Choosing a wedding band width

Most wedding bands are between 4 and 8 mm wide, and the right width depends on your hand, the design and how you want the ring to feel. A 4 mm band is slim and quiet and suits smaller hands or stacking with an engagement ring. A 6 mm band is the middle ground and our most common choice: wide enough to show a hand-cut motif clearly, narrow enough to feel light. An 8 mm band is bold and substantial and suits larger hands or anyone who wants the engraving to be the first thing people see. Bands 6 mm and wider fit more snugly, so many people go up half a size.

What each width looks like

4 mm. A slim band that sits low on the finger. The motif is cut finer and reads as texture from a distance. It pairs well with an engagement ring and suits narrow fingers.

6 mm. About a quarter of an inch. Wide enough that maile leaves or scroll are easy to read at arm’s length, and comfortable for daily wear on most hands. If you are unsure, start here.

8 mm. A strong, wide band that covers more of the finger. The engraving has room to breathe, and on the Koa Inlay Wedding Band the koa channel becomes a real feature. Wider bands can feel heavier and take a few days to get used to.

A simple test: lay a ruler across the base of your finger and look at 4, 6 and 8 mm. Or try on rings you already own and measure them.

How width changes the fit

A wider band covers more of the finger, so there is more contact and less room for the finger to flex. The same size in 8 mm feels tighter than in 4 mm. Our advice for every band 6 mm and over is to consider going up half a size, especially if you were measured with a thin sizing ring.

Our bands are comfort fit, with a rounded inside that slides over the knuckle more easily and feels a touch looser than a flat inside. Comfort fit explained shows the difference. For measuring help, see how to find your ring size.

Choosing for your hand

• Short or slender fingers: 4 or 6 mm keeps the hand in proportion.
• Long fingers or larger hands: 6 or 8 mm.
• Wearing with an engagement ring: 4 mm usually sits best alongside it.
• Working with your hands: a narrower band is easier to forget you are wearing. Whatever you choose, take it off for heavy work, as our care guide explains.

Choosing widths for a pair

Wedding bands do not need to match in width to look like a pair. What ties them together is the design and the metal. Many couples choose the same motif in two widths, often 6 mm and 8 mm, so each ring suits the hand that wears it.

On both of our wedding bands, you can add the first band to your cart and choose Add a matching band. The second band opens with the design, metal and width already filled in, and only the size cleared. Change the width there if you want a different one.

For the Koa Inlay Wedding Band, koa is a natural wood and every piece has its own grain. When you order a pair, we match the grain as closely as we can, but the two rings will not be identical.

Our wedding bands

• Maile Wedding Band: solid 14k yellow, white or rose gold, in 4, 6 or 8 mm. Choose maile, scroll, or a plain band with a scroll edge, with room for a private line inside.
• Koa Inlay Wedding Band: a channel of Hawaiian koa set between 14k gold rails, in 6 or 8 mm, with maile or scroll on the rails.

Both are made to order and take about 3 to 4 weeks to make, plus shipping. If your wedding date is close, add it as a needed-by date in the cart. We send a proof before we start, so you can check both sizes and any engraving. If you would like to talk widths through, book a 20-minute design consultation.