How to Find Out Her Ring Size Without Her Knowing

Many people want their proposal to have an element of surprise, so the proposal will be even more exciting! But there’s one thing that can make a surprise proposal particularly challenging: figuring out her ring size. When you go to order an engagement ring, you have to order it in a specific size. And since ring size basically never comes up in a casual conversation, most people don’t know their sweetheart’s ring size. So how do you sneakily figure out this crucial piece of information before you pop the question? Read on to learn our top tips on how you can find out her ring size without her knowing!

1. Borrow a Ring

One way to find our her ring size without her knowing is to borrow one of her rings, then get it measured by a jeweler. If you use this strategy, know that it’s very important that you know which finger she wears this ring on. All of our fingers are slightly different sizes. So if she doesn’t wear the ring you sneak away with on her left ring finger, be sure to note which finger she does wear it on. Then, tell that info to the jeweler (also be sure to tell them which hand is her dominant hand, which can affect finger size) so they can make an educated guess on her engagement ring finger size.

2. Imprint or Trace a Ring

If you’re worried she may notice if you borrow one of her rings for a while, you can also try tracing one of her rings, then taking your tracing to a jeweler for measurement. Draw an outline of one of her rings on a piece of paper or put it on your finger and mark where it sits with a pen. If you’re concerned that your tracing skills will be inaccurate, you can also try the classic strategy of making an imprint of her ring in a bar of soap.

3. Sneakily Use a Ring Sizer at Home

Another way to figure out her ring size without her knowing is to use an at home ring sizer. This printable ring sizer allows you to measure one of her rings by aligning it with a circular ring size chart. It also includes a printable paper sizer that is a bit harder to use sneakily. But to learn how you can, read on our next idea!

4. Use the Sleeping Beauty Strategy

If your sweetheart is a very heavy sleeper, you can measure her ring size when she’s sleeping. Use a paper sizer, like the printable one mentioned above, while she’s in a deep sleep. Or, alternatively, try measuring her ring finger with a piece of string or fishing line. While this strategy only works if she’s a deep sleeper, this is a great option (that’s usually highly accurate!) if she is.

5. Ask Her Friends or Family

Another way to sneakily figure out her ring size is to ask around. If you’re getting close to engagement, it’s very possible that your girlfriend has told her friends or family her ring size. Also, it’s possible that her family has bought her a ring in the past, so they might know her ring size even if she hasn’t mentioned it recently. While her friends and family may not always know her size, this strategy is always worth a shot!

If one of her friends or family doesn’t know her ring size, you can also ask them to do a bit of intel for you. If she has a close friend or family member who is a good actor (and can keep a secret), you can ask them to help you discover her size. They can pull the classic “try on my ring so I can see how it looks on you” move. Or, if she has any loved ones who are close to engagement themselves, you can ask them to go ring shopping with her (for the friend or family member) and note her size while they shop.

General Tips for Guessing Ring Size

The most accurate way to find out her ring size is to ask her directly or go get her professionally sized together. But, of course, many people don’t want to do that, since it would ruin the element of surprise. While the tips above are great ways to figure out her ring size, some of them require a bit of guessing. If you do have to guess her approximate size, we have a few tips!

First, know that the average women’s ring size is a size 6. So if you’re guessing based on no information and her fingers look average in size, size 6 isn’t a bad place to start with your guess. Then, also know that it’s generally better to go with a slightly bigger size than a size that is too small. Most engagement rings can be resized but it’s usually easier to size down rather than size up. Plus, for the proposal itself, you’ll want to make sure you can actually get her engagement ring on her finger. Finally, if you’re completely unsure about her size and really don’t want to guess, know that you can always get a temporary proposal ring. You can propose with a plain sterling silver or gold band, then order that real, spectacular engagement ring after she says yes!