Necklace Length Chart: How Each Chain Length Fits

Where every standard necklace length sits, from a 14 inch choker to a 36 inch rope, the usual lengths for men, and how to find yours with a string and a ruler.

Updated October 6, 2026

Outline of a neck and shoulders with necklaces at 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 30 inches drawn at the height where each one falls, from the base of the neck to below the bust

Necklace length is the total length of the chain, clasp included, laid out straight. Where a given length sits on you depends on your neck size and build, but standard lengths fall in roughly the same places on most people. The chart below shows where.

Necklace length chart for women

Length	In cm	Name	Where it usually sits
14 in	36	Choker	Snug around the middle of the neck
16 in	41	Choker / collar	At the base of the neck
18 in	46	Princess	Just below the collarbone, the most popular length
20 in	51	Matinee	A few inches below the collarbone
22 in	56	Matinee	Above the bust, at a low neckline
24 in	61	Matinee	At the top of the bust
30 in	76	Opera	Below the bust
36 in	91	Rope	At the waist, or doubled as a two-strand necklace

These positions are for an average neck size of about 13 to 14 inches. If your neck is larger, each length sits a little higher; if it’s smaller, a little lower.

Necklace length chart for men

Length	In cm	Where it usually sits
18 in	46	At the base of the neck, close-fitting
20 in	51	At the collarbone, the most common length
22 in	56	Just below the collarbone
24 in	61	Upper chest, popular for pendants
30 in	76	Mid-chest, usually worn under a shirt

Men’s necks are typically 15 to 17 inches around, which is why 18 inches feels short on many men.

How to find your length

Measure your neck. Wrap a soft tape measure, or a piece of string, around the base of your neck where a collar sits. If you use string, mark where it meets, lay it straight and measure it with a ruler.
Add at least 2 inches (5 cm) to your neck size. That’s the shortest length that will sit comfortably without pinching. A 14 inch neck needs at least a 16 inch necklace.
Choose where you want it to sit using the chart: add 2 more inches for each step lower.

To check a length before buying, lay a string of that length around your neck and look in a mirror. Or measure a necklace you already like: lay it straight and measure from end to end with a ruler or the on-screen inch ruler.

Matching length to neckline

Crew neck and high necklines: a 16 inch necklace that sits above the fabric, or a long 30 to 36 inch one that hangs over it.
V-neck: 18 to 20 inches with a pendant that follows the V.
Scoop and sweetheart: 16 to 18 inches, sitting in the open space.
Strapless and off-the-shoulder: 16 to 18 inches, or a choker.
Layering: pick lengths at least 2 inches apart (for example 16, 18 and 20) so the chains don’t tangle.

Bracelets and kids’ necklaces

Babies and toddlers shouldn’t wear necklaces at all, because of the choking and strangulation risk. For older children, 14 inches fits most kids, and 16 inches suits preteens. Bracelet sizing works the same way as necklaces: measure the wrist and add a little. The wrist size guide shows how.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular necklace length?

18 inches (46 cm). On most women it sits just below the collarbone, which suits pendants and most necklines, so it's the length many necklaces come in by default.

Where does a 20 inch necklace fall?

On most women, a few inches below the collarbone, about where a low neckline starts. On most men it sits at the collarbone, and 20 inches is the most common men's length.

What length chain should a man wear?

Most men wear 20 to 24 inches (51 to 61 cm). 20 inches sits at the collarbone, 22 inches a little below it, and 24 inches on the upper chest, which suits a pendant worn over or under a shirt. Men with larger necks often need 22 inches or more.

Does a pendant change where a necklace sits?

Yes. The chain length sets where the chain sits, but a pendant hangs below it by its own height plus the loop (bail) it hangs from. A 1 inch pendant on an 18 inch chain will reach about 1 inch lower than the chain alone.

How do I measure necklace length?

Unclasp it, lay it straight on a flat surface and measure from the end of the clasp to the end of the last link, including the clasp. Don't measure it while it's worn or hanging in a loop.