Quick answer: A 16-inch necklace sits at the base of the neck, an 18-inch necklace rests on or just below the collarbone and is the most common length, and a 20-inch necklace falls a few inches below the collarbone. These positions assume a neck of about 13 to 14 inches around; if yours measures 15 inches or more, go up one length.
Most necklace disappointments come down to one thing: the chain sits higher or lower than the buyer pictured. A product photo on a white background cannot tell you where 16 inches lands on your neck. This guide shows where each common length sits, how to measure yourself in two minutes with a piece of string, and how to pick lengths that layer without tangling. Every example uses the real measurements listed on our own necklaces.
Where each necklace length sits
| Length | In cm | Where it usually sits | Works well with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 in | 35.5 cm | Snug around the neck (choker) | Off-shoulder, strapless, open collars |
| 16 in | 40.5 cm | At the base of the neck | Crew necks, boat necks, button-ups |
| 18 in | 45.5 cm | On or just below the collarbone | Almost everything; the most common length |
| 20 in | 51 cm | A few inches below the collarbone | V-necks, scoop necks, over a fine knit |
| 24 in | 61 cm | Around the top of the bust | Over turtlenecks and high necklines |
| 30 in+ | 76 cm+ | At or below the bust | Long pendants, doubled-up wraps |
These positions assume an average neck of about 13 to 14 inches around. If your neck measures 15 inches or more, a 16-inch chain will sit like a choker on you, so go up one size from the table. Height matters as well: on a shorter torso every length reads a little longer.
How to measure at home
- Wrap a piece of string or a soft tape measure around the base of your neck, where a collar would sit. Keep it flat, not tight.
- Mark the string where it meets, then lay it against a ruler. That number is your neck size.
- Add 2 inches (5 cm) for a necklace that rests at the base of the neck. Add 4 inches (10 cm) for one that falls on the collarbone with room for a pendant.
A quicker check: take a necklace you already own and like, lay it straight, and measure from end to end including the clasp. Shop for that number.
What "40+5cm" means on a product page
Many of our chains list a size such as 40+5cm. The first number is the chain, the second is the extender, the short run of links past the clasp. So 40+5cm means you can wear it anywhere from 40 cm (15.7 in) to 45 cm (17.7 in). In practice that one necklace covers both the 16-inch and the 18-inch rows of the table above.
- Dual Gold Layer Necklace and Midnight Sparkle Necklace: 40+5cm, so 15.7 to 17.7 inches.
- Golden Mosaic Pearl Necklace: adjusts up to 16 inches, a base-of-the-neck fit.
- Eternal Rose Necklace and Parallel Chain Necklace: up to 18 inches, a collarbone fit.
- Eternal Rose Pearl Necklace and Golden Frame Necklace: up to 19 inches.
- Mobius Three-Second Heartbeat Necklace: 41 to 50 cm, roughly 16 to 19.7 inches, the widest range we carry.
If you are between sizes or buying a gift, an adjustable chain is the safe choice, because the wearer can fine-tune it.
How to layer necklaces without tangling
- Leave about 2 inches (5 cm) between layers. 16, 18 and 20 inches is the classic three-layer stack. Chains closer than an inch apart tend to twist together during the day.
- Vary the weight. Put the finest chain on top and the heaviest or the pendant at the bottom. Two chains of the same thickness and length are the ones that knot.
- Pick one focal point. One pendant, with plain chains around it, reads cleaner than three pendants competing.
- Mix textures, keep the tone. A flat chain next to a twisted or beaded one looks deliberate. Staying in one metal tone keeps it tidy.
- Use the extenders. Wear one adjustable necklace on its shortest link and the next on its longest to create the gap.
If you would rather skip the maths, a pre-layered piece does it for you. Our Triple Chain Pendant Necklace has three chains at 40, 45 and 50 cm (about 15.7, 17.7 and 19.7 inches), which is the 2-inch spacing above built in. The Lunar Crescent Necklace pairs a 15.5-inch and a 17.8-inch chain with a 2-inch extender.
Matching length to neckline
- Crew neck or high neck: go long enough to clear the fabric (20 inches or more), or short enough to sit above it (16 inches).
- V-neck: a pendant at 18 to 20 inches that follows the V.
- Scoop or square neck: 16 to 18 inches fills the open space; layers work well here.
- Button-up shirt: 16 inches inside an open collar, or a longer chain over a buttoned one.
- Strapless or off-shoulder: a choker or a 16-inch strand keeps the collarbone as the focus.
Quick answers
What is the most popular necklace length?
18 inches. It sits at the collarbone on most people and works with most necklines.
Is 16 or 18 inches better for a pendant?
18 inches for most pendants, so the pendant hangs below the hollow of the throat. Choose 16 inches if you want it to sit high and close.
Can I make a necklace longer?
If it has an extender, move the clasp to a link further out. The size line on each product page shows how much adjustment there is.
How do I store layered necklaces?
Fasten each clasp and lay the necklaces flat or hang them separately. More tips are on our jewelry care page.
Ready to pick a length? Browse all necklaces, or go straight to pendant necklaces and pearl necklaces. Each product page lists its size under About This Item.
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