Jewelry Size Calculator
Get the right barbell or labret length from a measured tissue depth — with room to swell for a fresh piercing and a close fit once it’s healed.
The right length, then the downsize
Jewelry that’s too long snags and rubs; too short and it presses into healing tissue. The fix is two sizes over a piercing’s life: a longer initial bar that allows for swelling, then a shorter downsize once things settle. Knowing both up front makes ordering and downsizing far less of a guessing game.
Check the bar thickness with the Gauge Size Converter, see when your downsize is usually due with the Piercing Healing Time Estimator, and map the whole aftercare timeline with the Aftercare Schedule Builder.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure my tissue depth?
The most reliable way is to measure a piece of jewelry that already fits well — the usable length of the post between the ends. If you're measuring the piercing itself, a piercer can gauge the tissue thickness accurately; a home caliper reading is a rough guide at best. Enter that millimetre figure and the calculator adds the right clearance.
Why is fresh jewelry longer than what I'll wear later?
A new piercing swells, so the initial bar is fitted a few millimetres longer to leave room. Once the swelling settles — usually within the first few weeks — a shorter bar is fitted so the ends don't press on skin, teeth, or gums. That second, shorter size is your downsize. This tool adds a bigger allowance when you tick 'fresh piercing' and a small one when you don't.
Why did it round my size up or down?
Jewelry is sold in fixed stock lengths — 6, 8, 10, 12 mm and so on — so the calculator snaps the ideal length to the nearest available size and, on a tie, rounds up to the slightly longer bar (easier than one that's too short). If your calculated length sits between two stock sizes, it's worth trying both or asking your piercer which suits the placement.
Does this replace a professional fitting?
No. It's an educational starting point to help you order sensibly and understand downsizing. Your piercer fits the exact gauge, length, and style to your anatomy and the specific piercing. This is general information, not medical advice — for a fresh or troublesome piercing, defer to your piercer.
Educational sizing guidance only — your piercer fits the exact size to your anatomy. Not medical advice.