About the Necklace Length Calculator
This necklace length calculator shows where a chain of a given length will actually sit on your body, and which length to buy to get a particular look. Necklace size charts are drawn for an average 14-inch neck, so the same 18-inch chain that rests on the collarbone of one person can sit at the base of the neck on someone with a 16-inch neck. Enter your neck measurement and the calculator adjusts the chart for you.
Use it when shopping for chains and pendants online, buying a gift, or choosing a length for a men’s chain. Pick the style you want (collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera or rope) and it returns the ideal length for your neck plus the nearest standard length that jewelers sell.
The calculator works in inches or centimetres. The drop estimate treats the slack beyond your neck size as hanging in a V, which is a good guide for fine chains; chunky chains and heavy pendants pull a little lower.
How to use the necklace length calculator
- 1Measure around the base of your neck with a soft tape (or a string and a ruler).
- 2Choose inches or centimetres and enter your neck size.
- 3Enter the length of the necklace you are considering to see where it will sit.
- 4Pick the style you want to get your ideal length and the standard size to buy.
- 5Check the table to compare every style adjusted for your neck.
Formula and method
Necklace size charts quote lengths for a 14-inch neck. A larger neck uses up more of the chain before it starts to hang, so the calculator subtracts the difference between your neck and 14 inches to find the equivalent chart length, then matches it to the zone it falls in (collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera or rope). Going the other way, it adds the same difference to the chart length of your chosen style to give your ideal length, and rounds up to the nearest standard length sold.
The drop is an estimate of how far the lowest point of the chain hangs below the base of your neck: the chain length minus your neck size is the slack, which hangs in two roughly equal sides of a V. Thick chains, wide shoulders and heavy pendants make a necklace hang a little lower.
- L
- Necklace length, end to end including clasp
- N
- Neck circumference at the base of the neck
- E
- Equivalent length on a standard 14" neck
Worked examples
18" chain on a 14" neck
With an average 14-inch neck the chart applies as is: an 18-inch chain is the classic princess length resting on the collarbone. The 4 inches of slack hang about 2 inches below the base of the neck.
Men’s 20" chain on a 16" neck
A 16-inch neck is 2 inches above the chart average, so a 20-inch chain behaves like an 18-inch one and sits on the collarbone. For a longer matinee look he would need 22 + 2 = 24 inches.
61 cm necklace on a 38 cm neck
A 38 cm neck is about 2.4 cm larger than the 14-inch (35.56 cm) chart neck, so the 61 cm chain acts like a 58.6 cm (23.1") chain: matinee length. For a princess look the ideal is 45.72 + 2.44 = 48.2 cm, so a 20-inch (51 cm) chain is the nearest standard size.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular necklace length?+
For women, 18 inches is the most common length; it sits on the collarbone of an average neck and suits most pendants. For men, 20 to 22 inches is the most common chain length.
How do I measure my neck for a necklace?+
Wrap a soft measuring tape around the base of your neck where a necklace would rest. If you only have string, mark where it meets, then lay it flat against a ruler. Do not pull it tight.
Where does a 16-inch necklace sit?+
On a 14-inch neck a 16-inch chain sits at the base of the neck like a loose choker. On a larger neck (15–16 inches) it will sit close to the neck and can feel tight, so go up to 18 inches.
What length chain should a man wear?+
Most men with a 15–16 inch neck wear 20 to 24 inch chains. A 20-inch chain sits at the collarbone, 22 inches just below it, and 24 inches is a good length for pendants worn over or under a shirt.
Does a pendant change where the necklace sits?+
Yes. A pendant hangs below the chain, adding its own height, and its weight pulls the chain into a sharper V. If the pendant is large, choose a slightly shorter chain than you otherwise would.