Did you know that there are different earring lengths? That’s right; many earrings are offered in an array of lengths that fit differently in your ear piercing. Whether you have earlobe piercings, cartilage piercings, or rook piercings, we believe that familiarizing yourself with the different earring lengths is essential to rocking your outfit of the day!
In this 6mm vs. 8mm earrings comparison, we’ll help you understand everything you need to know about the difference between two of the most popular earring lengths and introduce you to the gauge system, so stick around!
What Is the Length of an Earring?
If you’re an earring lover, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed that there are different earring lengths for similar models. And if you’re an online shopper, you might’ve been confused over what the earing length listed on jewelry websites actually means?
Believe it or not, but the earring lengths specified on websites don’t refer to the vertical distance between the beginning and end of the earring; they actually indicate the distance between your piercing and the edge of your ear.
But why is this measurement important? Well, think about it, if the length between your piercing and the edge of your ear is 7mm, it wouldn’t be the best idea to buy 6mm earrings, would it?
The opposite isn’t necessarily true, though. For example, when comparing 6mm vs. 8mm earrings, some people with 6mm piercings actually prefer to wear 8mm ones because they like their earrings to extend past their ears a bit.
Measuring Your Earring Piercing
One easy way to know whether a pair of earrings would suit you is simply using a ruler with millimeter markings to measure the distance between the ear piercing and the edge of your ear. You can then decide which earring length would suit you best, depending on if you want your earring to sit just at the end of the ear or a little below it.
What Size mm Are Normal Earrings?
Generally speaking, 6mm is the normal mm size for the majority of people, whether they’re males or females. But, of course, there are exceptions as the piercing placement can be a little further off or closer to the edge of the ear. On a related note, you should check out our 8mm vs. 10mm Earrings and 5mm vs. 6mm Earrings posts.
What Is the Best Earring Length for Cartilage Piercings?
Most cartilage piercings have 8mm hoops. This size ensures that the hoop hangs down a bit for a more elegant look. However, it still depends on your ear geometry, so you might want to experiment a bit with the different sizes and styles like daith piercing to see which one is best.
Should You Get 6mm or 8mm Hoop Earrings?
It depends on your personal preference and piercing position. But f your piercing can accommodate both 6mm and 8mm hoops, it would solely depend on your preferred style and whether larger hoops appeal to you. Also, when it comes to hoops for men, the ideal size is 14mm.
For example, if you like a larger hoop that has a nice hang to it, then definitely go for 8mm hoops. Conversely, 6mm hoops would greatly appeal to you if you like your jewelry to be just the right fit (neither too tight nor loose).
Is a Tragus 6mm or 8mm?
Tragus hoop lengths can be anywhere from 5mm to 8mm, so they’re not really a one-size-fits-all type of earring. So, we suggest you play around with both lengths until you find the most suitable one for your tragus piercings. But for the best results, consult your piercer about the right size for you.
What About Labret Studs?
Labret studs are mainly intended for lip piercings, but many people like to wear them as earrings, too. And the lengths they come in vary 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, and 19mm.
However, it’s important to note that the earring length here doesn’t measure the vertical distance between the piercing and the end of your ear but rather the thickness of your ears.
Also, keep in mind that the diameter of the piercing hole should be thick enough for a snug fit in your ear; a stud that’s too thin might easily fall off.
What Is a Gauge Size?
Unlike how the earring length measures the vertical distance from your piercing to the edge of your ear, the gauge size indicates the thickness of the earring post (the bar that goes through your piercing hole).
And the smaller the gauge size of an earring, the thicker the earring post actually is. So, for example, a size-zero earring (0G) would have a very thick post, and a size-20 (20G) would be significantly thinner.
What Is the Standard Earring Size?
The two standard earring gauge sizes are 18G and 20G. However, if you’re planning on using Labret studs as earrings, the standard size would be between 14 and 16 gauges, depending on the piercing of your ear lobes. However, since earrings are not something just women get to wear, we have you covered if you need to pick diamond earrings for men, too.
What Size Is 8mm Earrings?
The corresponding gauges to the 8mm length are 16, 18, and 20 gauges, depending on your piercing. So, for conch, tragus, rook, and helix piercings, the gauge size can be 16G or 18G. And for nose and earlobe piercings, the gauge size is either 18G or 20G. On a related note, if you want your earrings to feel great and safe on your earlobes, you should pay more attention to earring backs that keep your earrings in place and we are here to help with that, as well.
Threaded and Threadless Earrings
There are two common types of earrings: threaded and threadless. Both types have a flat back end, but the main difference is that the thread doesn’t go directly through the ear in a threaded earring, so cleaning it will be much easier.
However, threadless earrings are preferable for forward-facing jewelry, as they’re usually removed frequently, so cleaning the earrings shouldn’t be much trouble.
Jewelry Sizing: Everything You Need to Know
Jewelry isn’t all about the metal it’s made of (see steel earrings). So, whether you’re buying gold earrings, silver, titanium, or any other type of jewelry metal, it’s really important to check the sizing before making a purchase, especially if you’re buying it online.
So, here are some essential guidelines for each type of jewelry.
Earrings
Apart from checking a size guide, there are multiple factors you need to consider when choosing an earring. For instance, if you plan to buy earrings, you need to consider the size and shape of the pendant (see diamond earrings) itself to make sure that it fits your face shape.
Another thing to keep in mind is your face shape. Medium-sized, teardrop earrings would probably be the best earrings for a round face and would look great on you. On the other hand, large hoop earrings would highly complement your look if your face is square-shaped.
As for stud earrings, if you have relatively small-sized ears, smaller studs would fit you well. However, if your face is more on the larger size, the size of 18 or 20 millimeters would definitely be a better option.
And although most people only care about the shape of the earrings when it comes to circular barbell earrings, the length is actually just as important, if not more important.
So if you have your eye on a barbell earring, make sure to measure your ear piercing length beforehand and to pick a size larger than that length if you want to wear it loose.
Necklaces
The lengths of necklaces greatly vary from short and medium to extremely long. And although the suitable necklace length is a matter of personal preference, the most popular length is the 18-inch, which is also known as a princess necklace.
But your choice should always depend on the look you’re going for; long necklaces are suitable for casual outfits while shorter ones are better for semi-formal or formal occasions.
Bracelets
When buying a bracelet (see ‘Bangle Vs. Bracelet‘), it’s essential that you measure your wrist size with tape then add 2 centimeters to the measurement to find your perfect bracelet size. This is because the bracelet isn’t supposed to fit too tightly on your wrist. So, for example, if the tape measure is 14cm, then your bracelet size is actually 16cm.
Anklets
Anklets are pretty easy to shop for since most of them are adjustable, and they come in sizes that range from 18cm to 30cm.
However, not all of them can be adjusted, so if you plan on getting a non-adjustable one, you need to pick a suitable length to prevent the anklet from falling off. All you have to do is use a tape measure to get an accurate reading of the diameter of your ankle.
Final Words
That was a thorough explanation of the difference between 6mm/8mm earrings and how you can pick the best-suited earring length and size for you regardless of the earring style you’ll be getting, be it a forward helix earring, a lobe earring, or a pair of hoops.
Most jewelers also provide their customers with a size chart, and most online jewelry sellers feature a size guide on their website, so that should make things easier for you.
The highlights we covered here can also be useful for those who still haven’t pierced their ears yet and want to know what they should talk about with their piercer.