US / Metric Conversions

These conversions are approximate rather than exact. If in doubt about what size you need it is usually prudent to choose something longer rather than shorter. This is becasue shorter jewelry is more likely to be too tight, compressing the tissue of the body, reducing blood supply, and so impairing healing or worse still destroying the piercing.

Inches Metric
1/4" 6.5mm
5/16" 8.5mm
3/8" 9.5mm
7/16" 11mm
1/2" 13mm
9/16" 14.5mm
5/8" 16mm
11/16" 17.5mm
3/4" 19mm
13/16" 20.5mm
7/8" 22mm
15/16" 24mm
1" 25.5mm
1 1/16" 27mm
1 1/8" 28.5mm
1 3/16" 30mm
1 1/4" 31.5mm
1 5/16" 33.5mm
1 3/8" 35mm
1 7/16" 36.5mm
1 1/2" 38mm
1 5/8" 41mm
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  Revised 3 February 2003
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