Body Care Calculators
Ear gauge size converter.
Convert an ear gauge (20g to 00g) to millimetres and inches, or find the nearest gauge for a size in mm. Uses the American wire gauge system. Runs in your browser.
Your size
Size
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Worked example
A 2g plug is 6.54 mm (0.2576 in). A jewelry listing that says 6.5 mm is closest to 2g, about 0.04 mm under it. An 8 mm plug is closest to 0g (8.25 mm), 0.25 mm under it, which is why 8 mm jewelry is commonly sold as 0g.
Ear gauge size chart
| Gauge | Millimetres | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 20g | 0.81 mm | 0.0320 in |
| 18g | 1.02 mm | 0.0403 in |
| 16g | 1.29 mm | 0.0508 in |
| 14g | 1.63 mm | 0.0641 in |
| 12g | 2.05 mm | 0.0808 in |
| 10g | 2.59 mm | 0.1019 in |
| 8g | 3.26 mm | 0.1285 in |
| 6g | 4.12 mm | 0.1620 in |
| 4g | 5.19 mm | 0.2043 in |
| 2g | 6.54 mm | 0.2576 in |
| 0g | 8.25 mm | 0.3249 in |
| 00g | 9.27 mm | 0.3648 in |
These are the exact diameters from the American wire gauge formula. Jewelry is usually sold in rounded sizes, so a seller's millimetre figure can differ slightly from the chart. Always go by the size marked on the jewelry and ask a professional piercer if you are unsure.
How it works
North American body jewelry uses the American wire gauge (AWG) system, and most stretching methods go up one even gauge at a time (Wikipedia, Ear stretching). By definition 36 AWG is 0.005 inches and each gauge step multiplies the diameter by the 39th root of 92, so the diameter in inches is 0.005 × 92(36 − n) ÷ 39 and in millimetres that times 25.4 (Wikipedia, American wire gauge). 0g has n = 0 and 00g has n = −1. The nearest-gauge lookup compares your millimetre figure with each listed gauge and picks the closest one.
Sources and basis (opened 2026-10-08): Wikipedia, American wire gauge (diameter formula and table), Wikipedia, Ear stretching and Association of Professional Piercers, Stretching. Planning the steps up to a bigger size? Use the Ear Stretching Schedule Planner.
FAQ
What size is 0 gauge in mm?
0g is 0.3249 inches, which is 8.25 mm by the American wire gauge formula. Jewelry makers usually round it and sell it as 8 mm, so check the size printed on the jewelry you buy.
How many mm is a 2 gauge ear plug?
2g is 6.54 mm by the American wire gauge formula, and 0.2576 inches. Many sellers list it as 6 mm or 6.5 mm, so compare the listed size, not just the label.
Is a bigger gauge number a bigger ear plug?
No. Gauge numbers run backwards: the smaller the number, the thicker the jewelry. 14g is 1.63 mm, 8g is 3.26 mm, 0g is 8.25 mm and 00g is 9.27 mm.
Why are the steps between gauges different sizes?
The sizes are not evenly spaced. The Association of Professional Piercers notes that going from 14 to 12 gauge is a small jump (0.43 mm) while going from 4 to 2 gauge is a substantial one (1.36 mm), and that larger sizes usually need longer waits between stretches.
What is the point of no return for ear stretching?
Wikipedia says 0g (8 mm) is generally considered the point of no return, because a hole larger than this will rarely close to a standard piercing size. Treat any stretched piercing as a permanent body modification and ask a professional piercer.
Disclaimer
Not medical advice. Sizes are exact American wire gauge diameters and jewelry is often rounded. Stretching is a permanent body modification; ask a professional piercer before stretching.