Hoop earring sizes: which size suits your ear and your face?

10 mm or 25 mm: a world of difference. How to choose the size that suits your ear, your face and your day.

Atelier TOV5 min readUpdated 11 November 2026

The short answer

For every day, a hoop of 12 to 18 mm is the safe choice: visible, but never in the way. Huggies of 8 to 13 mm sit close around your lobe and also suit a second hole. From 25 mm, you're wearing a statement. Hold a ruler next to your earlobe to picture it, and remember: part of the hoop sits behind your lobe, so it looks smaller.

In this story

How do you read a hoop size?
Which hoop size suits you?
Huggies: 8 to 13 mm
Hoops: 15 mm and up
Which size suits your face?
How do they close, and can you add a charm?
Frequently asked questions

How do you read a hoop size?

A hoop's size is its diameter in millimetres: from one side of the hoop to the other. Thickness counts too, meaning how wide the hoop itself is. You'll find both in the specifications of every pair.

Two things to remember:

It looks smaller than the number. Part of the hoop sits behind your lobe. On your ear, a hoop looks a little smaller than its millimetres suggest. That's why the on-ear photos are worth a look.
Thickness changes everything. A thick 15 mm hoop looks bolder than a fine 18 mm one. For a calm look, go fine. For presence, choose chunky hoops.

Check it at home: hold a ruler against your earlobe with the 0 at your piercing. With a 15 mm hoop, the bottom lands at roughly the 15 mm mark. You'll see straight away where it falls.

Which hoop size suits you?

Size	What it is	How it sits	Where
8-10 mm	Small huggie	Close around your lobe, very subtle	Second or third hole
12-13 mm	Huggie	Close to your lobe, a touch more presence	First or second hole
15-16 mm	Small hoop	Hangs just clear of your lobe	First hole, every day
18-20 mm	Medium hoop	A clear circle that moves with you	First hole
24-25 mm	Large hoop	A statement	First hole
30-40 mm	Extra large	The lead role	First hole, with little above it

From this story

Pavé Diamond Mini Huggie Hoops (8mm) (0.05 ct) €299,00

Essential Small Huggie Hoops (10mm) €199,00

Essential Huggie Hoops (12mm) €224,00

Huggies: 8 to 13 mm

A huggie hugs your earlobe, hence the name. It sits close, so it doesn't catch on anything and you forget you're wearing it. Ideal for every day, for your second hole or if you love small and delicate.

The higher the hole, the less room there is to the edge of your lobe. That's why a smaller hoop suits a higher hole: 10 mm in your second hole, 8 mm in a third. If you have a small lobe or your piercing sits close to the edge, 10 mm can look lovely in your first hole too.

Hoops: 15 mm and up

From about 15 mm, a huggie becomes a hoop: it hangs more freely and moves when you talk or laugh.

15-16 mm. Small hoops work every day, at the office and after.
18-20 mm. The classic: visible under your hair, still effortless.
25 mm and up. A large hoop is your piece of the day. Keep the rest of your ear calm.

From this story

Essential Small Hoops (15mm) €299,00

Essential Medium Hoops (18mm) €329,00

Essential Large Hoops (25mm) €442,00

Which size suits your face?

There are no rules, just a few tricks that help.

Face shape	What works well
Round	Oval hoops or hoops of 18 mm and up add length
Long or narrow	Round huggies and small hoops up to 15 mm add width
Heart-shaped	Medium hoops of 18 to 25 mm balance a narrower chin
Angular	Round, smooth hoops soften the lines
Oval	Everything suits you: go with your gut

If you often wear your hair down, go a size up, or the hoop disappears. If you often wear a ponytail, even a small hoop stands out.

How do they close, and can you add a charm?

Our huggies close with a click: you hear it shut, and it stays put. How each hoop closes is in its specifications.

Many of our huggies and hoops take a charm, such as a little heart or a pearl. That way one pair gives you several looks. Each charm lists the hoops it fits.

All our earrings are real gold, nickel-free and suitable for sensitive skin. They come as a pair. Building a whole stack with different sizes? How to build an ear stack explains how bigger at the bottom, smaller at the top works. For every other spot on your ear, see helix, tragus, conch or flat.

Gold Hoops Real gold, nickel-free, from fine huggies to bold hoops. Shop Gold Hoops

Frequently asked questions

What size hoop earrings should I choose?

For every day, 12 to 18 mm is the safe choice: visible, but never in the way. Choose 8 to 10 mm for a second hole. From 25 mm, you're wearing a statement.

What's the difference between huggies and hoops?

A huggie is a small hoop of about 8 to 13 mm that sits close around your lobe. A hoop is larger, from about 15 mm, and hangs more freely.

What size hoop fits a second piercing?

Usually 10 mm. Your second hole sits higher, with less room to the edge of your lobe, so a small huggie looks best there. In a third hole, 8 mm fits.

Do hoops look smaller in your ear?

Yes. Part of the hoop sits behind your lobe, so on your ear it looks a little smaller than its size. That's why the on-ear photos are worth checking.

How do I measure which hoop size I need?

Hold a ruler against your earlobe with the 0 at your piercing. With a 15 mm hoop, the bottom lands at roughly the 15 mm mark. You'll see straight away where it falls.