Ear Gauge Size Chart: Gauge to mm and Inches (Actual Size)

Gauge sizes: exact and as sold

Exact sizes: Wikipedia. Sold as: Urban Body Jewelry. Other shops round some sizes differently (2g is sold as 6 or 6.5 mm).
Gauge	Exact (AWG)	Sold as	Inches
20g	0.812 mm	n/a	0.032 in
18g	1.024 mm	1 mm	0.0403 in
16g	1.291 mm	1.2 mm	0.0508 in
1/16 in	1.588 mm	same	0.0625 in
14g	1.628 mm	1.6 mm	0.0641 in
12g	2.05 mm	2 mm	0.0808 in
10g	2.58 mm	2.4 mm	0.1019 in
1/8 in	3.18 mm	same	0.125 in
8g	3.26 mm	3.2 mm	0.1285 in
6g	4.12 mm	4 mm	0.162 in
3/16 in	4.76 mm	same	0.1875 in
4g	5.19 mm	5 mm	0.204 in
1/4 in	6.35 mm	same	0.25 in
2g	6.54 mm	6 mm	0.258 in
5/16 in	7.94 mm	same	0.312 in
0g	8.25 mm	8 mm	0.325 in
00g	9.27 mm	10 mm	0.365 in
3/8 in	9.52 mm	same	0.375 in
000g	10.4 mm	n/a	0.41 in
7/16 in	11.11 mm	same	0.438 in
0000g	11.68 mm	n/a	0.46 in
1/2 in	12.7 mm	same	0.5 in
9/16 in	14.29 mm	same	0.562 in
5/8 in	15.88 mm	same	0.625 in
11/16 in	17.46 mm	same	0.688 in
3/4 in	19.05 mm	same	0.75 in
13/16 in	20.6 mm	same	0.812 in
7/8 in	22.2 mm	same	0.875 in
15/16 in	23.8 mm	same	0.938 in
1 in	25.4 mm	same	1 in
1 1/16 in	27 mm	same	1.062 in
1 1/8 in	28.6 mm	same	1.125 in
1 3/16 in	30.2 mm	same	1.188 in
1 1/4 in	31.8 mm	same	1.25 in
1 5/16 in	33.3 mm	same	1.312 in
1 3/8 in	34.9 mm	same	1.375 in
1 7/16 in	36.5 mm	same	1.438 in
1 1/2 in	38.1 mm	same	1.5 in
1 9/16 in	39.7 mm	same	1.562 in
1 5/8 in	41.3 mm	same	1.625 in
1 11/16 in	42.9 mm	same	1.688 in
1 3/4 in	44.4 mm	same	1.75 in
1 13/16 in	46 mm	same	1.812 in
1 7/8 in	47.6 mm	same	1.875 in
1 15/16 in	49.2 mm	same	1.938 in
2 in	50.8 mm	same	2 in

Body jewelry gauges are based on American Wire Gauge (AWG); ASTM B258 defines the AWG step as the 39th root of 92.
The piercing industry sells rounded metric sizes rather than exact AWG: 00g is sold as 10 mm (AWG 00 = 9.27 mm), 0g as 8 mm (AWG 8.25 mm), 2g as 6 mm (AWG 6.54 mm), 10g as 2.4 mm (AWG 2.588 mm).
Sellers disagree with each other too: BM25 sells 2g as 6.5 mm where Urban Body Jewelry and Body Candy use 6 mm; BM25 lists 1/2 in as 12.5 mm where Urban lists 12 mm (exact 12.70); BM25 lists 1 7/8 in as 48 mm where Urban lists 47 mm (exact 47.6).

How many mm is 00g?

Exactly 9.27 mm by the American Wire Gauge formula, but 00g jewelry is usually sold as 10 mm.

What gauge is a standard ear piercing?

We have not found an official standard for this, so we do not state one. Check with the piercer.

Does a smaller gauge number mean bigger?

Yes. Gauge numbers count down as the size goes up: 14g is thinner than 0g, and after 0g come 00g and then inch or mm sizes.

Wikipedia: American wire gauge (Formulae) (checked 2026-10-02)
Wikipedia: Body jewelry sizes (Conversion table) (checked 2026-10-02)
Urban Body Jewelry: Plugs / Gauges Conversion Chart (checked 2026-10-02)
BM25 Body Jewelry: Body Jewelry Size Chart (checked 2026-10-02)
Body Candy: The Ultimate Gauge Size Chart for Body Jewelry (checked 2026-10-02)

Last checked: 5 October 2026