Shopping for hoops or huggies and don't know where to start? The choices are delightfully endless! In this guide, we hope to tell you all you need to know about hoop styles, sizes, and how to match your hoop earring measurements with the best ear adornment for you.
Styling of your hoop or huggie
Hoops are circular earrings, usually made of metal that fasten with hinged-backs. Some hoop designs with a twist include elongated loops or j-shaped hoops, creole styles which are broader in the middle than at the top, and half-hoops that are open-ended or c-shaped and fasten with a post back.
Hoop earrings can be plain, textured, set with beads, gemstones or hung with cute earring charms called hooplets. Hoop sizes vary from very small, to classic mid-size and large statement hoops.
Huggies are dainty hoops that just touch the edge of your ear. They are often thicker than small hoops and are popular daily-wear earrings and second or third piercing champions.
The width of a hoop or huggie earring is also a style factor. Slim hoops are more casual while wider hoops are more glamorous, but it also depends on the combination of size and width. Small and wide can also be classic and elegant.
Small — Subtle and easy to wear, these flatter most face shapes and are eye-catching with medium to long hair worn down.
Medium — Highly versatile, flattering most face shapes and hairstyles.
Large – X-Large — Stylish, bold, statement earrings, which tend to complement wider, elongated, and angular face shapes. Best worn with pulled-back or up-do hairstyles, giving maximum focus to the hoops and the face.
Every ear and piercing is different, so not every size earring will fit the same for everyone, particularly small hoops and huggies which require precise measurement. For hoops, the best way to know what size is best for you is to measure from your piercing to the inner rim of the hoop or huggie.
Step 1: For precision, use a ruler with millimetre markings. Hold the ruler up to your ear and measure the distance between the piercing and the edge of your earlobe/helix/conch.
Step 2: Decide where you want the other edge of the hoop/huggie to rest. Do you want it to touch your ear (huggie) or to have a little space in-between (hoop: small, medium or large)? This will be your inside-hoop measurement.
Add 0.1-0.2cm to your measurement if the hoop measurement is given by outer diameter.
Both hoops and huggies are suited to a multi-piercing look and are almost as versatile as studs. Lobes are the traditional place for piercings but cartilage piercings along the ear helix and on the conch and ear tragus have become very popular.
Depending on where the earring is worn on the ear, a different measurement will be required. The smallest huggies are worn on the helix and the tragus.
Follow these guidelines and enjoy shopping for your next pair of hoop earrings by choosing your preferred hoop size here.
Huggies: 0.8cm (0.25”), 1cm (0.39”), 1.2-2 cm (0.5-0.8”)
Small hoops: 2.5-3cm (1-1.4”)
Medium hoops: 4-5cm (1.5-2”)
Large hoops: 6-10cm (3.8-4”)
If you need personal guidance
Have no worries when you shop online for hoops & huggies at thejewelleryroom.com. We guide and help customers all over the world on a daily basis, and our jewellery experts will do whatever it takes to find the perfect fit and size for the jewellery you're looking for.
And please remember, if you are still in doubt, you can shop safely with us. We guarantee that you can always exchange your purchase within 30 days.
Love, Charlotte & Pernille
Hoop sizes generally start from small 25mm (1") designs up to large 100mm (4") statement pieces. For a subtle look, choose a diameter between 25mm (1") and 30mm (1.2"). Larger hoops, ranging from 60mm (2.4") to 100mm (4"), create a bolder appearance and are often best paired with swept-back hair.
The right size depends on your personal style and where the piercing is located on your ear. Small hoops are versatile for everyday wear, while medium hoops of 40mm (1.6") to 50mm (2") offer a balanced look that suits most face shapes. Consider larger sizes if you want your earrings to be the main focus of your outfit.
Huggies are designed to sit very close to the ear and typically range from 8mm (0.3") to 12mm (0.5") in diameter. Because they are smaller, they are excellent choices for helix or tragus piercings. Always ensure the inner diameter is slightly larger than the distance from your piercing to the edge of your ear.
To find your ideal fit, use a ruler to measure the distance from your piercing hole to the bottom of your earlobe. If you want the earring to hug the ear, use this exact measurement for the inner diameter. For a looser hoop look, simply add a few extra millimetres to that number.
The main difference is the diameter and how they sit against the skin. Huggies have a very small diameter intended to wrap around the earlobe with little to no gap. Hoops are larger, circular earrings that leave visible space between the jewellery and your ear.
