eBay Guides - Recommended Sizes for Initial Body Piercing

The following guide lists our advice for choosing a jewelry type & size to use for your initial piercing. These are OUR recommendations, & like any other form of art, these are not absolutes. These sizes are our most common sizes for piercing. The recommended lengths/diameters in this chart for any particular piercing will be to 2-4 most common sizes used in our opinion.

TONGUE
TYPE GAUGE DIAMETER
Straight Barbell 14 gauge 5/8", 3/4", or 7/8"
notes: 5/8" best length for a healed piercing. 3/4" and 7/8" allow for swelling which occurs after tongue is pierced.

NAVEL/BELLY
TYPE GAUGE DIAMETER

Curved Barbell 14 gauge 7/16", 1/2", or 9/16"

Captive Bead Ring     14 gauge         7/16", 1/2", or 9/16"
Horseshoe                 14 gauge       7/16", 1/2", or 9/16"
Twist/Spiral Barbell    14 gauge         7/16", 1/2", or 9/16"

notes: navel piercings will vary based on the measurements of the piercee. the larger the subject the larger the diameter of the piece. some very skinny subjects may need only a 3/8". 7/16" is the the most common size of jewelry once the piercing is healed and most decorative navel jewelry is manufactured in 7/16" diameter.

EYEBROW/EYE
TYPE                       GAUGE            DIAMETER
Curved Barbell         18 or 16 gauge     5/16", 3/8"
Straight Barbell         18 or 16 gauge     5/16", 3/8"
Captive Bead Ring    18 or 16 gauge     5/16", 3/8"
Horseshoe                18 or 16 gauge       5/16", 3/8"
notes: some piercers use 14 gauge for initial eyebrow piercings. the only problem being that most specialty eyebrow jewelry is manufactured in 16 gauge, so there is a limitation on new jewelry once the piercing is healed. we recommend 16 gauge for eyebrow.

NOSTRIL/NOSE
TYPE GAUGE DIAMETER

Nostril Screw 18 or 16 gauge n/a

Nose Bone              18 or 16 gauge             n/a
Nostril Pin               18 or 16 gauge            n/a
Labret                     18 or 16 gauge            n/a
Captive Bead Ring 18 or 16 gauge            n/a

notes: we recommend captive rings for initial piercings. once the piercing is healed then switch to new jewelry. most screws, bones and pins are sized accordingly, so length is not listed. pins must be bent before piercing.

INDUSTRIAL
TYPE GAUGE DIAMETER

Straight Barbell 14 or 16 gauge varies, see notes

Curved Barbell 14 or 16 gauge varies, see notes

notes: the length used depends upon the subjects wants. almost any length can be used, as long as it will transverse the 2 piercing sites, and allow room for swelling.

TRAGUS
TYPE GAUGE DIAMETER

Captive Bead Ring 18, 16, or 14 gauge    1/4", 5/16", or 3/8"
Curved Barbell        18, 16, or 14 gauge    1/4", 5/16", or 3/8"
Straight Barbell        18, 16, or 14 gauge    1/4", 5/16", or 3/8"
Horseshoe             18, 16, or 14 gauge    1/4", 5/16", or 3/8"
Labret                     18, 16, or 14 Gauge    1/4", 5/16", or 3/8"

notes: one of the few piercings that can accommodate almost any type of jewelry, as long as it is small. usually a captive ring is used.

Hope you find this useful. One of the greatest aspects of body piercing is that there are few "rules". If you can pinch it, you can probably pierce it!

Guide created: 10/05/05 (updated 07/30/09)

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Reviews & Guides

Recommended Sizes for Initial Body Piercing

Reviews & Guides

Recommended Sizes for Initial Body Piercing

Member Information

10 14g spider tongue bar GLOW ring 14 piercing LOT 100

100 PIERCING NEEDLES 14g 14 g gauge tube wholesale body

Items from eBay sellers

54 Clip Body Jewelry Display Tongue Ring Belly Piercing

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Body Jewelry Piercing TONGUE, BELLY, PLUGS, HOOPS, ETC

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