Secret Ring SizeAt home, with a ruler
How to measure ring size at home with string or paper
Wrap a thin strip of paper or a piece of string around the base of the finger, mark where it meets, and measure that length on a ruler. Type it below: 52 mm around (about 2 1/16 inches) is a US 6.
Type the length you measured
Right on a size.
Screens, paper and string can be off by a little. Before you order, tell the jeweler how you measured and ask about resizing.
Step by step
- Cut a stripPaper about 1/4 inch wide works better than string, which stretches and twists.
- Wrap it snuglyAround the base of the finger, snug but not tight. Mark where the end overlaps.
- Check the knuckleSlide the loop toward the fingertip. If it will not pass the knuckle, loosen it until it just does.
- Measure flatLay it on a ruler and read from the end to your mark, in millimeters if you can.
Worked example
A strip that measures 54 mm around is a circle 17.2 mm across (54 ÷ 3.1416). That sits just under the US 7 line of 17.3 mm, so the size is US 7, which is N½ in the UK and 54 in Europe. In inches, 2 1/8 inches is 54 mm, the same answer.
Measure at the end of the day, when fingers are a little larger, and measure two or three times. If the readings differ, use the largest. Have a ring they already wear? Measuring a ring is steadier than measuring a finger.
Questions
Is string accurate for measuring ring size?
Less accurate than paper, because string stretches and twists. A thin strip of paper is better; either way, measure two or three times and use the largest reading.
How many inches around is a size 7 ring?
About 2.14 inches, which is 54.4 mm around and 17.3 mm across the inside.
Should I measure the knuckle or the base of the finger?
The base, where the ring sits, but the ring also has to pass the knuckle. If the knuckle is much wider, choose a size between the two.
What time of day is best to measure?
The evening, at room temperature. Fingers are smaller when cold and first thing in the morning.