Piercing Sizes

To check the size of the piercing there are 2systems to measure them Metric and Imperial. The metric system uses millimeters while the Imperial one uses gauges and inches. As default, we use both throughout the catalog for our clients’ convenience.

For those who are familiar with only one of these systems, please see the conversion chart below:

Gauges Metric
22ga0.6mm
20ga0.8mm
18ga1.0mm
16ga1.2mm
14ga1.6mm
12ga2.0mm
10ga2.5mm
8ga3.2mm
6ga4.0mm
4ga5.0mm
2ga6.0mm
0ga8.0mm
00ga10.0mm
For the available sizes refer to our price list. Different sizes on special order only.

Piercing Sizes

Piercing is measured by gauge (thickness) and width.

Rings are measured by the inside diameter.

Straight and curved barbells are measured by the linear width from ball to ball.

Gauge

It is the size of the stem (thickness of the wire) on most pieces of jewelry. Basically, it's the size of the hole people need to insert a piece of jewelry.

Tip

0.8mm and 1.00mm is used for nose studs and ear piercing.

1.2 mm jewelry is mostly used for eyebrow and labret piercing (chin).

1.6mm is the size for most piercing, like the tongue or the navel.

Larger sizes are used to enlarge holes. This is a gradual process.

Attachments

Ball sizes are a matter of taste but as a general guide, 3 and 4 mm balls are used for eyebrow or labret piercing and 5 and 6 mm balls for tongue piercing. Navel bananas usually have 8mm ball down and a 5 or 6mm ball on top.

Length or Diameter
Metric Inches
4.5 mm3/16"
6.0 mm7/32"
7.0 mm9/32"
8.0 mm5/16"
9.0 mm11/32"
10.0 mm13/32"
11.2 mm7/16"
12.0 mm15/32"
14.0 mm9/16"
15.0 mm19/32"
16.0 mm5/8"
18.0 mm11/16"
19.0 mm3/4"
20.0 mm25/32"
22.0 mm7/8"
24.0 mm15/16"
25.0 mm1"
26.0 mm1 1/32"
29.0 mm1 5/32"
30.0 mm1 3/16"
32.0 mm1 9/32"
34.0 mm1 11/32"
35.0 mm1 13/32"
36.0 mm1 7/16"
38.0 mm1 1/2"
40.0 mm1 19/32"
44.0 mm1 25/32"
50.0 mm2"
Ball Size
Metric Inches
2.0 mm5/64"
2.5 mm3/32"
3.0 mm1/8"
4.0 mm5/32"
5.0 mm3/16"
6.0 mm1/4"
8.0 mm5/16"
10.0 mm3/8"
12.0 mm1/2"