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Ordering a ring online should feel like a small ceremony, not a gamble. The only real risk is the size — and the good news is that you can nail it at home in about two minutes, with things already in your kitchen drawer. Here is exactly how jewelers would tell you to do it.
Method 1: Measure a Ring You Already Own
If you have a ring that fits the same finger perfectly, this is the most accurate home method. Lay it flat on a ruler and measure the inside diameter — the widest distance across the inner circle, edge to edge, in millimetres. Then match it:
- 15.7 mm — US size 5
- 16.5 mm — US size 6
- 17.3 mm — US size 7
- 18.2 mm — US size 8
- 18.9 mm — US size 9
- 19.8 mm — US size 10
- 20.6 mm — US size 11
- 21.4 mm — US size 12
Measure twice. A single millimetre is roughly a full size, so precision matters more than speed.
Method 2: The String (or Paper Strip) Trick
No ring to measure? Cut a thin strip of paper or use a piece of string. Wrap it around the base of the finger the ring will live on — snug, not tight; it should slide over your knuckle with slight resistance. Mark where the ends meet, lay it flat, and measure the length in millimetres. That is the finger's circumference:
- 49.3 mm — US size 5
- 51.9 mm — US size 6
- 54.4 mm — US size 7
- 57.2 mm — US size 8
- 59.5 mm — US size 9
- 62.1 mm — US size 10
- 64.6 mm — US size 11
- 67.2 mm — US size 12
Our full chart, including half and quarter sizes, lives on the Ring Size Guide page — many of our rings come in quarter sizes, so if you land between two numbers, you may not have to compromise at all.
The Rules Nobody Tells You
Measure at the end of the day. Fingers swell with heat, salt, and activity, and shrink in the cold and early morning. Evening is your finger at its honest size — a ring that fits then will fit almost always.
Wide bands fit tighter. A broad statement band covers more skin and grips more of the finger, so it wears about a quarter to half a size smaller than a slim band of the same number. If you are eyeing a wide design like our 14K Gold Gothic Cross Statement Ring, take your true size and step up a quarter or half size for comfort.
Mind the knuckle. If your knuckle is noticeably wider than the base of your finger, measure both and choose a size between the two — the ring has to pass the knuckle, then sit comfortably at the base.
Your dominant hand is slightly bigger. A ring sized for your left ring finger will usually feel tighter on the right. Always measure the exact finger the ring is for.
Between sizes? For thin bands, size down; for wide bands, size up. And forgiving silhouettes exist: an open bypass design like the 14K Gold Leaf Bypass Ring has a touch more give than a closed band.
Still Unsure? That Is Normal
Bodies are not standardized, and neither is jewelry worth wearing. Measure twice, on two different evenings, and trust the larger reading. If you are ordering a gift in secret, borrow a ring the person wears on the same finger and use Method 1 — it is the oldest trick in the trade, and it works.
Ready when you are: browse the full Rings collection, and if anything is unclear, the FAQ page covers the rest.
Written by Dariush Bagheri, the Canadian jewelry designer and 3D artist behind dXb Jewels — two decades across jewelry design, CAD modeling and visual art. Connect on LinkedIn.
