Planning to surprise your partner with a beautiful ring is thrilling. The only thing between you and that perfect proposal is one small detail: their ring size. You want it to fit, but you don’t want to ruin the surprise by asking directly. With a few clever, low-risk techniques you can find their ring size without them ever knowing.
This guide will walk you through subtle, practical methods to determine your partner’s ring size, plus smart backup plans if the size isn’t perfect.
6 Realistic Ways to Find Their Ring Size
Borrow One of Their Rings
One of the most reliable ways to find your partner’s ring size is to borrow a ring they already wear. This method requires careful observation and a bit of sneakiness, but it provides a physical object for us to measure.
First, pay attention to the rings your partner actually wears. The best candidate is one they wear on their left ring finger. If that’s not available, the next best option is a ring they wear on the same finger on their right hand. Keep in mind that fingers on the dominant hand are often slightly larger. Rings worn on the middle finger or thumb usually won’t give an accurate size.
When you’re ready to borrow a ring, look for moments when they naturally take it off, such as while washing hands, showering or working out. Make sure it’s a ring they won’t miss right away. If you’re not comfortable handling it yourself, ask a trusted friend or family member to help. A quick trip to our store is all you need: we can measure the ring’s inside diameter, and you can return it before your partner even notices its gone.
If you can’t bring the ring to us, you can simply bring the measurement instead.
Trace the Inside of the Ring
When your partner takes their ring off, place it on a piece of paper. Use a sharp pencil to carefully trace the inside of the ring several times. It’s important to trace the inner circumference, as this determines the ring size. A tracing of the outside will result in a ring that’s too large. Take multiple tracings to ensure you have a clear and accurate outline. Even a rough trace usually gets you within half a size. You can then bring that tracing to us or measure the diameter with a ruler.
Gift a Ring for Another Occasion
Giving a ring for another special occasion is a smart way to check their size without raising suspicion. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or a spontaneous gift, they’ll feel appreciated and you’ll gather the information you need for a future proposal.
Ask for Help
The easiest way to find your partner’s ring size may be to ask someone who already knows. Close friends, siblings or parents can often help or discreetly discover it for you. Just make sure it’s someone you can trust so your secret stays safe.
Go Ring Shopping Together
Suggest a visit to our store to browse and try on rings together. Notice which size fits them best without giving away your true intentions. Our ring experts can assist with precise sizing and guide you toward a flawless fit.
Estimate and Plan to Resize
If none of the above options are possible, you can estimate the size using our downloadable ring sizing guide and choose a ring that can be resized or a design that’s easy to adjust.
Ring Sizing Tips
- Resizability: Metal bands are the easiest to resize, usually 1–2 sizes. Eternity bands with stones all around are often not resizable.
- Ring width: Wider bands tend to fit tighter. If the ring is wide, consider going up by ½ size.
- Knuckles: If your partner has larger knuckles, you may need a slightly larger size so the ring slides on comfortably.
- Sizing guards: If the ring is slightly loose, we can add a guard to make the fit snug.
If the ring size isn’t quite right, we’ll resize your engagement ring up to 2 sizes once within 12 months of purchase, free of charge. Discover more of Your Ring Benefits at Borsheims.
