Wire Gauge Guide for Jewelry Makers (Easy Chart & Sizes)

Understand wire gauge at a glance

When I first started making jewelry, wire gauges completely threw me 🫠

It seemed like all the numbers were back to front, and I kept ordering the wrong jump rings because I assumed a bigger number meant a thicker wire. (it doesn’t!)

So I put together this quick little visual below to make it all much easier to understand, including the gauge sizes, and what each one is commonly used for…

What I’ve learned over the years is: invest in good quality jump rings. Thick, strong ones 💪

When I first started, I used 20–22 gauge jump rings because that’s what generally came in most beginner kits and starter packs. They were fine while I was learning, but once I began selling jewelry, I soon realised customers don’t always treat their jewelry as well as you would. It gets caught on clothing, pulled by kids, slept in, showered in, stood on… you name it!

A slightly thicker jump ring can make a huge difference. These days I use 18 gauge for most charms I add because they’re much stronger and it dramatically reduced repairs 🙌