Ring Sizing: How to Get the Perfect Fit

The Scale

The UK uses the alphabet system of ring sizes. The scales ranges from A (the smallest) to Z (the largest).

Half Sizes

Just like shoes, rings come in half sizes (e.g., Size M and Size M1/2).

The Increment

Each letter represents an increase of roughly 1.25mm in circumference.

Common Averages

Did you know that the most common ring size for a woman in the UK is
between L and N. For men, the average usually falls between S and T.

Option A: The "Belt" Sizer (Most accurate DIY)

or a few pounds (or often for free from online
jewellers), you can order a plastic "multisizer." This looks like a
small zip-tie or belt.

1. Slip the end through the buckle to form a loop.
2. Slip it onto the intended finger.
3. Tighten it until it feels comfortable.
4. Crucial Step: Ensure you can slide the sizer back off over your knuckle with a little resistance.
5. Read the letter indicated by the arrow.

 

Option B: Measure an Existing Ring

If you already own a ring that fits the exact finger you are buying for, you can measure it.

1. Place the ring on a flat surface.
2. Use a ruler to measure the inside diameter (do not include the metal band itself).
3. Use the chart below to find your size.

Option C: The Paper Strip Method (Use with Caution)

If you have no tools, use a strip of paper. Avoid string, as it stretches and often results in a ring that is too small.

1. Cut a strip of paper (no wider than the ring band).
2. Wrap it around the base of the finger.
3. Mark where the paper overlaps.
4. Measure the length in millimetres (Circumference) and compare to a chart.

Your ring size is not static. It changes based on the environment and the ring style. Before finalizing a size, consider these factors:

1. Temperature

• Cold: Fingers shrink. A ring measured in the cold might be too tight in summer.
• Heat: Fingers swell.
• Best Practice: Measure your fingers at room temperature, ideally in the evening (when fingers are slightly larger than in the morning).

2. The Knuckle

If you have large knuckles (often common with arthritis), you need a size that will squeeze over the knuckle but not spin loosely on the base of the finger.

• Tip: Look for "sizing beads" or "speed bumps"—small metal mounds added to the inside of a ring by a jeweller to grip the finger after passing the knuckle.
  

Proposing or buying a gift? Asking for a size ruins the surprise. Try these detective tactics:

• The Borrow: "Steal" a ring they wear on that specific finger (checking the ring finger on the left hand is crucial for engagements). Press it into a bar of soap or trace the inner circle on a piece of paper.
• The Friend: Ask their best friend or mother. They might already
  know, or can be the one to casually ask, "Let me try on your ring, what
  size is this?"
• The Pinky Trick: Put their ring on your own finger. Mark exactly
  where it sits on your finger with a pen. Go to a jeweller and have that
  spot on your finger measured.