Hoops are a staple in every jewelry lover’s jewelry collection, and this is essentially the case because of the fact that the right, classic pair of hoops will enhance not only your outfit but also your confidence levels. For these reasons, there are countless styles of hoop earrings that you could choose from, including diamond-studded options, besides the options made of gold, stainless steel, and sterling silver.
But even though the hoop earrings are ideal for pretty much everyone, there is the matter of sizing – and the age-old question, what is the ideal size of hoop earrings that you should get. Well, this article guides you through everything you need to know about buying the right-sized hoop earrings.
If you are looking to add hoops to your jewelry collection, we recommend reading this sizing guide for the hoops to make sure that they are actually complimenting your appearance.
Bear in mind that it is important to get your hoop earrings in the right size because you need the right sized hoops that will be the best fit for your face shape, personality, style, and fashion preferences.
Hoop earring size chart on-ear
If you are tired of getting the size of your earrings wrong every time you order hoops online, you may want to start making use of a hoop earrings size chart to ensure the right fit. Whether you are looking at Sarabella hoops/ posts, baby hoops, big baby hoops, small hoops, or giant hoops, you need to make sure that they fit proportionately.
While the smallest hoop earrings are 10mm only, the larger hoop earrings could be as big as 75 or 76mm, and this means that you must take time to determine what size suits you best, especially when dressing up for different occasions. The thickness of the hoops is important, too, with the thin hoops often being 1mm thick and the thicker hoops only 4mm in thickness.
The 10mm hoops are quite small, and they are the perfect size for kids; this is followed by the 15mm hoops that are also great for kids or teens. The 20mm hoops are suitable for anyone with a smaller face, the 25mm too, although there are instances where the 25mm hoop would be a tad too noticeable if worn by someone with a small face.
30mm and 35mm hoops are suitable for persons with mid-size and fuller faces and happy medium faces, respectively. 40mm hoops would be noticeable on anyone with a medium-sized face. But if your face says ‘ready for primetime,’ the larger 45mm hoops would do the trick.
The 50mm is what is considered the classic large hoop for anyone with a larger face size, and if you are going for a more confident and bold look (and have a large face).
If you wear the 60mm hoops, you’re definitely wearing them to make a statement, while the 65mm is the classic, oversized hoop. 70mm hoops say that you are in this world all on your own, and the 75/76mm hoops say that you are in charge. The largest hoop earrings you can find are 90mm.
What is the average size of a hoop earring?
The average size of hoop earrings worn by most people is between 30 and 35mm, although most people going for the petite options will prefer the dainty options in the 10-15mm range, especially when you’re choosing hoops that you can wear to work, especially if you work in a conservative office setup or prefer subtle and dainty accessories for comfort at work.
Best size hoop earrings for everyday
If you’d like to buy hoop earrings that you can wear every day, you might like the hoops that measure between 18 and 20mm (equivalent to the Penny).
At this size, the hoops are small enough to suit you perfectly if you have a smaller face, and you may also like them if you’re looking for earrings that you can rock to a party effortlessly.
Essentially, these earrings make for a nice, understated, everyday look, and if you are always on the go and prefer a laidback style, these hoops would be perfect for you.
Tips on Choosing the Right Size Hoop Earrings
Know the common sizing options and where to wear the earrings
- Tiny Hoops
We’ve listed some of the sizes of hoop earrings that you get to choose from. But it’s not enough for you to know that you know the different sizes of hoops; you also need to know when and where different sizes of hoops work best.
The 11mm to the 14mm hoops, for instance, are the perfect-sized hoops for you if you want to dress your first and the second lobe piercing.
But if you are looking for hoops that will leave a bit of space at the bottom of the lobe, you could opt for the 15mm and the 17mm earrings. And for the earrings that you can comfortably wear daily, the 18-20 mm hoops would be more than ideal for you, especially if you have a small face.
Note that the smaller hoops measuring between 5mm and 7mm are ideal for the cartilage piercings, including the tragus, forward helix, and rook piercings. The 8mm also suits some cartilage piercings, but you could also wear them on your ear lobes.
And for the daith and conch piercings, the 10mm hoop earrings would be perfect, although the 12mm hoops would still be ideal if you have a little more space in the ear.
- Small Hoops (How to wear them)
The small hoops are between 26mm and 50mm, and they are the ideal size for anyone with a fuller face, minimalists, and anyone who wishes to wear something that is noticeable but not overpowering.
These hoops are meant to be worn alone, and they’d also be a good option for you if you are going for a bejeweled or a textured pair of earrings.
- Medium Hoops
These are between 51 and 76mm and would be a good option for you if you are looking for something bolder and playful.
These hoops are great style statement pieces, and they don’t go overboard. The best thing about these hoops is that they are universally flattering to any face shape.
They are also a good choice if you need earrings that will soften the edges of your angular or square face. The medium hoops would also make narrow and long faces appear fuller.
- Big Hoops
These hoop earrings are the extra-large ones that are between 77mm and 100mm. If you are looking for accessories to bring in some drama, you may like these hoops.
While they stand out on their own, these big hoops look great when worn with dainty, layered necklaces.
And for these hoops to shine, you should not wear jewelry on the other piercings. They look great on you if you have long hair and also if you have a longer or an oval face.
But they can be overpowering if you have a small face.
- XXL Hoops
These are hoop earrings that measure between 101 and 120mm, and they are ideal for anyone who finds appealing jewelry with a larger-than-life vibe.
Since they are big, you should choose the thin and also lightweight design hoops because you need them to be comfortable.
Also, these earrings are suitable for persons with large facial features. They also look great for you if you are going for daring and glamorous.
Details of the hoop earrings
Beyond the size or the diameter of the hoops, you also need to take into account the finer details of the hoop earrings. These details include the materials used for construction (precious metals), the width of the hoops, and other design details like gemstones added.
- Width of the hoop earrings
The hoops’ width plays a significant role in how the earrings affect your appearance.
Generally, the slim hoops work well with a casual look, while the wide hoops carry a more glamorous feel, which is why they are ideal for when you’re going for more of a dressy look.
Keep in mind, however, that a small pair of wide hoops would still look great as everyday wear accessories, while the large hoops often appear understated and too delicate if they’re too thin.
- Precious metals
You cannot go wrong with solid gold hoop earrings, but you also need to ensure that the chosen hoops match your skin tone and undertones.
Platinum, for example, pairs perfectly with a cool skin undertone, it’s also hypoallergenic, and you may like it because it gives off a luxe, elegant feel.
Yellow gold is a classic design that works well with warm skin undertones; white gold is chic and sophisticated and suitable for cool undertones.
Then you have rose gold that matches the neutral skin undertones, giving off a trendy and romantic feel.
- Design elements
Hoop earrings are mostly plain, but you could also opt for the detailed ones with engravings, diamonds, and gemstones, among other details.
Before purchase, think of your budget and also your style preference.
Are you going for something sleek or ornate, and does the style match your personality and overall styling preferences?
Conclusion
If you are looking for new hoop earrings but you’re not sure about what options you should choose, we hope that this guide has given you all the details you need.
Read more useful tips here or here!
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.