Ordering the wrong gauge or length is the #1 cause of dead stock in a piercing studio’s wholesale buys. This guide gives you the gauge-to-millimeter conversions, the standard wearable lengths for every common piercing, and the ordering rules we recommend to studio buyers stocking up from a catalog.
Body Jewelry Gauge Chart (G → mm)
Gauge (G) numbers run backwards: the smaller the number, the thicker the post. Most modern piercing jewelry is 16G or 14G.
| Gauge | Millimeters (mm) | Inches | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20G | 0.8 mm | 0.032″ | Nose studs (older/healed), delicate earrings |
| 18G | 1.0 mm | 0.040″ | Nostril, some cartilage, healed-lobe earrings |
| 16G | 1.2 mm | 0.045″ | Standard for septum, nostril, cartilage, most labrets, navel (varies) |
| 14G | 1.6 mm | 0.062″ | Standard for navels, tongues, many industrial barbells |
| 12G | 2.0 mm | 0.081″ | Stretched lobes, larger industrial projects |
| 10G | 2.5 mm | 0.100″ | Stretched lobes, large-gauge piercings |
Standard Wearable Lengths by Piercing
| Piercing | Common post length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Navel (belly) | 10 mm (3/8″) | 14G standard; 11 mm for thicker tissue |
| Tongue | 16 mm (5/8″) | 14G standard; initial jewelry is longer for swelling |
| Labret / lip | 6–8 mm (1/4″–5/16″) | 16G common; 8 mm for thicker lips |
| Nostril | 6–7 mm (1/4″) | 18G or 16G; L-bend or nose bone styles |
| Septum | 8–10 mm (5/16″–3/8″) | 16G standard; ring diameter 8–10 mm |
| Cartilage (helix, tragus) | 6–8 mm (1/4″–5/16″) | 16G; flat-back labrets preferred |
| Eyebrow | 8–10 mm (5/16″–3/8″) | 16G curved barbell |
| Industrial (scaffold) | 32–38 mm (1 1/4″–1 1/2″) | 14G straight barbell, length per ear anatomy |
| Nipple | 16–19 mm (5/8″–3/4″) | 14G straight barbell |
Ring & Hoop Diameter Guide
| Diameter | Common placement |
|---|---|
| 6 mm (1/4″) | Snug septum, small cartilage hoops, tragus |
| 8 mm (5/16″) | Most septum piercings, daith, nostril hoops |
| 10 mm (3/8″) | Relaxed septum, lobe hoops, larger nostril |
| 12 mm (1/2″) | Lobe hoops, statement septum |
Stocking Rules for Studio Buyers
- 14G and 16G are your volume SKUs — stock deepest in those two gauges; 18G for nostril and delicate work, 12G+ only if you serve stretched clients.
- Lengths: carry 6, 8 and 10 mm labrets in 16G, and 10 mm navel posts in 14G. Two lengths per style cover most anatomy; add 11 mm navel posts for the outliers.
- Buy one style in multiple lengths, not many styles in one length — fit variety converts better than design variety in a new display.
- Mix gauges freely in wholesale orders — the 10-piece minimum applies per style and size, so you can build a mixed size matrix in one order. See wholesale terms.
- Label your display by gauge + length — clients buy the fit first, the design second.
All TitanPierce jewelry is ASTM F136 titanium with full sizing in the product specifications — see the F136 material guide for why that matters for healing piercings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gauge is body jewelry?
Most body jewelry is 16G (1.2 mm) or 14G (1.6 mm). Nostril piercing commonly uses 18G or 16G; navel and tongue piercings use 14G. Gauge numbers run backwards — smaller number, thicker post.
Is 14G or 16G bigger?
14G is thicker: 1.6 mm versus 1.2 mm for 16G. Navel and tongue bars are usually 14G; septum, nostril and most cartilage jewelry is 16G.
What length barbell do I need for a navel piercing?
10 mm (3/8″) is the standard wearable for navel piercings in 14G. Stock 11 mm posts as well for clients with thicker tissue — a too-short bar causes embedding and irritation.
How do I convert gauge to millimeters?
18G = 1.0 mm, 16G = 1.2 mm, 14G = 1.6 mm, 12G = 2.0 mm, 10G = 2.5 mm. The full conversion table is at the top of this page.
What ring diameter is standard for a septum piercing?
8 mm (5/16″) fits most septum piercings, with 10 mm (3/8″) for a lower-hanging look and 6 mm (1/4″) for a snug fit.
Shop titanium by gauge Sizing questions? WhatsApp +86 131 6800 2946