What size needle do you pierce with?
Chloe Ramirez
Updated on April 07, 2026
Besides, what size needle is used for piercings?
Common Piercing Type
“Standard size is 18 g, which is what I mostly use for all my ear piercings," Thompson reveals. "For piercings in general, 18 g through 16 g is the most common. For nipple or naval piercings, 14 g through 12 g is most common.
Also, how do I know my piercing size? To find out the best internal diameter you should measure from the piercing hole to the edge of your lip / ear / nose. The length measurement refers to the length of the jewelry bar. Not the length of the whole product. The length of the barbell is measured as the distance between the two balls at either end.
Subsequently, one may also ask, do you pierce with same size needle and jewelry?
Yes you can, in fact that's typically what a piercer will do, especially with cartilage piercings. They pierce with a gauge size bigger than the actual jewelry. It allows room for swelling and placing the jewelry. Generally a piercer will use an 18f needle and use a 20g stud if it's your ears for example.
Can I pierce my nose with a 16G needle?
The standard size for a nose piercing is 18G or 20G, however, your piercer will pierce with a larger needle (up to 16G) to allow for better healing. Never use a nose ring smaller than recommended by your piercer, as there is more risk of rejection, tearing, and migration.