How to Measure Ring Size at Home (Australia)

To measure your ring size at home, wrap a thin strip of paper or string around the base of your finger, mark where it meets, then lay it flat and measure the length in millimetres. That number is your finger's circumference, and it converts directly to an Australian letter size or a US number size.

You don't need a ring sizer or a trip to a jeweller. Below are two easy methods, the tips that make the difference between a good fit and a ring that spins or sticks, and a conversion chart for Australian, UK and US sizes.

Method 1: the paper strip or string method

This is the most common way to measure ring size at home, and all you need is a strip of paper (or non-stretchy string), a pen and a ruler.

1. Cut a thin strip. About 5 mm wide and 10 cm long is plenty. Paper is better than string because it doesn't stretch.
2. Wrap it around the base of the finger. Use the exact finger you'll wear the ring on. Fingers on your dominant hand are often slightly larger.
3. Make it snug, not tight. It should sit flat against the skin without pinching.
4. Mark where it overlaps. Use a fine pen and mark the point where the end meets the strip.
5. Check the knuckle. Slide the loop up over your knuckle. If it won't pass, loosen it until it does and mark again.
6. Measure the length. Lay the strip flat against a ruler and read it from the end to your mark in millimetres. That is your inner circumference.

Do it two or three times and on different occasions. If the readings differ, go with the average, or the larger number if the difference is small.

Method 2: measure a ring you already own

If you have a ring that fits the right finger well, you can measure it instead.

1. Lay the ring flat on a ruler.
2. Measure straight across the inside, edge to edge, at the widest point. Don't include the metal. This is the inner diameter.
3. Multiply the diameter by 3.14 to get the inner circumference. For example, a 17.3 mm inner diameter works out to about 54.4 mm around.

This method is less forgiving, because an error of half a millimetre in diameter becomes about 1.5 mm in circumference. Use a ruler with clear millimetre markings and measure carefully, or use it to double-check your paper strip result.

Tips for an accurate ring size

• Measure at the end of the day. Fingers are usually a little larger in the afternoon and evening, and that's closer to how they'll feel most of the time.
• Make sure your hands are warm. Cold fingers shrink. Avoid measuring straight after being outside on a chilly morning or holding a cold drink.
• Allow for your knuckle. If your knuckle is noticeably wider than the base of your finger, the ring needs to pass over it. Choose a size that slides over the knuckle with a little resistance.
• Size up for wide bands. A wider band covers more of the finger and feels tighter. Australian jeweller Mazzucchelli's suggests going up about half a size for bands 5 mm and wider.
• Between two sizes? Go for the larger one.
• Heat and pregnancy. Fingers can swell in hot weather and at other times. If you're measuring during a period when your hands feel puffy, keep that in mind.

Ring size conversion chart: mm to Australian and US sizes

Australia uses the same letter sizes as the UK. The US uses numbers. This chart shows inner circumference in millimetres alongside both, based on the ring size chart from Mazzucchelli's, an Australian jeweller. Half sizes sit between each row.

• 46.7 mm = Australian/UK H = US 4
• 48.0 mm = Australian/UK I = US 4.5
• 49.3 mm = Australian/UK J = US 5
• 50.6 mm = Australian/UK K = US 5.5
• 51.8 mm = Australian/UK L = US 6
• 53.1 mm = Australian/UK M = US 6.5
• 54.4 mm = Australian/UK N = US 7
• 55.7 mm = Australian/UK O = US 7.5
• 56.9 mm = Australian/UK P = US 8
• 58.2 mm = Australian/UK Q = US 8.5
• 59.5 mm = Australian/UK R = US 9
• 60.8 mm = Australian/UK S = US 9.5
• 62.1 mm = Australian/UK T = US 10
• 63.4 mm = Australian/UK U = US 10.5
• 64.6 mm = Australian/UK V = US 11

Different jewellers' charts can vary by a fraction of a millimetre, so if you're ordering from a shop that sizes in millimetres, give them your measurement in millimetres rather than a converted letter.

How to measure ring size for a gift

Measuring someone else's finger without them knowing is tricky. A few options that work:

• Borrow a ring they wear on the same finger and measure its inner diameter.
• Ask a close friend or family member, who may know their size.
• Choose an adjustable ring, which gives you some room for error.

How sizing works for our nose print rings

Our rings are ordered by inner circumference in millimetres, the number you get from the paper strip method, so there's no letter conversion to worry about.

• Silver-plated copper dog ring: fits 46 to 58 mm.
• Platinum-plated 925 silver open ring: adjustable, 46 to 65 mm for the dog ring and 46 to 62 mm for the cat ring.
• Platinum-plated 925 silver closed ring: made to your exact measurement, so measure carefully.

If you're not sure yet, you can choose Not sure yet, I'll confirm by email when you order the dog nose print ring or the cat version. We email you a proof within 24 hours, and nothing is engraved until you approve it, so there's time to measure properly. Our size guide has the same steps in a quick reference.

Once it arrives, our guide on how to clean sterling silver jewellery will help you keep it looking its best.