Length is the one measurement people get wrong when buying a necklace as a gift, because it is the one you cannot ask about without spoiling the surprise. The good news is that the range is narrow and one length is right far more often than the others.
Where each length lands
| Length | Where it sits on most adults | Works well for |
|---|---|---|
| 14 inches | Tight around the neck | Children, or a deliberate choker look |
| 16 inches | At the base of the neck | Chokers, and layering as the short strand |
| 18 inches | Just below the collarbone | Almost everything, and most pendants |
| 20 inches | On the chest, a little below the collarbone | Larger pendants, higher necklines |
| 22 to 24 inches | Mid chest | Men, and long pendant styles |
| 30 inches | Below the bust | Layering as the long strand |
If you have to guess, choose 18 inches
18 inches sits just below the collarbone on the majority of adult women, and it suits nearly every pendant. It is the length that looks intentional on the widest range of body types and necklines, which is exactly what you want when you are guessing.
How to check without asking
- Look at a photograph of them wearing a necklace they already own. If it sits at the collarbone, they wear 16 to 18 inches.
- Measure a necklace they own, end to end including the clasp. This is the only exact method.
- Choose an adjustable chain. Several of ours have an extender, which turns one guess into a small range.
Two things that shift the answer
A heavy pendant hangs lower than the chain length suggests. The weight pulls the chain down at the front, so a substantial pendant on an 18 inch chain sits closer to where you would expect 20 inches to fall.
Neck circumference matters more than height. On a wider neck, a 16 inch chain becomes a close choker rather than a loose one. When in doubt on that, go up one step.
Layering two
Leave at least 2 inches between strands so the pendants do not collide. A 16 and a 20 is the easiest pairing to get right. Mixing a fine chain with a slightly heavier one reads better than two identical weights.
Every length we stock is listed on the product page. Our chains run from 14 to 30 inches, and lengths are measured excluding the clasp unless the listing says otherwise.