Home » Nose Ring Gauge Size: your guide for the perfect nose piercing

Nose Ring Gauge Size: your guide for the perfect nose piercing

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 by Julia

What are nose ring gauges, and Why is a nose ring gauge size important?

A typical nose ring gauge size is 18 gauge, 1,02mm / 0.04 inch. A nose ring gauge refers to the thickness of the section that goes through your nose piercing. The gauge should correspond to the needle size used to pierce your nose. It’s essential to get the nose ring gauge size right because it is dangerous to use a nose ring that doesn’t fit your piercing.

After your nose is pierced, it’ll take about 3-6 months to heal completely. However, the exterior of your piercing will heal much faster than the interior, which is why selecting a suitable size is crucial to your healing process. Plus, since a nostril piercing tends to close up quickly, you shouldn’t stay too long without nose jewelry. You can enhance your look with common body modifications like nose rings without hassle.

Before you settle on a nose ring, you should get to know the best sizes for the style you want. By the time you’re done with this article, you’ll know the standard size of nose rings, how to measure them, and what to consider making an excellent choice.

When you have a specific question, jump immediately to the frequently asked questions section

When you’re looking for Rings that fit your nose ring but not sure about the size: this ring size chart has you covered. All about bracelet sizes you can find here.

Nose Ring Gauge Size Chart

When sizing nose ring gauges, a crucial thing to keep in mind is that the thicker the gauge, the smaller the number. This means that a size 22 gauge nose ring is thinner than a 16 gauge nose ring. It could sound confusing at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.

The diameter and length of the nose ring in inches and millimeters.

Inches	Millimeters
3/16 in	4.7mm
1/4 in	6.4mm
5/16 in	8mm
3/8 in	9.5mm
7/16 in	11mm
1/2 in	13mm
9/16 in	14mm
5/8 in	16mm
3/4 in	19mm
7/8 in	22mm
15/16 in	24mm
1 in	25mm
1 1/2 in	38mm

Nose ring gauge sizes in millimeters and inches.

Gauge	Inches	Millimeters
22G	0.025	0.64mm
20G	0.032 in	0.81mm
18G	0.040 in	1.0mm
16G	0.050 in	1.2mm
14G	0.064 in	1.6mm
12G	0.082 in	2.0mm
10G	0.102 in	2.5mm
8G	0.125 in	3.0mm
6G	0.162 in	4.0mm
4G	0.204 in	5.0mm
2G	0.250 in	6.0mm
0G	0.312 in	8.0mm
00G	0.375 in	10.0mm

What is the smallest nose ring size I can use?

The smallest nose ring gauge size is the 22 gauge which translates to about 0.6 mm of thickness. It’s not common to find this nose ring size in the US because it’s really thin. In most cases, a 22 gauge nose ring will need to be handmade, and it can be customized to fit the wearer. These piercings are common in the Middle East, India, and specific areas of Europe.

We recommend you avoid going smaller than a 22 gauge nose ring. This is because smaller nose studs can make your body assume it’s a foreign object like a splinter and start pushing it out. Alternatively, the ring could deform or easily slide out of your piercing.

Average nose ring gauge size

If you are wondering about the standard sizing for nose ring gauges, we’ll cover that right now. The standard nose ring size is 20 gauge, and it’s the most common size for different body jewelry, including earrings and belly button rings. However, if you need a thicker gauge, you can go with the 18 gauge nose ring. It’s a great choice for wearing the nose ring higher up the nose than other sizes.

How to Choose the Right Nose Ring Gauge Size
The Best Nose Ring Gauge Size for You

Choosing a nose ring for an actual piercing can seem like an enormous task if you don’t know what to consider. Here, we’ll cover how you can select the perfect nose ring size.

How do I know my nose ring gauge size?

If you’ve seen the nose ring size chart in the previous sections, you’re probably wondering which size is the best for you. The most certain way to accurately determine the right hoop size for your ring is to visit a piercing professional. However, using standard sizes, you can also find a good fit.

There are several ways to determine if your nose piercing jewelry matches your nose bone style and nose shape. First, you should be able to fully close the hoop without feeling tightness around your piercing. Keep in mind you’ll need a larger nose ring gauge immediately after you pierce your nose to account for the swelling. Later on, after the swelling goes down, you can size down and take a more fitting nose ring.

Something else to check for is whether the piece of jewelry on your nose ring holds firmly in place or moves about. You should avoid a nose ring that still moves around in the piercing since that means it’s not a perfect fit. There shouldn’t be a lot of discomfort or irritation when wearing the nose ring. The exact location of the nose ring hoop on your nose will depend on the diameter you choose. A larger diameter will place the ring higher up your nose, while a smaller diameter will lower it.

How to figure out gauge size nose ring?

There are other factors that should guide your decision in addition to the gauge size. The length of the nose ring style is one of these considerations.

Also known as the “wearable surface,” the length of your nose screw is the area that you wear inside the piercing. It begins at the bottom of the jewel and reaches the bend, curve, or bulb of the nose ring. The standard length of nose rings is usually 6mm, but you can also wear 5mm or 7mm rings depending on the thickness of your nasal cartilage.

Another factor is the type of nose ring you’d like to wear. You can choose between hoop nose ring or nose stud styles. Let’s take a quick look at a list of the common types of nose rings.

L-post
Nose bone/stud
Curved barbells/circular barbells
Nose pin/ fishtail nose stud
Beaded nose hoop
Seamless hoop
Nose septum clicker

Once you determine the style you want, you should also check out the type of jewelry you want for your nose ring. Here are some popular options:

Gold-plated metal jewelry
Silver jewelry
Color diamonds

How to measure nose ring size

There are three main ways to measure the nose ring size. You can either use a caliper, micrometer, or a printed gauge card.

Different types of nose piercings require different ways of measurement. Fortunately, you can use a caliper to determine the inner diameter of your nose ring or the thickness of the gauge. It’s essential to exercise caution as you clamp the jaws on your jewelry to avoid damaging it. You’ll need to set the caliper to millimeters and use the inside jaws to measure the inner diameter of your nose ring.

A micrometer is also great for measuring your nose ring size. However, it’s an expensive instrument you might not have lying around. Alternatively, you can place the ring on a straight ruler on the millimeters section and count the millimeters inside the ring.

Nose Ring size explained

What Size Nose Ring Do I Need? by UrbanBodyJewelry

Frequently Asked Questions on nose ring sizes

Is a 16 or 18-gauge nose ring smaller?

An 18-gauge nose ring is smaller than a 16-gauge one. This is because the number increases as the thickness of the nose ring decrease. Thus, the ones with the smallest numbers are the largest.

What gauge is the original nose ring?

A 18 or 20 gauge nose ring is the standard size, and it’s popular because it offers a wide range of decoration options.

Which is bigger 18 gauge or 20 gauge nose ring?

An 18-gauge nose ring is thicker than a 20-gauge nose ring.

Is 20 or 22 gauge bigger?

20 gauge size is bigger than a 22 gauge thickness.

Understanding Nose ring gauge sizes explained

Understanding Gauge Sizes by Geaux Gretchen

Conclusion

A nose piercing is an excellent way to express your beauty and individuality while complementing your overall appearance. It can be tricky to determine the right nose ring gauge size if you haven’t done it before. Fortunately, it’s an easy process that starts with choosing the nose ring style you want. Once you have that, it’s time to find a fitting size.

Remember that the gauge is measured in reverse, which means that the smaller gauges are the largest while those with larger measurements are smaller. This can help you avoid confusion when choosing a nose ring. In addition to size, it’s also necessary to consider the type of jewelry you want as you compare it with your budget. With the right nose ring size, you can ensure your piercing stays healthy while you look prettier.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this guide or have a question, leave a comment in the section below!

Picture in this post by Jacalyn Beales on Unsplash