There are many types of body piercings and uses for them which can make their measurements confusing. Here is a breakdown of common piercing measurements, what they mean, and common piercing sizes for each type of piercing so that you know you are getting the right piercing size!
Piercing Size: What Gauge is my Piercing?
Gauge refers to the thickness of a piercing (pictured below). As the number increases, the thickness decreases (i.e. 16ga is thicker than 20ga). The gauge of a particular piercing will depend on whether you were pierced with a gun or a needle and the thickness of it. Always be sure to ask your piercer what gauge you are being pierced with.
Standard Gauges for Each Piercing
*18ga is a thicker option for nose and ear lobe piercings so be sure that is the size you require for those piercings!
*18ga piercings can be used as helix piercings if your piercing is thinner than a standard the standard 16ga.
*22ga nose piercings are thinner than the standard 20ga so be sure that you would like to size down in this case!
Standard Lengths for Each Piercing
Length refers to how long a piercing is. It is important to select the correct length in order to ensure there is enough space to comfortably wear your piercing. The length of the piercing only refers to the post, excluding the gem, balls or piercing backing.
14 GAUGE
| Belly Piercing | 10mm |
| Tongue Piercing | 16mm |
| Nipple Piercing (Female) | 12-16mm |
16 GAUGE
|
Nipple Piercing (Male) |
8-10mm |
| Helix and Forward Helix | 8mm |
| Tragus and Anti- Traugs | 8mm |
| Rook/ Eyebrow | 8mm |
20 GAUGE
| Earrings with Butterfly Backing | 10mm |
| Flat Back Earrings | 8mm |
Length Considerations
When determining the length of piercing you should purchase, ask yourself the following questions:
If you attempt to measure the piercing you are wearing while it is still healing you may get an incorrect measurement. It is always best to wait until a piercing is fully healed before deciding to change it.
2) If your piercing has fully healed, what length are you currently wearing?
It is always best to check with your piercer to determine the length of the item you were pierced with.
3) Do you feel you need more or less space than what you currently have?
Standard Diameters for Each Piercing
Diameter refers to the measurement of the inner wearable surface of a piercing (example pictured below).
Commonly Used Diameters
| Helix | 8mm-10mm |
| Conch | 10mm-14mm |
| Nose Hoops | 7mm-10mm |
| Septum | 8mm-10mm |
Diameter Considerations
When determining the diameter you will need your piercing to be, ask yourself the following questions:
1) What is the diameter of your current piercing?
2) Where are you pierced? Specifically, how much space will need for the piercing to go through and still sit comfortably?
You want to make sure the size will not be too small or too large as this can irritate your piercing. You can even measure the amount of space from your piercing hole to the edge of the particular body part you are pierced on (i.e. ear or nose) with a ruler, if necessary.
Gem Size
Gem size is another factor to consider when choosing the right piercing for you! Our gem sizes vary depending on the type of piercing you are looking for and can be found in the dropdown menu of the product page.
For nose studs, we gem sizes from 1.5mm (extremely tiny) to 4mm+ (very large). The most common gem size for nose studs is 2mm (pictured above), which is considered dainty and small!
For helix and tragus piercings, we carry styles that range from 2mm to 4mm+ (pictured above) with a ton of designs to choose from to find the perfect piercing for you.
For earring studs, we carry a range of options from 2mm to 10mm. The size you choose really just depends on the look you are going for! Pictured above are our 2mm to 4mm styles worn in a trip lobe piercing!
