When buying a ring, color, metal, budget, finish, and such factors are often what is decided on first. However, the wedding band width is a vital consideration for men, although it’s one of those things that we don’t tend to think about till the last minute.
There are several interplaying factors that you must consider when choosing your wedding band width. If you’re looking for wedding band width for women, check out our detailed guide here.
For men’s wedding band thickness, keep reading.
Width vs. Thickness
People tend to confuse ring width with ring thickness – but these are two different things. The above image shows the difference clearly. Ring thickness is the metal width when viewed from the side, while ring width is how wide the ring is.
For more information, check out this article.
In general, men’s rings tend to range between 4mm to 7mm, while some go as thin as 2mm and others reach well over 12mm.
How Hand Size Impacts Ring Width
More than any other factor that will help determine the width of a men’s wedding band, is hand size.
It affects the appearance of both ring and hand, with a smaller 4mm ring width, like this white gold ring, being preferable for smaller, thinner hands, and a larger 6mm band width, like this classic yellow gold ring, being better for larger and wider hands.
Too slim and the ring can look lost on your hand and can look a little feminine – there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s the look you’re going for. Too large and the ring can overpower your hand and put the sense of proportion out of balance.
Can I Go Larger?
A wider ring of up to 8mm is appropriate for men with larger hands, but the ring width should never overpower – or oversize – the hand but provide harmony between the two.
You might find that some costume jewelry features very wide rings for women. It’s quite common these days for women’s rings to be wider – up to 16mm and frequently employed with a hammered finish. These types of rings cover, in essence, the lower part of the finger from the base to the top of the knuckle.
While this looks great, it’s not a common trend among men. And if you’re looking for a ring that you plan to wear often (let’s say like an engagement ring for men or a wedding ring), then large widths should be avoided by men.
In general, stick between the classic range of 4mm to 7mm and you won’t go wrong.
What About an Embellished Ring?
The 8mm ring featured above provides a wide base for the embedded diamond jewels. In this example, the extra width is justified because of the proportion created between the white gold base and the diamonds.
An embellished ring that either has engravings, additional and complimentary metals, or jewels, can be a good reason to expand the ring’s width. In effect, the width creates a wider and more proportionate base upon which the design can sit.
9mm is a good upper size for such an embellished ring size; a much larger base will only minimize the effect of the embellishment and place too much attention on the large foundation.
How To Achieve a Masculine Look
Alternative colors and metals may be favored because of their supposed masculine qualities. However, in general, one of the clearest markers of a ring’s masculinity is its width. It’s how the male and female rings are typically differentiated in any wedding ring set.
While men may be tempted to choose a ring that is wider because it looks more masculine, a ring that is too wide can have the opposite effect of being overly decorative.
Certainly, a ring that is too slim for large hands should be avoided, but both extremes show that balance between hand and ring size is the primary consideration, with extra wide rings only appropriate when a ring has added embellishments.
Remember too, that while modern metals – titanium, tungsten, and colors like black sound especially masculine because of their strength, durability, and serious connotations, it is in fact the width of the ring, and not the material or shade, that has feminine and masculine effects.
Don’t believe us? Take a look at this 14k gold wedding ring set and this nature-inspired matching ring set. The main difference is in the widths of the rings.
What Your Partner Chooses Should Influence Your Choice
As a rule, a men’s wedding ring should be wider than the more feminine version his partner will wear. But this is dependent on the width of both hands respectively. Additionally, there are no rules that say that the rings can’t be the same size, nor that both rings should be the same design, although this can be a nice touch.
However, your partner’s choice of ring may rightly influence the kind of ring you choose. Regardless of whether you opt for the same styles or not, it’s a general rule that your ring should be wider than her slimmer variant.
FAQs About Ring Width
1. What’s the average ring width for men’s wedding bands?
4mm to 6mm is the most common range. It will be harder to find sizes larger than 8mm on most jewelry retail sites.
2. Is 2mm too small for a man’s ring?
Generally, a 2mm ring band can look too small and can appear insignificant on a man’s hand. But of course, if you’re looking for a subtle ring, then go for it.
3. How do you measure a ring’s width?
GIA recommends using wide-finger sizing gauges to measure rings with a width over 4mm.
4. Does ring width affect ring size?
Yes. Wider bands tend to fit tighter than thinner bands and feel tighter too. This is because of how they sit on your finger, even if they have the same diameter as a thinner band. For wide bands, sizing up is recommended.
5. Should a man’s wedding ring be thinner than a woman’s?
Traditionally, this has been the case. However, today, some couples choose to have the same width rings.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, men’s wedding band width is dependent on the same factors that influence any ring you choose to wear – the size and width of your hands.
In terms of style, discuss your preferences with your partner first. As a rule, men’s wedding bands should be wider than their female partners, although much depends on the size of both pairs of hands … Everything is in proportion.
Having said that, whether embellished, matching, or plain, the ring width you choose is a matter of preference after all. Go from 2mm all the way to 12mm or even more – the choice is yours!
