To choose lip jewelry, match the gauge of your piercing. Lip rings and labrets commonly use 16G (1.2 mm) or 14G (1.6 mm), and 14G is the thicker post. Length depends on your lip thickness and on whether the piercing is new or healed, so ask your piercer for the size they fitted.
Lip Jewelry Gauge to MM Chart
| Gauge | Thickness (mm) | Thickness (inches) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20G | 0.8 | 0.032 | Nose |
| 18G | 1.0 | 0.04 | Nose |
| 16G | 1.2 | 0.047 | Lip, eyebrow |
| 14G | 1.6 | 0.063 | Lip, belly button |
The table follows one body jewelry size guide, which lists lip rings at 16G (1.2 mm) to 14G (1.6 mm). For thinner nose sizes, see our nose stud size guide. You can also open the lip ring size chart for a quick reference.
16G vs 14G Lip Ring: What Is the Difference?
14G is 0.4 mm thicker than 16G (1.6 mm against 1.2 mm). The gauge of your jewelry should match the gauge your piercing was made at, so use the size your piercer fitted. A thicker 14G post looks bolder, and a 16G post looks finer. If you do not know your gauge, measure the post with a ruler or ask the piercer who did the work.
Labret Stud Length
A labret stud has a flat disc that sits inside the lip, a post, and a ball or top outside. Length is the measurement of the post between the disc and the ball. The right length depends on the thickness of your lip. A new piercing swells, so it needs more room than a healed one, and your piercer can tell you when to change to a shorter post. The sources we checked do not publish a standard length chart, so measure a post that fits well in millimetres and use that as your reference.
Lip Hoop Diameter
For hoops, diameter is the inner width of the circle. Measure it with a ruler across the inside, not the outer edge, using the same technique as our mm to ring size guide. A larger diameter hangs further from the lip and a smaller one sits closer. We did not find a verified size chart for lip hoops, so try the diameter of a hoop that already fits and ask a piercer before changing it.
How to Check Your Lip Jewelry Size
- Ask your piercer for the gauge and length of the jewelry fitted.
- If you do not know, measure the post thickness and length of a piece that fits.
- Match the gauge. For a hoop, also match the inner diameter.
- If it feels tight or the piercing is swollen, see a piercer rather than forcing a change.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. For comparison with other jewelry units, see the ring size conversion chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gauge is a lip ring?
Lip rings commonly use 16G (1.2 mm) or 14G (1.6 mm).
Is 14G thicker than 16G?
Yes. A lower gauge number means a thicker post. 14G is 1.6 mm and 16G is 1.2 mm.
What length labret do I need?
It depends on your lip thickness and healing stage. Ask your piercer, or measure the post of a labret that fits.
Can I wear a nose stud in my lip?
Nose jewelry is usually 20G to 18G, which is thinner than the 16G to 14G used for lips, so it may not match your lip piercing. Check the gauge first.
How do I measure a lip hoop?
Measure the inside width of the circle with a ruler in millimetres.
Sources: WJD Exclusives body jewelry size guide and Pure Jewels gauge guide.