Question 1

what gauge are normal earrings?

Accepted Answer

earrings for ordinary lobe piercings are usually 20 gauge (0.81 mm) or 18 gauge (1.02 mm). if you're not sure what your piercing takes, check the gauge of an earring that already fits comfortably.

Question 2

is a higher gauge thicker or thinner?

Accepted Answer

thinner. gauge numbers run backwards: 22g is a fine wire, 14g is much thicker, and sizes past 0g are 00g. that's why stretched lobe sizes count down.

Question 3

what gauge is a cartilage or helix earring?

Accepted Answer

usually 16g (1.29 mm), sometimes 18g. check what the piercer used, since switching to a thicker gauge can hurt and a thinner one can let the hole shrink.

Question 4

why do sizes past 2g jump to mm?

Accepted Answer

the gauge numbers are wire-gauge diameters that don't land on round numbers. for large stretched sizes, most jewelry is sold by millimeters instead, so 0g is usually sold as 8 mm and 00g as 9 or 10 mm.

gauge	millimeters	inches	typically used for
22g	0.64 mm	0.025 in	very fine hoops and some fashion earrings
20g	0.81 mm	0.032 in	thin posts on many standard earrings
18g	1.02 mm	0.040 in	many studs and hoops, some cartilage jewelry
16g	1.29 mm	0.051 in	cartilage, helix, tragus and many body piercings
14g	1.63 mm	0.064 in	body piercings such as navel and tongue
12g	2.05 mm	0.081 in	the first step of stretched lobes
10g	2.59 mm	0.102 in	stretched lobes
8g	3.26 mm	0.128 in	stretched lobes
6g	4.11 mm	0.162 in	stretched lobes
4g	5.19 mm	0.204 in	stretched lobes
2g	6.54 mm	0.257 in	stretched lobes
0g	8.25 mm	0.325 in	stretched lobes; usually sold as 8 mm
00g	9.27 mm	0.365 in	stretched lobes; usually sold as 9 or 10 mm

earring gauge chart.

use this chart on your shop.

earring gauges, answered.

earrings sell on the ear.