How to find your ring size (and get it right)
A beautiful ring is only perfect if it fits. Too tight and it is uncomfortable. Too loose and it spins on your finger, or could even slip off. The good news is that finding the right size is simpler than it looks. In this guide we explain how to measure at home, how European ring sizes work and how to convert them to UK and US sizes.
How European ring sizes work
In Portugal, Belgium and most of continental Europe, a ring size is the inside circumference in millimetres. A size 52 ring measures 52 mm around the inside. This is also the system LOU JEWELS uses, with sizes from 45 to 70, depending on the model.
In the UK and Ireland, ring sizes are letters, from A to Z. In the US and Canada, they are numbers, with half and quarter sizes. Further down you will find a chart converting between all three systems.
Three ways to measure at home
- Use a ring that already fits. Choose a ring you wear on the same finger of the same hand. Measure the inside diameter with a ruler, straight across the inside of the band. Look up that figure in the “Diameter” column of the chart.
- Use a piece of string or a strip of paper. Wrap it around the base of your finger, without pulling tight. Mark where the ends meet and measure the length with a ruler. That figure, in millimetres, is your European size.
- Use a ring sizer. This is the most accurate method. Try on rings of known sizes, at a jeweller’s or with a ring sizer, until you find the one that fits.
String and paper are handy, but they can stretch or fold. If you land between two sizes, choose the larger one.
Tips for an accurate measurement
- Measure at the end of the day, when your hands are at a normal temperature. Fingers shrink in the cold and swell slightly in the heat.
- Check that it fits over your knuckle. The ring should slide over the joint without force and sit securely at the base.
- Measure two or three times and compare the results.
- Measure the right finger on the right hand. Fingers on your dominant hand tend to be slightly larger.
- Wide bands need more room. For a wide wedding band, you may need half a size or a full size up.
Ring size chart: Europe, UK and US
Use the chart to convert your European size to UK and US sizes. If you are unsure, talk to Daniel before you order.
| Europe (circumference, mm) | Diameter (mm) | UK / Ireland | US / Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 14.6 | H | 3¾ |
| 47 | 15.0 | H½ | 4 |
| 48 | 15.3 | I½ | 4½ |
| 49 | 15.6 | J | 5 |
| 50 | 15.9 | K | 5¼ |
| 51 | 16.2 | L | 5¾ |
| 52 | 16.6 | L½ | 6 |
| 53 | 16.9 | M½ | 6½ |
| 54 | 17.2 | N | 6¾ |
| 55 | 17.5 | O | 7¼ |
| 56 | 17.8 | P | 7½ |
| 57 | 18.1 | P½ | 8 |
| 58 | 18.5 | Q½ | 8½ |
| 59 | 18.8 | R | 8¾ |
| 60 | 19.1 | S | 9¼ |
| 61 | 19.4 | T | 9½ |
| 62 | 19.7 | T½ | 10 |
| 63 | 20.1 | U½ | 10¼ |
| 64 | 20.4 | V | 10¾ |
| 65 | 20.7 | W | 11¼ |
| 66 | 21.0 | X | 11½ |
What if the ring is a surprise?
If the ring is a gift or for a proposal, there are discreet ways to find the size. You can borrow, for a day, a ring the person wears on the right finger and measure it. Or you can ask a family member or a close friend.
With many LOU JEWELS models, you don’t even need to know the size before you order: the ring is made in a standard size and adjusted afterwards, free of charge. Daniel can confirm whether the piece you have chosen offers this option.
In short
- In Europe, ring size is the inside circumference in millimetres.
- You can measure with a ring that already fits, with string or paper, or with a ring sizer.
- Measure at the end of the day and, if you are between two sizes, choose the larger one.
- The chart converts European sizes to UK and US sizes.
- With many LOU JEWELS models, the ring can be adjusted afterwards, free of charge.
Get in touch
Not sure about your size, or would you like help choosing a ring? Message Daniel on WhatsApp (+351 962 939 931), in Portuguese, English, Flemish or French. See our rings and latest arrivals on Instagram and Facebook.