The Complete Guide to Measuring Your Body Jewelry: A Comprehensive Resource

The Complete Guide to Measuring Your Body Jewelry: A Comprehensive Resource

Accurate measurements are crucial when it comes to selecting and wearing body jewelry that complements your style and ensures optimal comfort. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the essential steps and tips for measuring different types of body jewelry. From earrings to nose rings, we've got you covered with expert advice to help you make informed decisions

Important: Pierced strongly encourages sizing to be conducted by a reputable piercer for accurate results. Once you know your size, you will be ready to shop online for new jewelry without being hesitant about sizing.

First, yes, you do have a unique size. Different than traditional jewelry which is widely made as one size fits all, body jewelry - thankfully - can be fitted to your unique anatomy and style. Sure a pair of jeans can fit different people, but we all know that the perfect fit can elevate your look and also be more comfortable to wear.

Second, the best way to know your jewelry or post (labret/backing) size is to go visit a reputable piercer. Not only will they be able to accurately measure you, but they will also make sure your piercing is fully healed and ready for a jewelry change.

Why is it important that your piercing is fully healed before you measure your jewelry size?

Switching the shape of the jewelry or the size too soon can be detrimental to the healing process. If you’re sizing yourself while you’re still healing you can get incorrect results as swelling may still be happening.

Luckily, if you are sure your piercing is healed but you are not able to visit your piercer you might still be able to measure your jewelry size to change your look. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of how to measure your current body jewelry.

How to measure your healed piercing body jewelry.

Always wash your hands before and after handling your piercings or body jewelry.

You will need:

  1. Handsoap
  2. Ruler/ Callipers
  3. A helping hand
When you are measuring yourself, make sure the tissue is in resting position. You should never manipulate the tissue as it can change the outcome. Hands off whatever you're measuring, and hold your tool up to the area.

How to measure your stud jewelry size.

Stud jewelry needs two parts to wear. One is the End (also known as Top) which is the decorative piece that sits on top of your piercing, and the other is the Post (also known as labret or backing) which is the piece that goes in your piercing.

At Pierced we use mostly threadless Ends and flatback posts which are ideal for healing and comfort.

To find out your stud jewelry size you’ll need to find two measurements:
  1. Your post gauge
  2. Your post length

How to measure your post length

You will need to measure the width of the tissue between the entrance wound and exit wound. This is complicated to properly measure on your own and we recommend you ask someone to lend a helping hand.

Make sure you both wash your hands and that the tissue is in a rested position. With a ruler or a clean set of callipers, measure the space between the entrance hole and the exit hole.

Noting where the entrance and exit are is key because if you’ve slept on the piercing excessively or had it performed at an angle there will be more surface area to cover than if it healed at a perfect 90-degree angle.

If your piercing is on an extreme angle you must also take into account the disk on the back of the post, and where it will sit. If the post is too tight, it will be encountering your ear at an angle.

 

Most body jewelry is measured in fractions of an inch. If you’re not familiar with the imperial system you can use the chart below to find your size in millimetres (metric system).

If after measuring your size you are still not sure, remember that slightly more room is better than too little.

 Inches Millimeters
3/16" 4.8mm
7/32" 5.5mm
1/4" 6.4mm
9/32" 7.2mm
5/16" 7.9mm
11/32" 8.7mm
3/8" 9.5mm
7/16" 11mm
1/2" 13mm


How to measure your post gauge

The gauge size of your piercing is the thickness of the post that goes through your piercing. Gauge sizes work in reverse, meaning that higher numbers are thinner than smaller numbers. For example, an 18 gauge post is thinner than a 16 gauge post.

If you’re already wearing a piece of jewelry, the easiest way to do this is to measure the jewelry and use the chart below to find your gauge size.

Gauge Millimeters
20g 0.8mm
18g 1mm
16g 1.2mm
14g 1.6mm
12g 2mm



If you are currently wearing anything thinner than an 18g, it is likely you will need professional help installing the jewelry. Common salon jewelry is typically 20 gauge or 22 gauge and 18 gauge is larger in diameter, so in this case, your piercing would need to be stretched up to size.

Click on the gauge card above to download a printable file for measuring body jewelry. Make sure you print it at 100% original size and do not scale to fit your paper size.

How to measure your hoop (ring) jewelry

Seam rings and clicker rings have two measurements:

  1. Ring gauge
  2. Ring diameter

Sizing for rings is best done by a professional piercer as there are many factors that go into measuring properly for hoop placement that will result in the most accurate and comfortable fit.

Ring gauges are measured just like post gauges. Simply measure your existing jewelry gauge and use the chart above if you are looking for the same ring thickness.

The next thing you will need to do is find out the internal diameter of the ring. The ring needs to be large enough in diameter that it comfortably fits around the structures it comes in contact with, and it doesn’t manipulate the original piercing too severely. For example, rings that are too tight can cause irritation and damage to piercings in addition to being very challenging to install.

To find out the best internal diameter you should measure from the piercing hole to the edge of your ear, nose, or lip.

Conclusion

Sizing might not be as exciting as shopping for new jewelry, but it is sure to help you achieve the desired look while also being the most comfortable to wear. If you’re not 100% confident in your ability to size yourself and install your own jewelry, don’t feel bad. We’re here to help. Come visit one of our studios and our piercers will be happy to help you find your perfect size.

Important: Pierced strongly encourages sizing to be conducted by a reputable piercer for accurate results. Once you know your size, you will be ready to shop online for new jewelry without being hesitant about sizing. Due to strict health regulations, we are unable to offer returns or exchanges.

Piercing Studios Near You

Mississauga

Square One Shopping Centre
100 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, ON L5B 2C9

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Need an Experienced Piercer in Mississauga?

Working with an experienced piercer can make all the difference when it comes to your piercing experience. If you’re in the Mississauga, Ontario area and have any questions about ear piercing, body piercing or jewelry, give us a call or stop by our piercings studio today. We’d love to help walk you through what to expect and help you choose the right option.

Rethink piercings, rethink piercings, rethink piercings.

Rethink piercings, rethink piercings, rethink piercings.