How Should a Ring Fit? An Expert Explains

Now that you're beginning your journey of shopping for engagement rings, it's important to consider how a ring should fit. Because your engagement ring is something you'll likely wear every day for the rest of your life, choosing the right ring size up front will ensure it feels comfortable enough for everyday wear—and will minimize the risk of losing it. Even if you wear a lot of rings in your day-to-day life, we recommend getting properly measured and knowing how an engagement ring should fit to avoid any surprises or unnecessary resizing appointments. Ready to start shopping? Pop some bubbly, sit back and read our expert tips for ensuring a perfect fit for your engagement ring.

In this article:

• How Should a Ring Fit?
• Signs Your Ring Is Too Loose
• Signs Your Ring Is Too Tight
• How to Choose the Right Ring Size

How Should a Ring Fit?

The best-fitting rings are ones that you forget you're even wearing. Ideally, your ring should fit just snugly enough to hold it securely on the finger, but not so tight that it becomes uncomfortable. Nicole Wegman, founder and CEO of Ring Concierge explains "A wedding ring should fit comfortably enough that it stays securely on your finger without feeling too tight or restrictive."

Just like our bodies fluctuate throughout the day, our fingers can fluctuate in size throughout the day too, making even your perfect ring size fit differently at different points in time. "It's important to remember that your finger size can fluctuate throughout the day based on factors like temperature, activity level or even diet," Wegman shares. "For example, after a workout, your fingers might swell, making the ring feel snug, while cold weather can cause your fingers to shrink, making the ring feel loose."

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When trying on engagement rings, avoid going after a workout or on an extremely cold day if possible to ensure the most accurate fit. "Ideally, your ring should slide on easily but offer a bit of resistance when coming off, " Wegman tells us. "This ensures it will stay in place during everyday activities, even when your hands experience those natural fluctuations."

Signs Your Ring Is Too Loose

A ring that is too loose is at high risk of slipping off and getting lost—which is why we always recommend opting to insure your ring. When trying on rings, it's important to consider the below factors that indicate your ring is too loose for you.

Ring Slides Off Easily

If your ring easily slides off of your finger without any resistance, this is a sign that you are wearing the wrong size. Either try sizing down if you are still in the store or you can bring it to a jeweler to get your engagement ring resized.

Ring Spins Around Your Finger

Rings that easily spin around the finger are also considered too loose. Your ring should sit securely on the finger with your engagement stone aligned in the center. If you can easily twist and spin your ring all the way around, you'll want to opt for a smaller size.

Ring Feels Like It Could Slip Off

If you are questioning whether your ring could slip off, chances are it's too loose. Wegman tells us "If you can shake your hand and the ring moves or feels like it could slip off, it's too loose and needs resizing for a more secure fit."

Signs Your Ring Is Too Tight

A too-tight engagement ring certainly isn't comfortable for everyday wear and can even cut off circulation in extreme cases. While you want your ring to be secure, the below indicators mean your ring is too tight and you'll want to go down a size or two for a comfortable fit.

Discomfort or Indentations

You're going to wear your engagement or wedding ring every day for the rest of your life, so you want to ensure it feels comfortable. If you're noticing indents on your finger or feel that it's too snug, we recommend opting for a size up or going to your jeweler to get resized.

Difficulty Removing the Ring

If you're wondering how snug should a ring fit, know that it shouldn't be a struggle to take off your ring at the end of the day. While you could experience some resistance removing your ring after a workout, this shouldn't be the norm for every day.

Ring Does Not Move at All

While your ring shouldn't entirely slide around a full 360 degrees on your finger, you do want a little bit of movement to ensure it's not too tight. Wegman advises, "If your finger feels constricted or the ring doesn't move at all when your hand is at rest, it's likely too tight and may need resizing for comfort."

How to Choose the Right Ring Size

Choosing the right ring size all comes down to having the correct measurements and what feels comfortable for you. This is especially important to get right if you're designing a custom engagement ring. Whether you go to a professional or measure yourself at home, we've outlined a few expert tips for choosing your correct ring size.

Get Professionally Measured

A surefire way to ensure a perfect engagement ring fit is to leave it to the professionals. "I recommend coming in to see one of our diamond experts to help guide you through the process," Wegman says. "We can get down to the quarter size when custom designing your ring, so you're sure to have the perfect fit."

Use a Ring Sizer

Use a ring sizer at home to see how different sizes of rings fit you. Wegman recommends buying one that includes half and quarter sizing to get as accurate as possible.

Measure at the Right Time

Measuring yourself for an engagement or wedding ring is best done during the day and without any atypical circumstances. "Avoid measuring your ring size in the morning, after a workout or in extreme temperatures, as these can affect the fit of your ring," Wegman explains. "Measuring your finger during the day without any of these other factors is ideal."

Try on Multiple Sizes

If you are trying on engagement rings in person it can be helpful to try on the next size up and down from what you measure at to see how they feel. A big part of having a ring that fits comfortably comes down to personal preference, so it can't hurt to see how you feel in a few different sizes.

Resize if Needed

At the end of the day, resizing is always an option for engagement rings. This is especially helpful if the engagement is a surprise and you do not have any involvement in the shopping process. Over the years you may want to resize your engagement ring as your body changes with age, so it's good to know that resizing is an option.