Necklace Length Guide

Necklaces and chains are available in different lengths and styles. You should choose length and style of necklace or chain based on your neck size, personality and clothing.

Neck Size Measurement

Neck size can be measured easily by using a sewing (soft) measuring tape. You need to wrap this tape around the base of your neck and find out the neck size. But if you don't have a soft measuring tape then you can also use a yardstick, ruler or stiff metal measuring tape. In such a case, you need to wrap a ribbon around the base of your neck, mark the spot where it meets, and then lay it against the yardstick or metal measuring tape to determine neck size.

Types of Necklaces Based on Length

Necklaces traditionally come in six lengths. Depending on the length, the necklace will hang to a different part of the wearer's body.

Collar  Length: 12 to 13 Inches (30.5 cm - 33 cm) Collar necklace worn tightly around the neck and usually consist of multiple strands. One should wear this type of necklace with V-necks, boat necks and off–the–shoulder clothing.  Choker  Length: 14 to 16 Inches (35.6 cm - 40.6 cm) Choker gives very classic as well as versatile look and falls perfectly around the base of the neck. Chokers look beautiful on all types of  Princess  Length: 17 to 19 Inches (43.2 cm - 48.3 cm) Princess offers the most popular necklace length and falls just below the throat. It comes in between choker and matinee length. A pendant can also be added for a bold and eye-catching look. Princess necklaces also look beautiful on all types of attire.  Matinee  Length: 20 to 24 Inches (50.8 cm - 61 cm) Matinee style also offers one of the most popular necklace lengths and it comes in between princess and opera length. Matinee necklaces look stunning on casual or business attire.  Opera  Length: 30 to 36 Inches (76.2 cm - 91.4 cm) Opera necklace comes in a stretched length which ranges from 30 to 36 inches long. You can wear this as a single or double strand. It is perfect for high or crew necklines and gives ease and versatility especially to evening wear.  Sautoir or Rope  Length: 40 to 45+ Inches (101.6 cm - 114.3+ cm) Rope necklace comes in the longest length and it offers a different and astonishing look. Usually rope necklace looks elegant on any type of clothing. Often this necklace can be transformed into multi-strand necklace and when it is worn with strands of graduated lengths, it is known as bib necklace.

Lariat necklace  A lariat is a very, very long variation on the sautoir or rope, without a clasp, often worn draped multiple times around the neck; the ends can be crossed over, looped, or knotted in various ways. This type of necklace sometimes incorporates a loop at one or both ends to allow it to be worn in the style of a lasso, or it may be worn doubled over with the ends passed through the loop formed in the middle.  Necklace Length Comparison Chart

You can use below given necklace length comparison chart which illustrates where necklaces / chains of different lengths will hang on a person with an average neck size.