Advanced search & filters

Current Filters

More Filters:

Blog/Learn About Body Jewelry/Body jewelry measurement guide

Published Wednesday, February 1, 2023

How body jewelry is measured

Gauge conversion chart
Diagrams on how body jewelry is measured
Jewelry threading types
Size comparison guides
Printable gauge card
Finger ring sizing

In our drop-down menus for adding to cart, we show the gauge of the item you are ordering, then the length/diameter, then the ball size if it has any:

Jewelry is measured through a gauge system (conversion chart below). The higher the gauge number the smaller the wire is. For reference, a standard "earring" is usually 20 gauge. Jewelry gauges can vary between manufacturers. There is no universal regulation on companies to make a standard size in body jewelry. This is because some jewelry is made outside of the USA and measured in millimeters. And in the USA jewelry is measured in inches.

GAUGE CONVERSION CHART:

Gauge	Millimeter	Inch
20g	.81mm
18g	1mm
16g	1.2mm	3/64"
14g	1.6mm	1/16"
12g	2mm	5/64"
10g	2.4mm	3/32"
9g	2.7mm
8g	3.2mm	1/8"
7g	3.5mm
6g	4mm	5/32"
4g	5mm	3/16"
5g	4.5mm
2g	6mm	1/4"
1g	7mm
0g	8mm	5/16"
00g	9mm to 10mm	3/8"
	11mm	7/16"
	13mm	1/2"
	14mm	9/16"
	16mm	5/8"
	19mm	3/4"
	22mm	7/8"
	25mm	1"
Show sizes above 1 inch
	26.9mm	1-1/16"
	28.5mm	1-1/8"
	30.1mm	1-3/16"
	31.7mm	1-1/4"
	33.3mm	1-5/16"
	34.9mm	1-3/8"
	36.5mm	1-7/16"
	38.1mm	1-1/2"
	39.6mm	1-9/16"
	41.2mm	1-5/8"
	44.4mm	1-3/4"
	47.6mm	1-7/8"
	51mm	2"

HOW BODY JEWELRY IS MEASURED

Rings

Rings are an essential item that can be worn in many piercings. They come in various styles:

Captive bead rings - These use tension to hold a bead in place.
Clickers - These use a hinge to open and close the ring.
Segment rings - These have a "segment" that comes completely out of the jewelry similar to removing a bead. But it looks like a completely seamless piece of jewelry.
Seamless rings - These rings require bending to open & close.

How to measure rings

Gauge - This is the thickness of the ring itself.
Diameter/Length - Measure directly across the inside center of the ring.

Straight Barbells

Straight barbells are commonly worn in various ear projects, nipples, and tongue piercings.

How to measure straight barbells

Gauge - This is the thickness of the post/bar itself.
Length - Measure directly across the post between the ends.

Double Flare Plugs / Eyelets / Gauges

Commonly worn in earlobes, but can be worn in other stretched piercings.

How to measure double flare plugs

Gauge - Measure the size of the plug across the middle.
Wearable area - Measure straight across the side of the plug between where the flares start.
Flare size / rise - Measure the distance from the side of the plug to where the flare ends.

Single Flare Plugs / Eyelets / Gauges

Commonly worn in earlobes, but can be worn in other stretched piercings.

How to measure single flare plugs

Gauge - Measure the size of the plug across the middle.
Wearable area - Measure straight across the side of the plug between where one flare starts and where the o-ring starts.
Flare size / rise - Measure the distance from the side of the plug to where the flare ends. (see image of double flare plugs)

No Flare Plugs / Eyelets / Gauges

Commonly worn in earlobes, but can be worn in other stretched piercings.

How to measure no flare plugs

Gauge - Measure the size of the plug across the middle.
Wearable area - Measure straight across the side of the plug between the o-rings.

Teardrop Shaped Plugs

Worn in earlobes

How to measure teardrop shaped jewelry

Gauge - Add the height + width and then divide by 2. Then use the conversion chart to get the closest gauge.
Wearable area - Measure directly across the plug between where the flares begin.
Flare size / rise - Measure from between the flares to the edge of where the flares end.

Curved Barbells

Curved barbells are commonly worn in various ear projects & eyebrows.

How to measure curved barbells

Gauge - This is the thickness of the post/bar itself.
Length - Measure directly across the post between the ends.

Circular Barbells

Circular barbells are commonly worn in various ear projects, septums, nipples, and lips.

How to measure circular barbells

Gauge - This is the thickness of the post itself.
Diameter/Length - Measure directly across the inside center of the circular.

Labrets

Labrets are commonly worn in piercings around the mouth. They can also be worn in various ear piercings and nose piercings. They are a very versatile jewelry.

How to measure labrets

Gauge - This is the thickness of the post/bar itself.
Length - Measure directly across the post between the flat disk back and the end / ball.

Nosescrews

Nosescrews are worn in nostril piercings.

How to measure nosescrews

Gauge - This is the thickness of the post itself.
Length / Wearable area - Measure directly across the post right below where the main end starts and before the bend begins.

Nosebones

Nosebones are worn in nostril piercings.

How to measure nosebones

Gauge - This is the thickness of the post itself.
Length / Wearable area - Measure directly across the post right below where the main end starts and before the bend small ball on the other side begins.

Nose hoops

Nose hoops are commonly worn in nostril piercings, but you can also wear them in various ear piercings.

How to measure nose hoops

Gauge - This is the thickness of the ring itself.
Diameter - Measure directly across the center of the hoop at its widest point. All measure the inside of the ring (do not include the ring itself).