When it comes to choosing a ring, whether for yourself or your partner, friend or family member, it’s important to make sure it’s the right size. In this guide, you’ll find useful tips and information on how to work out an accurate ring size for a comfortable and secure fit.

Before you can use the charts below, you’ll need to know how to measure your ring size. This method below will teach you how to measure your ring size in the UK, using millimetres.

1. Take a piece of string or a piece of paper (no wider than 1.4cm or ½ inch), as this will help you to be accurate.
2. Wrap it around the base of the finger you would like to measure.
3. Use a pen to mark the point on the string or paper where it overlaps. The overlap will form a complete circle.
4. Take a ruler and measure the length of the string or paper from the starting end, to the end you marked with the pen.
5. Finally, use this measurement and compare it against the chart below to determine your UK ring size.

Of course, if you’re buying a ring for a gift or for an engagement, our advice guide on choosing an engagement ring contains some helpful tips on how to measure someone’s ring size discreetly.

1. Measure when your fingers are at their largest - usually at the end of the day.
2. Make sure you can comfortably slide the string or paper over your finger joints/knuckles.
3. Measure your finger 3 or 4 times to make sure you’re getting a correct reading.
4. Use a few different pieces of paper or string too - these materials can twist or stretch so it’s best to take a few readings.

If you’d prefer not to measure your ring size using the tips above, simply download our ring sizer chart here. Here’s how to use it:

1. To guarantee that your ring measurements are perfectly precise, ensure that page scaling is set to ‘None’ when you print it off. Use A4 paper.
2. Then, double check you’ve printed the chart correctly by measuring the line on the right. This will show you whether or not scaling has occurred.
3. Take a ring that fits on the desired finger and place it over the circles on this chart.
4. Line up the ring by placing it in such a way that the inside edge of the ring matches the circle nearest in size. This measurement will reveal the diameter of the ring.
5. If the ring falls between two sizes, order the larger size. (Remember you may be able to order a half or quarter size).

If you want to find a measurement of an existing ring, you can use the chart below as a template. Simply place the ring over the circles and whichever your ring sits nicely on is the right size. Note: the line should be tightly aligned with the inside of the band. 

The ring size charts below can be used for determining both men’s ring sizes and ladies ring sizes. Male and female fingers are measured using the same scale - men's hands just tend to be larger than women's, and therefore will fall under the bigger sizes.

German size charts, Italian ring sizes, US ring size charts… you could spend a great deal of time browsing international ring size charts in an effort to buy the correct ring. Here at Brown Family Jewellers, we’ve compiled them into one helpful chart so that you can quickly identify the size you need at a glance with our ring size converter below.

Bear in mind that the measurements in this chart may deviate ever so slightly from the measurements you’re familiar with - especially if you’re converting UK to US ring sizes, or Italian ring sizes to UK ring sizes for example. That’s because while jewellers tend to use the same measurements, different countries use different scales - variations of a ¼ or ½ a millimetre or so are to be expected.

If you’re buying a ring as a special gift for a loved one or planning a surprise proposal, you’ll need to find out the ring size in secret. It’s not always as simple as grabbing one of their rings and popping it against the above chart, so here are some other techniques for finding their ring size and keeping it a perfect surprise.

If you have access to one of their rings, pop it on your own finger and make a pen mark where it sits. You can then use a piece of string and the ring measure chart to work out their size or visit your nearest Browns store where our friendly team will be able to measure it for you. 

If it’s for a proposal, you’ll just have to make sure you choose a ring that they usually wear on the ‘ring finger’, otherwise, the measurement will likely need to go down a size or two.  

Trying to get their ring size in secret may mean getting creative, which only adds to the fun. For example, you can use soap, or something similar, to create an indentation of the ring. You can then show this to our experts who’ll be able to identify the correct size. Just make sure the ring is clean afterwards to avoid any suspicion!

Alternatively, with a piece of paper, you can trace around the inside of the ring which can also be used to establish measurements. 

One of the quickest ways to find your loved one’s ring size is to borrow one of their rings. Just be sure it’s one they won’t notice is missing for a day. As an engagement ring needs to be sized for the ‘ring finger’, ideally choose a ring that would usually adorn this finger. It’s more likely you’ll find a ring that’s usually worn on the middle finger, or the same finger on the other hand. If the former, the correct measurement will likely be a size or two smaller than this, and for the latter, many people will be the same size, or, often, one size smaller.  

There may be a particular friend or family member that will know your partner's ring size or would be able to get hold of the ring raising less suspicion. Just be sure that they can keep your planned proposal under wraps! 

If you’re still in doubt, it’s always better to opt for a bigger size, as this can be easily made smaller without affecting the finer details of the ring. Also, that way, the ring will still go on during the proposal, ensuring the romantic moment remains intact! 

Once you have your, or your partner’s, ring measurement settled, our friendly team of experts are here to help you with the rest. If you haven’t already chosen the other important features of the ring, such as shape, diamond cut and metal type, pop into a Browns store,give us a call, or read more of ouradvice guidesto help you make a decision.