How to Find a Ring Size

I remember when I proposed to my lovely wife.

I was nervous, we were hiking to a summit that was nearly 10,000 feet, and I fought to catch my breath because the air was so thin up there. I was hiking with a massive pack that included our tent and other supplies because our plan was to spend the night at a nearby lake rather than return to the cabin.

And one of the heaviest things I was carrying was a diamond engagement ring.

It was in a side pocket on the hiking backpack, weighed just a few ounces, but it felt like twenty pounds.

When we reached the top, I proposed, she said yes, and I slipped the ring on… and it fit.

I knew she’d say yes. I wasn’t worried about that.

I was worried whether the ring would fit because you can’t exactly subtly ask “Hey honey, what’s your ring size? You know, the size of your wedding ring finger?” without giving something away. (if you really think that’ll work – go for it!)

But you still need the size, so how do you get it?

Table of Contents
  1. The Best Way to Find a Ring Size
  2. Online Ring Sizer
  3. Ring Size Chart
  4. How Much Is Resizing a Ring?

The Best Way to Find a Ring Size

Besides asking because she (or he) already knows it, there are really only two good ways to find out a ring size:

  • Find an existing ring and measure that ring. You know how it fits, whether it’s too loose or too tight, so it’ll give you a good indication of what your best size is. You can use an online ring sizer to measure the size or measure the diameter and calculate it (circumference = π x diameter, π = 3.14159).
  • or, Measure the circumference of the finger you’ll wear the ring at the widest part. Use a string or even dental floss. Wrap it around your finger, make a mark, then measure the length of the string with a ruler.

You’ll want to know the circumference down to the millimeter.

If you don’t have access to string or floss, you can always print out a ring sizing guide from a site like James Allen. Print it out (make sure it’s regular size and not stretched to fit the page), cut it out, and wrap it around your finger as instructed.

When you measure your finger, do so when conditions are “normal.”

You don’t want to do it when it’s too warm, when you’ve been walking for a long time, or some other time when your finger could be slightly swollen. You don’t want to do it when you’re cold or dehydrated, as your finger could be slightly smaller. It sounds odd to say but there is a slight variation and you want to get a comfortable fit that isn’t too tight (uncomfortable) or too loose (likely to lose the ring).

You can also measure several times during the day to get an idea of how your fingers change over the course of a day.

Online Ring Sizer

Do you have a ring and don’t want to measure it? Use an online ring sizer.

The easiest one to use is this ring sizer from James Allen. Just click the button that says “Determine Your Ring Size Now.”

Once you get a ring, click Start now.

To make sure the size is correct based on your monitor’s resolution, you’ll need to get a credit card or driver’s license to size match. The floating “Place your card here” is NOT TO SCALE. You must get a card and move the left and right sides to match.

This step is important because it adjust the ring sizer to your monitor’s resolution.

Next, find the ring and match it to a circle on the screen, sizes go from 3 to 16:

Viola! Ring size achieved!

That’s it! Now all you need is to get an existing ring and you’re done.

Ring Size Chart

Here’s where it gets fun because ring sizes aren’t just a number in millimeters. And different countries use different size names.

The US and Canada use one system, usually from 3 – 13, while Great Britain uses letters.

The “Size in Millimeters” in the chart below refers to the circumference of your finger. You will see some charts that talk about the diameter – don’t use those charts. You have the circumference, why bother with the math? The circumference you have is what you want the inside circumference of the ring you want.

Here’s a ring size chart for you to convert size in millimeters into numbers and letters:

Size in
Millimeters
US / CanadaUKJapanFranceSwitzerlandGermany 
44.13F444414
45.43 ½G545 ¼5 ¼14 ½
46.74H ½746 ½6 ½15
484 ½I ½847 3/47 3/415 ½
49.25J ½949915 3/4
50.55 ½K ½1050 ¼10 ¼16 ¼
51.86L ½1251 ½11 ½16 ½
53.16 ½M ½1352 3/412 3/417
54.37O14541417 ¼
55.67 ½P1555 ¼15 ¼17 3/4
56.98Q1656 ½16 ½18
58.28 ½R1757 3/417 3/418 ½
59.49S18591919
60.79 ½1960 ¼20 ¼19 ½
6210T ½2061 ½21 ½20
63.310 ½U ½2262 3/422 3/420 ½
64.511V ½23642420 3/4
65.811 ½W ½2465 ¼25 ¼21
67.112Y2566 ½26 ½21 ¼
68.312 ½Z2667 3/427 3/421 3/4
69.61327692922

When in doubt, go slightly larger because slightly smaller risks the ring not fitting.

And if you do purchase a ring, get one that offers free resizing. Most online merchants will offer at least one free resizing in the first year. Both James Allen and Blue Nile offer one free resizing of an engagement ring within the first year. If you find that the ring is just slightly too small or just slightly too big, just take advantage of the free resizing to get a perfect fit.

How Much Is Resizing a Ring?

If you don’t get free resizing, or it’s been too long, getting a ring resized is not difficult. Most jewelers are able to resize a ring about two sizes either directly and the costs will vary.

If your ring is too big, and you need to resize it down, you’re in luck. This is the easier of the two resizes. It’s because they just need to remove a section of the ring, reconnect it, and you’re good to go. It’s often much cheaper because you don’t need new material, the jeweler will give you a bit of credit for the material (they keep it), and so the price will be lower.

If your ring is too small, and you need to resize it up, it’ll cost more because they need more material.

The biggest determinant to the cost of resizing is the material. Platinum is the most expensive, followed by white gold (because you need to replate it with rhodium too), then yellow gold, then sterling silver. Call your local jeweler to get a sense of how much it should cost. If you have stainless steel, tungsten, or titanium ring – sadly you are out of luck. Most jewelers are unable to work with them because of how hard they are. But call around to see.

Good luck!

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About Jim Wang

Jim Wang is a forty-something father of four who is a frequent contributor to Forbes and Vanguard's Blog. He has also been fortunate to have appeared in the New York Times, Baltimore Sun, Entrepreneur, and Marketplace Money.

Jim has a B.S. in Computer Science and Economics from Carnegie Mellon University, an M.S. in Information Technology - Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. His approach to personal finance is that of an engineer, breaking down complex subjects into bite-sized easily understood concepts that you can use in your daily life.

One of his favorite tools (here's my treasure chest of tools,, everything I use) is Personal Capital, which enables him to manage his finances in just 15-minutes each month. They also offer financial planning, such as a Retirement Planning Tool that can tell you if you're on track to retire when you want. It's free.

He is also diversifying his investment portfolio by adding a little bit of real estate. But not rental homes, because he doesn't want a second job, it's diversified small investments in a few commercial properties and farms in Illinois, Louisiana, and California through AcreTrader.

Recently, he's invested in a few pieces of art on Masterworks too.

>> Read more articles by Jim

Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank or financial institution. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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