How to Measure Ring Size at Home

Measuring your ring size at home is straightforward when you know the right technique. Below are four reliable methods, ranked from most to least accurate. For any important purchase, we recommend using two methods and cross-referencing the results.

Method 1: The Paper Strip Method

This is the most popular and reliable DIY ring sizing technique. All you need is a strip of paper, a pen, and a ruler with millimetre markings.

1. 1
   Cut a paper strip

   Cut a thin strip of paper approximately 10mm wide and 100mm long. A receipt or piece of plain paper works perfectly.

2. 2
   Wrap around your finger

   Wrap the strip snugly around the base of the finger you'll be wearing the ring on. Make sure the paper fits over your knuckle — the ring must pass over it.

3. 3
   Mark the overlap

   Use a pen or pencil to mark exactly where the paper overlaps itself. Be precise — even 1mm makes a difference.

4. 4
   Measure in millimetres

   Lay the paper flat and measure from the start to your mark using a ruler. This is your finger circumference in mm.

5. 5
   Find your size

   Use our ring size chart and locate your circumference figure. Read across to find your US, UK, or EU size.

Method 2: The String Method

The string method works identically to the paper method but uses dental floss, thread, or thin string instead. Some people find string conforms more closely to the finger's shape.

1. 1
   Use non-stretchy string

   Use dental floss or a piece of thin, non-elastic thread. Stretchy materials like elastic will give inaccurate results.

2. 2
   Wrap and mark

   Wrap around the base of your finger, ensuring it passes over your knuckle. Mark or pinch where the string meets itself.

3. 3
   Measure against a ruler

   Lay the string flat against a millimetre ruler and measure the marked length. This is your circumference.

4. 4
   Find your ring size

   Look up your circumference in the conversion chart.

Method 3: Measure an Existing Ring

If you already own a ring that fits the correct finger perfectly, this is the fastest and often most accurate method.

1. 1
   Select the right ring

   Choose a ring that fits the intended finger — not a ring you just like the size of. It must fit comfortably on the base, not just slide over the knuckle.

2. 2
   Measure the inside diameter

   Place the ring on a flat surface. Measure across the widest point of the inside of the ring using a mm ruler or digital calliper.

3. 3
   Find your size

   Locate your diameter (mm) in the ring dimensions chart.

Method 4: Printable Ring Sizer

Our printable ring sizer lets you match an existing ring to calibrated circles printed at actual size. Visit our printable ring sizer page for full instructions and the printable template.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Measuring in the morning — fingers are smallest first thing. Measure in the evening.
• Measuring in cold weather — cold causes fingers to shrink temporarily. Warm your hands first.
• Wrapping too tightly — the paper or string should sit snugly but not dig in.
• Forgetting the knuckle — the ring must pass over your knuckle. If your knuckle is larger, measure both and choose between the two sizes.
• Only measuring once — take three measurements and use the average or largest.
• Not accounting for band width — for rings wider than 6mm, size up by half a size.

What to Do If You're Between Sizes

If your measurement falls between two sizes on the chart, always choose the larger size. A slightly loose ring can be easily fixed with an inexpensive ring guard or a visit to a jeweller for sizing beads. A ring that's too tight is uncomfortable, difficult to remove, and more expensive to resize.