Earring Size Chart: Studs, Hoops, Drops and Gauge Sizes
For anyone buying earrings listed in millimeters: how big each stud and hoop size looks on the lobe, what diamond carat weights mean in mm, and how post and gauge thicknesses compare.
Stud earrings are measured across the face: 3 to 4 mm is tiny, 5 to 6 mm (about 0.2 in) is the classic everyday size and 8 mm and up is bold. Hoops are measured by outside diameter, from 8 to 12 mm huggies to 50 mm and larger statement hoops. A standard earring post is 20 gauge (0.81 mm).
- Everyday stud
- 5-6 mm (0.2 in)
- Huggie hoop
- 8-12 mm
- Standard post
- 20 gauge (0.81 mm)
- 1 ctw diamond studs
- 5.1 mm each
On this page
Stud earring size chart
Stud size is the diameter of the face, such as a ball, a stone or a flat disc. Ball studs and gemstone studs use the same scale.
| Stud size | Inches | Look on the lobe | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | 0.08 in | A pinpoint | Cartilage, third holes, children |
| 3 mm | 0.12 in | Tiny | Second holes, children, men's discreet stud |
| 4 mm | 0.16 in | Small but clear | Everyday studs, men's studs |
| 5 mm | 0.20 in | Classic everyday size | Diamond, ball and gemstone studs |
| 6 mm | 0.24 in | Noticeable | Pearls; 2 ctw diamond studs (6.4 mm each) |
| 7 to 8 mm | 0.28 to 0.31 in | Bold | Classic pearl studs; 3 to 4 ctw diamond studs |
| 10 mm | 0.39 in | Covers much of a small lobe | Large pearls, statement studs |
| 12 mm and up | 0.47 in and up | Statement | Button and cluster earrings |
Earlobes differ, so the same 6 mm stud fills more of a small lobe than a large one. Hold a ruler against the lobe in a mirror to see how much of it a given size will cover.
Diamond stud sizes: carat total weight to mm
Diamond studs are sold by carat total weight (ctw), the combined weight of the pair. Each stone weighs half the stated figure. The diameters below are for well-cut round brilliants.
| Carat total weight | Each stone | Diameter of each stone |
|---|---|---|
| 0.10 ctw | 0.05 ct | 2.4 mm |
| 0.25 ctw | 0.125 ct | 3.2 mm |
| 0.33 ctw | 0.165 ct | 3.5 mm |
| 0.50 ctw | 0.25 ct | 4.1 mm |
| 0.75 ctw | 0.375 ct | 4.6 mm |
| 1.00 ctw | 0.50 ct | 5.1 mm |
| 1.50 ctw | 0.75 ct | 5.8 mm |
| 2.00 ctw | 1.00 ct | 6.4 mm |
| 3.00 ctw | 1.50 ct | 7.4 mm |
| 4.00 ctw | 2.00 ct | 8.1 mm |
A setting adds to the face: a four-prong basket adds a few tenths of a millimeter, and a halo adds about 2 to 3 mm. The same carat-to-diameter rule applies to rings and pendants; see the engagement ring carat chart for fancy shapes.
Pearl stud sizes
| Pearl size | Inches | Look |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 5 mm | 0.16 to 0.20 in | Dainty; children and second holes |
| 6 to 6.5 mm | 0.24 to 0.26 in | Small, everyday |
| 7 to 7.5 mm | 0.28 to 0.30 in | The classic pearl stud |
| 8 to 9 mm | 0.31 to 0.35 in | Noticeable, formal |
| 10 to 13 mm | 0.39 to 0.51 in | Large; South Sea and Tahitian sizes |
Hoop earring sizes
Hoops are listed by outside diameter. Thickness (tube width) is listed separately and changes the look as much as the diameter. The inside diameter is the outside diameter minus twice the thickness: a 30 mm hoop made from 3 mm tube has a 24 mm opening.
| Diameter | Inches | Style | How it hangs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 12 mm | 0.3 to 0.5 in | Huggie | Hugs the lobe; works in second holes |
| 13 to 20 mm | 0.5 to 0.8 in | Small hoop | Just below the lobe |
| 25 to 35 mm | 1 to 1.4 in | Medium hoop | The everyday hoop; clear of the jaw |
| 40 to 50 mm | 1.6 to 2 in | Large hoop | Reaches toward the jawline |
| 60 to 80 mm and up | 2.4 to 3.1 in and up | Statement hoop | At or below the jaw; light hollow tube recommended |
| Tube width | Look |
|---|---|
| 1 to 1.5 mm | Fine wire hoop |
| 2 to 3 mm | Classic everyday hoop |
| 4 to 6 mm | Chunky; usually hollow to save weight |
| 7 mm and up | Bold, dome or tube hoops |
Drop and dangle earring lengths
Length is measured from the top of the hook or post to the bottom of the earring. The jawline sets the practical limit: measure from your piercing straight down to the jaw with a ruler to see where each length will land.
- Under 25 mm (1 in): short drops; stay on or just below the lobe.
- 25 to 50 mm (1 to 2 in): the usual dangle range, hanging between the lobe and the jaw.
- 50 to 75 mm (2 to 3 in): long drops that reach the jaw or the neck; best with a short necklace or none. See necklace lengths.
- Over 75 mm (3 in): shoulder dusters.
A heavy earring hanging from a 0.8 mm post concentrates its weight on a small area of the lobe. Over time this elongates or tears the hole. For large statement earrings, choose hollow or lightweight materials, use larger backs with discs, and take them off for sleep.
Earring post and gauge sizes
Gauge is the thickness of the post or wire, using the American Wire Gauge scale: higher numbers are thinner.
| Gauge | Thickness | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| 22 g | 0.64 mm | Thin fashion posts and French hooks |
| 21 g | 0.72 mm | Fine jewelry posts |
| 20 g | 0.81 mm | The standard earring post |
| 18 g | 1.0 mm | Many body jewelry studs and some piercing studs |
| 16 g | 1.2 to 1.3 mm | Cartilage, helix and tragus jewelry |
| 14 g | 1.6 mm | Body piercings and the start of stretched lobes |
| 12 g / 10 g / 8 g | 2 / 2.5 / 3 mm | Stretched lobes |
| 6 g / 4 g / 2 g | 4 / 5 / 6 mm | Stretched lobes |
| 0 g / 00 g | 8 / 9.5 to 10 mm | Larger stretched lobes; beyond 00 g sizes go by inches or mm |
From 14 g down, body jewelry makers round to the metric sizes shown rather than exact wire gauge values. A lobe pierced with a thicker stud can wear standard 20 g earrings, but the reverse may need gradual stretching. Earring backs must match the post: a butterfly back sized for 20 g slips off a 22 g post.
Earring fit problems to avoid
- Confusing ctw with each stone. 1 ctw is two half-carat stones, about 5.1 mm each.
- Ignoring hoop thickness. A 50 mm hoop in 1.5 mm wire is airy; in 6 mm tube it is bold and heavy.
- Choosing long posts for thin lobes. Standard posts are long enough for most lobes; thick lobes may need longer posts, and cartilage piercings need posts sized to the tissue by a piercer.
- Hats and collars. Long drops catch on scarves, high collars and the brims of hats.
Earrings go missing in pairs and singles; a box with an earring grid or small lidded compartments keeps them together. See the jewelry box guide. For matching sets, the pendant size chart uses the same millimeter scale, and ring sizes follow a separate system.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a 5 mm earring?
5 mm is 0.2 in, about 3/16 in. On an average earlobe it is a small, clearly visible stud, the classic everyday size. A pair of 0.5 ct diamonds (1 ct total) measures about 5.1 mm each.
How big is a 33 mm earring?
33 mm is 1.3 in. As a hoop, it is a medium everyday size that hangs clear of the jaw on most people. As a drop earring, 33 mm is a modest dangle, measured from the top of the hook or post to the bottom.
What does ctw mean on diamond studs?
Carat total weight: the combined weight of both stones. 1 ctw studs are two 0.5 ct diamonds of about 5.1 mm each, not two 1 ct stones.
What gauge are normal earrings?
Most fashion earrings use 20 gauge posts (0.81 mm), and some fine or inexpensive ones use 21 to 22 gauge (0.7 to 0.6 mm). Body jewelry for lobes is often 18 or 16 gauge (1.0 or 1.3 mm), thicker than a standard earring post.
What size stud for a second or cartilage piercing?
Smaller than the first hole. Second lobe holes usually take 3 to 4 mm studs, and cartilage (helix) piercings 2 to 4 mm tops on a flat-back post, which is more comfortable to sleep on than a butterfly back.