Necklace Length Guide

What size necklace should I get? That’s an excellent question! Choosing the right chain length for your pendant is easy when you follow a few basic suggestions.

The most basic question most devotional pendant wearers consider is where they want the pendant to fall. Do you want to show your medal or keep it tucked away?

Many men, for instance, prefer to wear a Miraculous medal or a crucifix tucked inside their shirt and to have it rest between their color bone, near to their heart.

Women mostly prefer to show their medals and select much shorter chain lengths. Women too select longer chain options, so there is no right or wrong length, just where you want your pendant to be placed, father up or lower down your neck and chest.

A few things to consider when choosing your chain is your neck, height, body type, and face shape.

Your Neck

If you have the time, take a moment a measure the circumference of your neck, especially if you intend to purchase a shorter choker length (16” or less). With a soft tape measure, wrap it around your neck, note the measurement and then add two inches to that. This is the shortest chain option you should consider, and it will be above the collarbone.

• checkMost common women’s chain length is 18”
• checkMost common men’s chain is 24”
• checkYouth sized chains are typically 16”

Your Pendant

Balance is important when selecting a chain length. A small pendant will look odd with a long bulky chain and a large pendant should be worn with a chain heavy enough to maintain the pendant and chain without breaking.

Your Height

For Women

For Men

Petite:

In general, the shorter you are, the shorter your chain length. Petite women below 5’4” should consider chains between 16 and 20 inches.

Choker:

Choker Length is fine for any man as long as it fits his neck. Popular for beaded necklaces so they can sit above a crew neck t-shirt.

Average:

Average height women between 5’4” to 5’7” can wear a necklace of any length. With the most common being 18”.

Teen / Shorter Men

20" NECKLACE A common length for men which falls right at the collarbone. Again, please measure your neck as larger necks cannot wear a 20” chain. Pendants will hide under a crew neck or shows completely with a low v-neck or unbuttoned dress shirt.

Tall:

Tall women who are 5’7” or above can also wear any length necklace. Longer chain style necklaces look best on taller women as they accentuate a tall frame.

Average to Tall

24" NECKLACE is longer and commonly used to keep religious or meaningful pendants under the shirt and closer to the heart. Falls just above the sternum.

27” to 30” NECKLACE is extra-long and many larger men prefer these lengths for their devotional jewelry.

Ultimately, choosing a necklace length is a personal decision but if you’re still not sure what will work best for you, please contact us. We’re happy to help!