Disclosure:The example rings in this guide are from Ronatelli. The buying advice applies to any brand. Prices were checked on October 28, 2026.
A ring is the hardest piece of jewelry to buy for someone else. A chain or a bracelet has some give; a ring a half size too small won’t go over his knuckle, and one a half size too big spins and slides off. You don’t have to ask him, though. Below are six ways to get his size without giving the gift away, from the most reliable to the least, followed by how to adjust the number for the finger and the band, and when you can skip the size altogether.
Key takeaways
- Best: measure a ring he already wears on the same finger. Its inside diameter in millimeters reads straight off the size chart.
- No ring to borrow? Get him to try rings on, trace a ring he owns, or ask someone who knows his size.
- Adjust for the hand, the finger, and the band. The right hand of a right-handed man usually runs a half size larger, and a band 6 mm or wider needs a half size up.
- An average is a check, not a size. Most American men wear a 9 to 11, and a guess of 10 is a full size off for many of them.
- No number at all? Choose an adjustable ring, or buy from a seller who resizes or exchanges.
In this guide Six ways Size chart Adjust the size Average sizes Adjustable rings If it doesn’t fit FAQ
Six ways to find his ring size, most reliable first
The first two give you his exact size. Tracing a ring gets you close, asking someone is only as good as their memory, and the last two are a rough starting point that you should confirm another way if you can.
1. Measure a ring he already wears
This is the most accurate method, because it measures a ring that already fits him. It has to come from the finger the new ring is for, or you will need to adjust the number, and it should be a ring he wears comfortably, not one he finds tight or loose. Borrow it while he is in the shower or asleep, lay it on a ruler marked in millimeters, and measure the inside diameter: the widest distance from inner edge to inner edge. Calipers are better still if you have them. Then read the size from the chart below: an inside diameter of 19.8 mm is a US 10.
2. Get him to try rings on
A jeweler’s sizing rings give his exact size, so the only job is getting them onto his finger. The old line still works: you are buying a ring for your brother, or your father, and their hands are about the same size as his; would he try one on? A jeweler who knows what you are doing can note his size without saying it out loud. A friend he trusts can do the same on a shopping trip of their own.
3. Trace it or press it into soap
When a ring can’t leave the room for long, a minute is enough. Trace the inside of the band onto paper with a sharp pencil held upright, two or three times, or press the ring into a fresh bar of soap or a lump of modeling clay so that it leaves a clean impression, and wipe it before you put it back. A jeweler can read the size from either. To do it yourself, measure the traced circle across the inside edge of the pencil line, because the line itself adds width. A photo of the ring lying flat on a ruler, taken from straight above, is a useful backup.
4. Ask someone who knows
His mother, a brother or sister, or a close friend may know his size, especially if they have bought him a ring before. If he has a wedding band, its receipt or the jeweler who sized it may still have the number. Keep the circle small, and remember that a wedding band size is for the left ring finger: for a ring on his right hand, adjust it.
5. Try his ring on your own finger
If you only have his ring for a few seconds, say while he washes his hands, slide it onto one of your own fingers as far as it goes and mark the spot with a pen. A jeweler can measure your finger at that mark. It is rougher than measuring the ring itself, because fingers taper and the spot is hard to mark exactly, so use it when nothing better is possible.
6. Measure his finger while he sleeps
With no ring to borrow, you can measure the finger itself. Wrap a thin strip of paper around the base of the finger, snug but not tight, mark where it overlaps, and measure the length in millimeters: that is the circumference, which also reads off the chart. Our ring size guide explains the paper-strip method in detail. On a sleeping hand it is hard to judge how snug to pull, and the knuckle is hard to measure without waking him, so treat the result as a rough guide: confirm it another way, or use it to choose an adjustable ring.
Read his size from the chart
Find your number in either column: the inside diameter of a ring, or the circumference of his finger from a paper strip. Most men’s rings are sized 8 to 13. If your number falls between two rows, choose the larger size for a band 6 mm or wider and the smaller one for a slim band. Our full US ring size chart runs from size 5 to 14.
| US size | Inside diametermm | Inside circumferencemm |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 18.1 | 57.0 |
| 8½ | 18.5 | 58.3 |
| 9 | 18.9 | 59.5 |
| 9½ | 19.4 | 60.8 |
| 10 | 19.8 | 62.1 |
| 10½ | 20.2 | 63.4 |
| 11 | 20.6 | 64.6 |
| 11½ | 21.0 | 65.9 |
| 12 | 21.4 | 67.2 |
| 12½ | 21.8 | 68.5 |
| 13 | 22.2 | 69.7 |
Adjust the size for his hand, his finger, and the band
A size is right only for the finger it came from and for a band like the one you measured. Change either one, and the number changes with it.
- The other hand. A man’s dominant hand is usually about a half size larger. If you measured his wedding band and are buying a ring for the right hand of a right-handed man, go up a half size.
- Another finger. An index finger usually runs about one size larger than the ring finger, and a pinky three to four sizes smaller. The middle finger is larger than the ring finger as well, by an amount that varies, so measure a ring he wears there if you can.
- A wider band. A wide band covers more of the finger and fits tighter. Go up a half size for a band 6 mm or wider, and a full size over 10 mm, unless the ring you measured is just as wide. Our guide to men’s silver rings shows the common widths to scale.
One more reason a borrowed ring is the best source: it already goes over his knuckle. A paper strip around the base of the finger can’t tell you that, and a man with large knuckles needs a size between the knuckle and the base.
Why an average size isn’t his size
Most American men wear a size 9 to 11 on the ring finger, and 10 is the most common. That makes a guess of 10 a full size off for a man who wears a 9 or an 11, which is enough for a ring to spin or to stop at the knuckle. Treat the average as a check on your measurement instead: if your number points to a 13 on a man with average hands, measure again. Rules of thumb based on his height, shoe size, or glove size are guesswork too.
Or skip the size: choose an adjustable ring
An adjustable ring has a small opening at the back of the band, so it can be eased open or pressed closed by hand until it fits. It is the one ring you can buy without knowing his size, and he can move it to another finger later. Sterling silver suits the design: it is soft enough to adjust without tools and firm enough to hold its shape. Adjust it slowly and as few times as you can, because bending silver back and forth hardens it and can eventually crack it. And an adjustable ring covers a range of sizes, not every size, so if he wears well outside the usual 8 to 13, check with the seller first.
Every Ronatelli men’s ring is made this way, in one adjustable size. Some examples at their listed prices:
- Torin chain-link band or Nexus braided band, $129 each: all silver, easy to wear every day
- Kleos Greek key band, $149: a patterned band with a little more presence
- Ragnar square black onyx ring, $149, the brand’s best seller, or the Marmo veined-stone signet, $129
- Arco faceted black onyx ring, $169: a statement ring for a man who already wears one
Prices as listed on ronatelli.com on October 28, 2026. Prices change, so check the product page.
If the ring doesn’t fit
Most sterling silver rings can be resized. A jeweler can usually take a plain band up or down by one to two sizes, and making it smaller tends to cost less, because sizing up needs added metal. Jewelers Mutual puts the cost of resizing anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars, depending on the metal and the ring. Rings with a pattern or stones all the way around are the exception, and so are tungsten and titanium. A resized ring usually can’t be returned, so settle the size before you have one altered.
For a ring in a fixed size, keep the box and tags until he has tried it on, and check the seller’s policy before you buy: some exchange a ring for another size, others take it back and you reorder. Ronatelli’s rings are adjustable, so you shouldn’t need to send one back over the size; if he doesn’t like it, its return policy gives you 30 days from the day you receive it, unworn and in its original packaging.
For Christmas 2026, order by Monday, December 14, for rings that ship from US stock, and by Friday, December 4, for anything that ships from overseas; allow extra time for engraving or sizing. Ronatelli ships from a warehouse in the US or overseas, so treat it as an overseas order. Our holiday gift guide has the full table of order dates.
FAQ
What is the average ring size for a man?
Most American men wear a size 9 to 11 on the ring finger, with 10 the most common. Index fingers run about a size larger and pinkies three to four sizes smaller. Use the average to check a measurement, not as his size.
Can I use his wedding ring size for a ring on his right hand?
As a starting point. The dominant hand is usually about a half size larger, so for a right-handed man, go up a half size for his right ring finger. For another finger, adjust again or measure a ring he wears there.
How do I find his ring size if he doesn’t wear rings?
Get him to try rings on with a cover story, ask someone who knows, or measure his finger with a paper strip while he sleeps. If none of those works, choose an adjustable ring.
Should I size up or down if I’m not sure?
Up. A ring that is slightly loose can still be worn, and taking a band down is the cheaper resize; a ring that is too small won’t go over his knuckle at all. For a band 6 mm or wider, the larger size is usually the right one anyway.
Can I trace a ring to find its size?
Yes. Trace the inside of the band with a sharp pencil held upright, measure across the inside edge of the line in millimeters, and read the chart, or take the tracing to a jeweler. It gets you close, but measuring the ring itself is more exact.
Are printable ring sizers accurate?
Only if the page prints at exactly 100% scale, so check it against a ruler first. A plastic ring sizer costs a few dollars and is more reliable, though using one on him gives the surprise away.
Bottom line
Borrow a ring he wears on the same finger and measure the inside diameter: it is the only way to get his exact size without his help. Failing that, get him to try rings on or ask someone who knows, then adjust the number for his hand, his finger, and the width of the band. If you can’t get a number at all, choose an adjustable ring, or buy from a seller who resizes, and keep the box until it fits.
Related guides
Chart values follow the standard US sizing scale and are rounded to 0.1 mm. Ronatelli prices were checked on ronatelli.com on October 28, 2026, and may have changed since. Read our editorial policy.
