What Size Gold Hoops Should You Get?

Hoops are the piece people ask us about most, and the questions are almost always the same two: what do all these names mean, and what size should I actually buy?

We have thoughts.

Size comparison of nine 18K solid gold Olivier hoop earrings, numbered from the 8mm Mini to the 40mm Large

A few of our hoops, side by side for scale:

See more in our hoops collection.

First, how hoops are measured

Hoop size is given as diameter, the width straight across the circle, not the distance around it. So a 12mm hoop is 12mm across.

There's a second number that matters just as much: width, sometimes called thickness. That's how substantial the gold itself is. A 10mm hoop at 1mm wide and a 10mm hoop at 3mm wide are the same size on paper and look completely different on the ear.

The names, explained

Most of the confusion comes from the fact that hoops have style names that sound like sizes. They're related, but they're not the same thing.

Sleepers are continuous hoops with no clasp sticking out. That's the whole advantage: nothing to catch, nothing poking out, which is why they're the ones you can leave in while you sleep. We make them in a few sizes.
Mini hoops are our smallest sleepers, at 8mm. They're our bestseller. They layer beautifully across multiple piercings, and they're a great first pair for kids.
Huggies are short, hinged hoops that close snugly around the lobe, hence the name. They're usually wider and more substantial than a sleeper, so they read bolder even though the diameter is small. A huggie is about presence in a small footprint. We make one we love: the Bold Huggies.

A size ladder, with something to compare it to

Millimeters are hard to picture, so here's a real-world reference. A US dime is about 18mm across. A quarter is about 24mm.

8mm (mini), smaller than a dime by half. Sits tight to the lobe, barely moves. The quietest hoop you can wear.
10mm (classic hoop or torsade), still well under dime-sized. Visible as a hoop, still very understated.
15mm (beaded), a little under a dime. Small enough to wear every day, with texture that catches the light.
17mm (sleeper), roughly a dime. Unmistakably a hoop, still completely wearable every day.
20mm (croissant), just over a dime, but the ribbed, puffed shape gives it the presence of something much bigger.
25mm to 30mm (everyday), a quarter and up. This is where a hoop starts to become part of the look rather than a detail. The oversized pear sits here too, at 25 x 35mm, longer than it is wide.
40mm (large), about the width of a golf ball. A hoop you wear on purpose.

Most people end up with two: something small they come to leave on for weeks at a time, and something larger for when they want the earrings to do more.

If you're only buying one pair

10mm, hands-down. It's why we make it in more styles than any other size. If you already wear studs every day, go smaller, with the 8mm minis. If you already own a small pair, skip straight to 25mm.

One thing nobody mentions about sleepers

Because there's no clasp, a sleeper can be fiddly to put on. You're threading a fine wire through a piercing you can't see, with very little hoop to hold onto, so if you have long nails or you're helping a child with theirs, expect a moment of patience the first few times. The upside is the reason you bought them: once they're in, they're in, and they stay that way.

A note on gold, since you're here

Hoops get worn harder than almost any other piece of jewelry. They're in your ears through workouts, showers, sleep, and everything else. That's the case for solid gold rather than plated or vermeil: there's no coating to wear through, because the metal is the same all the way down.

It's also why hoops are where hypoallergenic matters most. More reactions and discomfort happen in the ears than anywhere else on the body, and solid 18K gold is naturally hypoallergenic. (More on why gold purity matters for sensitive ears here.)

Everything we make is 18K solid gold, made in Italy. See the full range in the gold hoop earrings collection.

Quick answers

What's the difference between huggies and sleepers?
Sleepers are continuous, with no clasp sticking out. Huggies are short and hinged, and usually wider, so they look bolder at a small size.

Can you sleep in gold hoops?
Sleepers, yes, that's what they're made for. Hinged hoops up to about 15mm are comfortable for most people too. Anything bigger is better taken out at night.

Are 18K gold hoops good for sensitive ears?
Solid 18K gold is naturally hypoallergenic, which is why it's the metal we'd choose for anything that stays in your ears.

What's the most popular hoop size?
Our bestseller is the 8mm Mini. For a single everyday pair, 10mm with a little more thickness is the sweet spot for a lot of people.