How do I find her ring size secretly?

Good to know first

• A ring she already wears on the same finger is the best clue.
• One full US size is only 0.8 mm across the inside of the ring, so a small mistake matters.
• Most women wear a US size between 5 and 7. Size 6 is the most common.
• Fingers swell in heat and late in the day.
• Stuck between two sizes? Go with the larger one. It is easier to make a ring smaller than bigger.

Which finger to size

In the US, the engagement ring goes on the left ring finger. That is the fourth finger if you count the thumb. If she is right handed, her left ring finger is usually about half a size smaller than her right. So a ring from her right hand may be a little big.

Six quiet ways to find her size

1. Order now and choose "Send Me a Ring Sizer"

On any ring, open the ring size menu and choose "Send Me a Ring Sizer". You keep the price of any sale running today. We mail a free ring sizer the next business day. Then we wait for your email with her size before we make the ring.

Accuracy: high, because the sizer measures her finger.

2. Get a free ring sizer first

Not ready to order yet? Request a free ring sizer and we mail it to you. Ask a close friend to help her try it, or use it with way 5 below.

Accuracy: high.

3. Measure one of her rings

Borrow a ring she wears on her left ring finger. Measure straight across the inside of the ring, from edge to edge, through the center. A digital caliper is best, but a ruler with millimeter marks works too. Then find the number in the chart below.

Accuracy: good with a caliper, medium with a ruler. If you read the ruler wrong by 1 mm, you are more than one size off.

4. Ask a friend or her family

Her sister, best friend or mother may know her size. If not, they can find out on a shopping trip with her. Pick someone who can keep a secret.

Accuracy: good if the size is recent. Fingers change over the years.

5. Try her ring on your own finger

Slide her ring onto one of your fingers and mark with a pen where it stops. Then measure your finger at that line with our free ring sizer.

Accuracy: medium. Use it when you only have her ring for a minute.

6. Make a smart guess, and resize for free

If nothing else works, choose a 6, or the larger of two sizes. Pick a design that is easy to resize, like a solitaire with a plain band. Your first resize is free within 90 days of delivery.

Accuracy: low, but safe.

Skip the string trick. A lot of people say to wrap string or paper around her finger while she sleeps. But string stretches, paper curls, and neither one measures the knuckle. GIA says not to do it.

Ring size chart

Measure the ring in two directions. If you get two different numbers, the ring is bent. Use a different ring.

Before you choose a size

• Heat and time of day. Fingers swell in heat and in the evening, and shrink in the cold.
• Knuckles. The ring has to go over the knuckle. If her knuckle is wide, choose a size between the knuckle and the base of the finger.
• Wide bands. A band about 5 mm or wider fits tighter. Go up about a quarter size.

What if the size is wrong?

It is usually not a big problem. Most rings can be resized up or down by a size or two. A solitaire with a plain band is the easiest. Eternity bands, with stones all the way around, usually cannot be resized.

If the ring is a little big, a small ring guard holds it in place until it is resized. If it is too small, do not force it over her knuckle.

If the size is wrong at Next Diamonds

• One free resize within 90 days of delivery, with a free FedEx label. Any other resize costs $100, with insured shipping both ways.
• Up to 7 business days for the resize, once the ring reaches us.
• Eternity bands and open bands cannot be resized. You can exchange them for the right size within 30 days.
• Quarter sizes from 3 to 11 on most designs.
• A free ring sizer by mail. Request one here, or choose "Send Me a Ring Sizer" in the ring size menu when you order.

Most of our rings take up to 10 business days to hand craft, so leave a little time before the big day. Our ring size guide has more help.

Questions people ask