What Bar Length Do I Need For My Piercing?

How do I know the bar length for my piercing?

Each cartilage piercing may require a different bar length due to the thickness of the skin in that particular placement, so finding your perfect bar length can be a process of trial and error. On top of this, everyones anatomy is different and we all have varying thicknesses so what works for one person, may not be suitable for another. We've provided a list of industry standard sizes that most professional piercers recommend, however we always recommend visiting the studio who carried out your piercing as they will be able to measure your ear and provide an accurate measurement.

Piercing	Gauge	Bar length (thinner cartilage)	Bar length (thicker cartilage)
Helix	16g	5mm - 6mm	8mm - 10mm
Tragus	16g	6mm - 8mm	8mm - 9mm
Conch	16g	6mm - 8mm	8mm - 12mm
Rook	16g	5mm - 7mm	8mm - 9mm
Forward Helix	16g	5mm - 6mm	7mm - 8mm
Daith	16g	8mm - 10mm	10mm - 12mm
Standard Lobe (1st)	16g	8mm - 10mm	10mm - 12mm
2nd & 3rd Lobe	16g	6mm - 8mm	8mm - 10mm
Stacked Lobe	16g	8mm - 10mm	10mm - 12mm

My piercing bar is too short?

If your piercing bar doesn't fully come through your cartilage piercing then it's probably too short. You need around 1mm gap between your skin and the end of the bar to allow for fitting the attachment. If the bar is too short, it can cause irritation to your piercing. It's recommended to get a longer length if you're unsure otherwise you may not be able to wear the jewellery at all if you can't fit the attachment.

My piercing bar is too long?

If your piercing bar sticks out longer than 2mm, it's probably too long for your cartilage piercing. You need around 1mm between the skin and the end of the bar to allow room for fitting the attachment and giving the jewellery slight movement so that it's not uncomfortable. If the jewellery is too long, this can be dangerous since it's easier to get caught on hair or clothing that could pull at your piercing and cause irritation and an irritation bump.

What length is a standard butterfly back stud earring?

A butterfly back stud is one of the most common earrings, it has a thin post with a length of around 10mm. It can be used to give you a rough guide on the bar length your piercing may need but it's always better to visit your professional piercer.

What length do cartilage studs come in?

Most cartilage studs come in a bar length choice of 6mm, 8mm or 10mm. This range of length is usually sufficient for most people across all cartilage piercings. You can always buy spare bars for threadless cartilage studs which are compatible with most 25g threadless attachments.

If you're still uncertain about the bar length you require for your individual anatomy and piercing placement, please visit your local piercing professional before purchasing to avoid disappointment.