Necklace Length Chart: Where Each Length Sits
Every standard necklace length from 14 to 36 inches, where it usually sits, and which necklines it works with, plus how to measure and how to layer.
An 18-inch necklace on one person sits on the collarbone. On another it sits higher or lower, depending on neck size and height. This chart shows where each standard length usually falls, and which necklines and outfits each one works with, so you order the right chain the first time.
Tap a length below to see where it sits and what to wear it with.
Necklace length chart
| Length | Name | Where it usually sits |
|---|---|---|
| 14 in (36 cm) | Collar | Middle of the neck |
| 16 in (41 cm) | Choker | Base of the neck |
| 18 in (46 cm) | Princess | On the collarbone |
| 20 in (51 cm) | Short matinee | A few inches below the collarbone |
| 22 in (56 cm) | Matinee | Top of the chest |
| 24 in (61 cm) | Long matinee | Just above the bust |
| 30 in (76 cm) | Opera | At or below the bust |
| 36 in (91 cm) | Rope | Below the bust, toward the waist |
These spots are for an average neck of about 13 to 14 inches around. If your neck is larger, every length sits a little higher. Add two inches to the chart to get the same look.
How to measure for a necklace
Take a piece of string and drape it around your neck. Let it fall to the spot where you want the necklace to sit. Mark the string, lay it flat on a ruler, and that is your length.
Already own a necklace you love? Lay it flat, unclasp it and measure end to end. That number is your best starting point for the next one.
Match the length to your neckline
Crew neck. Go short and sit it above the neckline with a 16-inch chain, or go long with a 22 to 24 inch pendant over the top.
V-neck. A pendant that follows the V looks best. Pick a length that lands just above the point of the V, usually 18 or 20 inches.
Scoop neck. An 18-inch chain fills the space without competing with the neckline.
Turtleneck. Go long. A 24 to 30 inch pendant over a knit is a classic fall look.
Strapless and off-the-shoulder. Short lengths, 14 to 16 inches, keep the shoulders clear and the look clean.
How to layer necklaces
Space each chain about two inches apart so they do not tangle. A 16, 18 and 20 inch set is the easiest starting stack. Mix one textured chain with one fine chain and one pendant, and keep all the metals the same unless you mean to mix them.
Pick your metal by undertone: gold tends to flatter warm skin and silver tends to flatter cool skin. The undertone finder will tell you which you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep going: find your metal with the undertone finder, and your overall look with the aesthetic quiz.
