How to Measure Ring Size at Home: Get It Right the First Time

Ring sizing is the part of buying a custom ring that people fear most. Order a ring that is too small and it will not go on. Order one that is too big and it spins around the finger or slips off. The good news is that you do not need to guess. A few simple methods at home get you within half a size, and half a size is close enough for us to build a ring that fits. Here are the methods that actually work.

The Borrowed Ring Method

If the ring is a surprise, the best method is to borrow a ring she already wears on the correct finger. Slip it off while she sleeps, trace the inside circle on a piece of paper, and measure the diameter. We can convert that measurement to a ring size. This works best if the ring is a plain band she wears on the same finger the engagement ring will go on.

Be careful. Borrowing a ring for an hour is fine. Losing it is not. Put it on a piece of paper, trace it, and put it back the same day.

The Paper Strip Method

Wrap a thin strip of paper or a piece of floss around the base of the finger you want to measure. Mark where the paper overlaps. Measure the length against a ruler. That is the circumference. Compare it to a ring size chart. This method is approximate, but it gets you close.

Do the measurement at the end of the day, when the finger is at its largest. Fingers swell a little as the day goes on, and a morning measurement will be a half size small. Do it when the hand is warm, not cold, because cold fingers shrink.

The Existing Ring Sizer

If you are ordering from HOLYCOME, we can mail you a plastic ring sizer before production. It is a small set of plastic rings in different sizes that you try on over a few days. This is the most accurate at-home method, because you can wear the sizer while you cook, type, and sleep. If the surprise depends on not revealing the order, ask a friend to borrow the sizer or use the borrowed-ring method instead.

What Finger to Measure

The engagement ring goes on the ring finger of the left hand in most Western countries. That is the third finger, between the middle and the pinky. Measure that finger, not the middle finger and not the right hand. The two hands are different sizes, and the two ring fingers are different sizes too.

Account for the Knuckle

If her knuckle is wider than the base of the finger, the ring has to slide over the knuckle. That means the ring will feel slightly loose at the base. That is normal. Size the ring so it passes over the knuckle with a little resistance, not so it is tight at the base. A comfort-fit band on the inside helps the ring slide.

The Width Rule

Wider bands fit tighter than thin bands. A six-millimetre wide band feels a half size smaller than a two-millimetre band on the same finger. If you are ordering a wide men's band, size up half a size. If you are ordering a dainty women's band, size normally.

When to Measure

Measure when the hand is at its normal temperature. Not after a hot walk, not first thing in the morning when fingers are puffy, not after a flight. A normal Tuesday evening is ideal. If you measure during pregnancy or right after a salty meal, the finger is temporarily swollen, and the ring will be too big later.

The Resizing Safety Net

If you do get the size wrong, we can resize the ring. But resizing adds time and cost, and it thins the metal a little each time. Getting close the first time is worth the ten minutes of measurement. If you are within half a size, the ring will fit. If you are a full size off, send it back and we will fix it.

The Borrowed Ring Method

If the ring is a surprise, the best method is to borrow a ring she already wears on the correct finger. Slip it off while she sleeps, trace the inside circle on a piece of paper, and measure the diameter. We can convert that measurement to a ring size. Be careful: borrow it for an hour, trace it, and put it back the same day. Losing it defeats the purpose.

The Paper Strip Method

Wrap a thin strip of paper or floss around the base of the finger. Mark where it overlaps. Measure the length against a ruler. That is the circumference. Compare it to a ring size chart. Do the measurement at the end of the day, when the finger is at its largest, and when the hand is warm. A morning measurement will be a half size small.

The Plastic Sizer

If you are ordering from HOLYCOME, we can mail you a plastic ring sizer before production. It is a small set of plastic rings in different sizes that you try on over a few days. This is the most accurate at-home method, because you can wear the sizer while you cook, type, and sleep. If the surprise depends on not revealing the order, use the borrowed-ring method instead.

The Width and Knuckle Rules

Wider bands fit tighter than thin bands. A six-millimetre band feels a half size smaller than a two-millimetre band on the same finger. If her knuckle is wider than the base of the finger, size the ring so it passes over the knuckle with a little resistance, not so it is tight at the base. A comfort-fit band on the inside helps it slide.

The Borrowed Ring Method

If the ring is a surprise, the best method is to borrow a ring she already wears on the correct finger. Slip it off while she sleeps, trace the inside circle on a piece of paper, and measure the diameter. We can convert that measurement to a ring size. Be careful: borrow it for an hour, trace it, and put it back the same day. Losing it defeats the purpose.

The Paper Strip Method

Wrap a thin strip of paper or floss around the base of the finger. Mark where it overlaps. Measure the length against a ruler. That is the circumference. Compare it to a ring size chart. Do the measurement at the end of the day, when the finger is at its largest, and when the hand is warm. A morning measurement will be a half size small.

The Plastic Sizer

If you are ordering from HOLYCOME, we can mail you a plastic ring sizer before production. It is a small set of plastic rings in different sizes that you try on over a few days. This is the most accurate at-home method, because you can wear the sizer while you cook, type, and sleep. If the surprise depends on not revealing the order, use the borrowed-ring method instead.

The Width and Knuckle Rules

Wider bands fit tighter than thin bands. A six-millimetre band feels a half size smaller than a two-millimetre band on the same finger. If her knuckle is wider than the base of the finger, size the ring so it passes over the knuckle with a little resistance, not so it is tight at the base. A comfort-fit band on the inside helps it slide. If you do get the size wrong, we can resize, but getting close the first time saves time and money.

The Bottom Line

Borrow a ring she wears, trace it, and measure. Or use a paper strip at the end of the day on the correct finger. Or order our plastic sizer before production. Measure when the hand is warm and normal. Account for the knuckle and the band width. Get it close, and the resizing safety net covers the rest.