The Ultimate Body Jewellery Sizing Guide: Find Your Perfect Fit

 

Choosing body jewellery isn’t just about finding something cute. You also need the right gauge, length or diameter - because even the prettiest piece of jewellery isn't much use if it doesn't fit your piercing.

Unfortunately, body jewellery sizing can feel like its own language.

16g? 8mm? Internal diameter? Wearable length?!

Don't panic. We’ve put together this guide to help you understand how body jewellery is measured, how to measure jewellery you already own and what all those little numbers on our website actually mean.

Quick note before we get started: We're body jewellery specialists, not professional piercers. This guide is designed to help you understand and shop for jewellery sizing — not determine what size a fresh or healing piercing needs. If you're unsure about the size of your piercing, particularly while it's healing, your professional piercer is the best person to ask.

Now, onto the tiny measurements.

Why Body Jewellery Size Matters

The same piece of jewellery can fit two people completely differently.

Your anatomy, piercing placement and personal preference can all affect the size you find comfortable. That's why you'll often find several lengths or diameters available for the exact same piece of jewellery.

When you're shopping, there are three measurements you'll see again and again:

Gauge - how thick the jewellery is.

Length - the wearable length of a straight or curved post.

Diameter - the internal width of a hoop or ring.

Once you understand those three, body jewellery shopping gets much easier.

1. Gauge: How thick is my jewellery?

Gauge (g) refers to the thickness of the part of the jewellery that passes through your piercing.

Here's where things get slightly backwards:

The higher the gauge number, the thinner the jewellery.

For example:

• 22g = 0.6mm
• 20g = 0.8mm
• 18g = 1.0mm
• 16g = 1.2mm
• 14g = 1.6mm

You'll find different gauges across different piercing jewellery styles. For example, our cartilage jewellery commonly includes 16g and 18g options, while you'll find finer 20g and 22g options among some of our nose jewellery.

But these are jewellery options, not a rule for what your piercing should be.

If you don't know your gauge, check with your piercer or measure a piece of your existing jewellery that you know fits correctly.

2. Wearable Length (Barbells & Flatbacks)

When we talk about the length of body jewellery, we mean the wearable part of the post - not the entire piece including the balls, gems or decorative ends.

For a flat back stud, for example, you'll measure the post from the inside of the flat disc to the point where the decorative top begins.

You might see options such as 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and beyond depending on the type of jewellery.

And no, 6mm isn't automatically the "right" size just because someone else has the same piercing as you.

Anatomy and piercing placement matter.

Cherry tip: If you already own jewellery that fits beautifully, measure that. It's much easier than trying to measure your actual piercing!

If you don't have existing jewellery to compare against, your piercer can tell you what gauge and wearable length you're currently wearing.

3. Diameter (Hoops, clickers & Rings)

Shopping for a hoop? You'll want to pay attention to the internal diameter.

This is the measurement straight across the inside of the ring.

A smaller diameter generally gives a closer-fitting look, while a larger diameter gives you more room - but how a particular diameter actually sits will depend on your anatomy and where your piercing is positioned.

This is especially important for jewellery like:

• Nose hoops
• Septum rings
• Helix rings
• Conch rings
• Tragus rings
• Daith rings
• Hinged clickers
• Horseshoes

Two people can both have a helix piercing and need completely different diameter rings to achieve the same look.

How to Measure Jewellery You Already Own

If you already have a piece that fits well, it's one of the easiest ways to work out what size to order next.

To measure gauge:

Measure the thickness of the post or ring - not the ball or decorative end.

A digital caliper will make this much easier, particularly when you're trying to tell the difference between something like 1.0mm and 1.2mm.

To measure length:

Measure only the wearable section of the post between the two ends.

To measure ring diameter:

Measure straight across the widest part of the inside of the ring.

Not outside edge to outside edge - that's going to give you a larger measurement.

Still completely lost?

Your piercer can confirm your jewellery size for you. You can also contact us if you're trying to understand the measurements or sizing information on a Cherry product - we're always happy to help with our jewellery.

Common Sizes You'll See When Shopping

There are certain sizes you'll see frequently when browsing body jewellery, so here's a quick guide to what you're likely to come across.

These are common jewellery sizes only - they aren't a recommendation for your individual piercing.

Lobe Jewellery: 

You'll find a wide range of gauges used for ear jewellery. Standard earrings often have relatively fine posts, while body jewellery-style flat backs and hoops are available in gauges such as 20g, 18g and 16g.

The diameter you need for a hoop depends heavily on your piercing placement and the look you're going for.

Helix, Tragus, and Conch Jewellery:

16g (1.2mm) and 18g (1.0mm) are common options you'll see across our cartilage jewellery range.

Flat backs are a popular style for cartilage jewellery, while hoops and clickers are another option for suitable piercings.

Ring diameter and post length can vary considerably depending on anatomy and placement, so don't assume that an 8mm ring or 6mm post will fit simply because that's what someone else wears.

Have a helix, tragus or conch piercing? Check out our Helix, Tragus & Conch Piercing Jewellery Guide for more information about the different jewellery styles and materials available.

Belly Button Jewellery:

You'll commonly see belly bars available in 14g (1.6mm), with different wearable lengths available.

If you're replacing jewellery you already wear comfortably, check the gauge and measure the wearable bar length before ordering.

Nose Jewellery:

This is one category where you'll find plenty of gauge options.

Cherry stocks nose jewellery across sizes including 22g (0.6mm), 20g (0.8mm) and 18g (1.0mm) depending on the style.

For hoops, internal diameter makes a big difference to the final look. A couple of millimetres might sound tiny until it's sitting on your nose!

Eyebrow Jewellery:

Curved barbells are commonly used as eyebrow jewellery and are available in different gauges and lengths.

Check the measurements of your current jewellery or ask your piercer before choosing your replacement.

Lip and Labret Jewellery

Flat back labrets are available in multiple gauges and post lengths.

The length you need depends on your anatomy and piercing placement, so it's particularly useful to know the measurements of a piece you already wear comfortably.

Nipple Jewellery: 

Straight barbells are available in different gauges and wearable lengths for nipple piercings.

Again, anatomy wins here. Don't choose a length purely because it's described online as "standard" - measure existing well-fitting jewellery or ask your piercer.

Tongue Jewellery: 

Tongue barbells are available in different wearable lengths, commonly in 14g (1.6mm).

If you're replacing existing jewellery, measure a bar that you know fits or check your size with your piercer.

If your tongue piercing is fresh or your piercer has discussed downsizing your initial jewellery, follow their advice on when and what to change it to.

Septum Jewellery: 

You'll commonly find septum rings in 16g (1.2mm) and 14g (1.6mm), with a range of internal diameters.

Diameter has a huge effect on how a septum ring looks. Smaller isn't automatically better — your anatomy and piercing placement determine how the ring will actually sit.

If you're looking for more information on sizing, checkout our body jewellery sizing guide.

 

Three Sizing Mistakes We'd Rather You Avoid

We’ve all been there. Avoid these pitfalls (and consult your piercer if you’re feeling uncertain):

1. Guessing Your Size:

Eyeballing might work when you're adding garlic to dinner. Body jewellery? Not so much.

If possible, measure jewellery that already fits or confirm your measurements with your piercer.

2. Ignoring Anatomy:

Your friend's perfect 6mm flat back might feel completely different in your ear.

Bodies are different. Piercing placements are different. That's normal.

Use common sizes as a starting point for understanding what's available - not as proof of what size you need.

3. Choosing Tight Jewellery for Healing Piercings:

This one catches people out all the time.

Remember:

Gauge = thickness.

Post length = wearable length, excluding the ends.

Ring diameter = inside edge to inside edge.

If you're ordering a replacement for jewellery you already love, compare those measurements rather than the overall size of the piece.

What About Fresh or Healing Piercings?

This is where we hand things over to the professionals.

Initial piercing jewellery can be sized differently from the jewellery you may eventually wear once your piercing has healed. Your piercer may also talk to you about things such as swelling, downsizing or when it's appropriate to change your jewellery.

Those decisions should be made with your piercer.

Cherry can help you understand our jewellery — what a measurement means, whether a top is compatible with a particular post, what metal a piece is made from and what sizes we stock.

We can't assess your piercing or tell you when it's ready for different jewellery.

Once you know the measurements you need, though?

Now we're talking. 

The Cherry Sizing Cheat Sheet

Before you hit add to cart, check:

• Gauge: Is it the same thickness as your current jewellery?
• Length: If it's a post or barbell, have you checked the wearable length?
• Diameter: If it's a hoop, have you checked the internal diameter?
• Fit: Are you comparing it with jewellery you already know fits?
• Not sure? Ask your piercer to confirm your measurements before ordering.

Finding the right size is a bit like finding the perfect pair of jeans: sometimes it takes a little effort, but once you know your measurements, life gets significantly easier.

Then you can get back to the important part:

Choosing the jewellery. 🍒

Got questions? Hit that chat button on the right or fill in the contact us form - we’re here to make sure your jewellery journey is as smooth as possible.