How to Measure Your Piercing Jewellery
If you know the measurements of a piece that fits, you can buy replacements that fit too. Measuring piercing jewellery is simple with a cheap digital caliper, once you know which part to measure. The three numbers you need are gauge, length (for a stud or barbell), and diameter (for a ring). Here is how to get each one right.
Vanhess sells piercing jewellery in Coquitlam; we do not perform piercings. Get pierced at a professional studio, then use these guides to choose safe, well-fitted jewellery from us.
Measuring gauge
Gauge is the thickness of the post or wire. It is hard to judge by eye, so measure the post's diameter with a digital caliper in millimetres and match it to a gauge: roughly 0.8 mm is 20G, 1.0 mm is 18G, 1.2 mm is 16G, and 1.6 mm is 14G. Measure the plain post, not a ball or a threaded section. If you do not have a caliper, comparing against a piece of known gauge, or bringing it to us, is the reliable way to be sure.
Measuring length and diameter
For a stud or a straight or curved barbell, the length is the wearable part: the distance between the inner faces of the two ends (the disc and the ball, or the two balls), not counting the ends themselves. That is the space your tissue sits in. For a ring, hoop, clicker, or horseshoe, the size is the inner diameter: the width of the open space inside the ring. Measure across the inside, not the outside, since the inside is what has to clear your anatomy.
Practical tips
A digital caliper set to millimetres is the right tool; piercing jewellery is measured in millimetres worldwide. Measure the wearable length, not the total length including the decorative top, or you will order something too long. Write the three numbers down, gauge, length or diameter, and material, so you can reorder confidently. And if any of this feels fiddly, bring the piece into the shop and we will measure it for you in a moment.
What to measure
| Measurement | How to take it |
|---|---|
| Gauge | Post thickness in mm; 0.8=20G, 1.0=18G, 1.2=16G, 1.6=14G |
| Stud/barbell length | Inner distance between the two ends, not the ends |
| Ring diameter | Inner width of the open space in the ring |
| Tool | Digital caliper set to millimetres |
What to check when you buy piercing jewellery
Whatever the piece, a few checks keep you safe and comfortable:
- Reputable seller. Buy from a shop that states the material and standard clearly, not a market stall or a mystery online listing.
- The right material. For anything worn in a piercing, choose implant-grade titanium or solid nickel-free gold, and avoid plated or unmarked metal.
- Correct gauge and size. Match the gauge of your piercing and the length or diameter of the placement, so the piece fits without moving or pressing.
- Smooth fittings. Choose threadless or internally threaded jewellery, with a glass-smooth finish and no rough edges or casting pits.
- Ask if unsure. If you cannot tell what a piece is made of or whether it fits, bring it in and we will check it for you.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Cheap or plated metal. Nickel and worn plating cause most "my piercing is reacting" problems. Stay with implant-grade titanium or solid gold.
- The wrong size. A piece that is too long, too short, or the wrong gauge moves, snags, or presses. Match your gauge and get the length or diameter right.
- Changing too early. Swapping jewellery before a piercing is fully healed is a top cause of bumps. Wait for your piercer's go-ahead.
- Externally threaded posts. Screw threads on the outside of a post drag through the piercing. Choose threadless or internally threaded instead.
Fresh versus healed piercings
What you can safely wear depends on whether the piercing is still healing. For a fresh piercing, keep to the safest materials, implant-grade titanium or solid nickel-free gold, in a smooth threadless or internally threaded fitting, and expect it to be fitted a little long or large to allow for swelling, then downsized by your piercer once that swelling settles. During this window, do not change the jewellery yourself or switch to a decorative piece that has not been checked. Once a piercing is fully healed, your options open up: more styles, a wider range of safe metals, and easy changes you can do yourself with clean hands. When in doubt about whether a piercing is ready, ask a professional rather than risk a setback.
Aftercare in brief
Whatever you wear, a healing piercing needs the same simple routine: clean it once or twice a day with sterile saline, keep your hands off it, do not twist or remove the jewellery, and leave it in until a professional says it is healed. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, and lakes, and avoid knocks and sleeping on it in the early weeks. Most trouble comes from cheap metal or the wrong size rather than too little cleaning, so the jewellery you choose matters as much as the routine. Our aftercare guide has the full method, and our guide to bumps versus infection covers what to watch for.
Key Points
- Measure gauge as the post thickness in mm and match it to a gauge number.
- Stud and barbell length is the wearable space between the ends, not including the ends.
- Ring size is the inner diameter, measured across the inside of the ring.
- Use a digital caliper in millimetres, or bring the piece in and we will measure it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure the gauge of my jewellery?
Measure the thickness of the plain post with a digital caliper in millimetres, avoiding balls and threaded sections, and match it to a gauge: about 0.8 mm is 20G, 1.0 mm is 18G, 1.2 mm is 16G, and 1.6 mm is 14G. Without a caliper, compare to a known piece or have it measured.
How is barbell or stud length measured?
By the wearable part: the distance between the inner faces of the two ends, the disc and ball or the two balls, not counting the ends themselves. That gap is where your tissue sits, so it is the number that determines fit. Do not include the decorative top.
How do I measure ring size for a piercing?
Use the inner diameter, the width of the open space inside the ring, measured across the inside. That is what has to clear your anatomy. The outer diameter is not the sizing number, so always measure across the inside of the hoop, clicker, or horseshoe.
What units is piercing jewellery measured in?
Gauge for thickness, and millimetres for length and diameter, worldwide. A digital caliper set to millimetres is the right tool. If a listing gives inches, convert to millimetres, and always double-check the gauge separately.
Can you measure my jewellery for me?
Yes. Bring a piece into the shop and we will measure its gauge, length or diameter, and confirm the material in a moment, so you can reorder or choose a matching piece with confidence.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers — Jewelry for Initial Piercings
- Association of Professional Piercers — Aftercare
General information, not medical advice. See a professional piercer for the piercing itself. Reviewed 20 July 2026.
Visit Vanhess
Bring a piece in and we will measure it for you, at 2929 Barnet Highway, Unit 2424 in Coquitlam. Browse our piercing jewellery, or call +1 (604) 653-6449. See the reading a listing guide next.