure ring size once and for all. 

Things You Need to Know Before You Start

All our digits have a different circumference. The same finger on the opposite hand is always marginally larger or smaller. But these petty millimeters are the difference between a perfectly fitting ring and an unsuitable one. Therefore, you need to always measure the exact same finger you intend to buy a ring for. If it is the middle finger of your right hand, measuring the left-sided middle finger won’t do. 

You’d be surprised but our fingers change their sizes throughout the day. When we just wake up, drink too much water, or when it is hot outside our body tends to bloat. And vice versa, in cold weather and when we are dehydrated our fingers slim down a tiny bit. You need to find a perfect time when your body is in its optimal shape and size. Normally, it is a few hours after you wake up and a few hours after you took your meal. The temperature around you should be neither freezing nor sweltering. It is not recommended measuring your digits after the gym, sauna, when you’re sick, when you’re on a diet, and during a few hours following an airplane trip. 

Three Ways to Figure Our Your Finger Size

It is not rocket science to measure your fingers. Nevertheless, you will need a few gears. The most important ones are a ruler and a ring size chart. You can find plenty of charts on the internet – they show the relation between the diameter or circumference of the finger and the size of the rings according to the US, UK, Japanese, and other systems. The most common one is the US ring size standard. It is more than likely that you will need to specify your size according to this gauge when buying a ring.

Now, let us show you a few ways to learn your finger size. If you already wear a ring, you can simply measure it. Put it on a piece of paper, circle inside the band with a pencil, and measure its diameter. Alternatively, you can put a ring on a ruler and determine its inner diameter. After that, look at the ring size chart to learn which size matches this diameter. If a chart contains information only about ring circumferences, just multiply the diameter by 3.14. For instance, the girth of 2 9/16” (62 mm) is equal to the US 10 size. 

If you don’t have a fitting ring, just measure your finger directly with a soft tape. If you don’t have one, take a piece of thread, wrap it around your finger, mark where the ends meet, and measure this length. To get a more accurate result, you can wrap the thread around three times and then divide the length by three. You can also take a thin piece of paper instead of thread. 

One more option is to find a ring sizer on the internet, print it out, put it around your finger, and voila, it will show the exact size. If you have time to visit an actual jewelry store, it is possible to get measurements there. Jewelers have a ring size gauge that will show the exact number you’re looking for.

A Few More Tips To Measure Ring Size

If your finger is between two sizes, stick to the larger one. There must be a little gap between your finger and a ring. If it is too large, you can ask a jeweler to downsize the ring. It is way easier than upsizing. However, it is not always possible to get the desired adjustments. If a ring’s shank features any embellishment, there is a chance that it can be damaged. Therefore, you should be extremely careful when buying lavishly ornate pieces. 

The same goes for rings with wide shanks. You need to always size them up in comparison to narrower counterparts. So let’s say you have a regular ring in the size 7 if you’re going to replace it with a thick ring, add at least one quarter to this size. 

Finally, it is important to find a good jewelry company. You will have nothing to worry about if it offers a solid return policy. If a ring doesn’t fit, you should be able to return it and order a new one. If your experience goes smooth, you will know for sure which sizes suit you to a T.