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Hoop Earring Size Guide
Hoop sizes are given in millimetres, which can be hard to picture. This guide translates them into how the earring sits on your ear.
Measuring a hoop
- Diameter — the outside width across the hoop, in millimetres.
- Inner diameter — matters for huggies: it must fit around your lobe or cartilage.
- Thickness — the width of the tube or wire, often 1–5 mm.
- Gauge — the thickness of the post that goes through the ear; most standard earrings are about 20–18 gauge.
A quick check: a US quarter is about 24 mm across; a penny about 19 mm.
Choosing by piercing
| Piercing | Typical hoop |
|---|---|
| Lobe | 10–50 mm+ |
| Second / third lobe | 8–12 mm huggies |
| Helix (upper cartilage) | 8–10 mm inner diameter |
| Tragus / conch | Specialist sizes — ask your piercer |
New piercings need jewellery chosen by your piercer until healed. Compare huggie hoops for multiple piercings.
Choosing by occasion
- Work and every day: 12–25 mm, thin to medium thickness.
- Evening and events: 30–50 mm or a thicker profile.
- Sport and sleep: huggies that hug the lobe.
- Travel: one medium pair that works with everything.
For bigger looks, compare large gold hoops and check the listed weight.