What Length Chain for Men? Where 20, 22 and 24 Inches Sit

What length chain for men comes down to one band: 20 to 24 inches, which sits at about the center of the chest. Twenty inches sits a little higher in that band and 24 a little lower, so most men choose by where they want the chain to rest. Of the 35 chains in our men's jewelry collection, part of our wider gold chains collection, 34 come in at least one of those three lengths. The table reads every one of their listings.

Three things stand out once the lengths sit side by side. Twenty inches is the most widely offered length in the collection, on 28 of the 35 chains, with 24 inches close behind on 25. Twenty-two is offered less often, on 18, yet it is the length that carries the widest chains. And only 14 chains come in all three lengths, so the chain you want may settle the length before you do.

Where 20, 22 and 24 Inches Sit

These placements are approximate. The same chain falls differently on a slim neck and a broad one, and over a crew neck and an open collar. Read them as a starting point, then test the point on your own chest.

What is the ideal chain length for a man?

The ideal chain length for a man falls between 20 and 24 inches, the band that sits at about the center of the chest. No single length suits every man, because build and neckline change where a chain falls. If you already own a chain you like, measure it flat and buy that length. If you do not, a 20 inch chain is the length our men's collection offers most often.

Is a 20 or 22 inch chain better for men?

Neither is better for men in general, because 20 and 22 inches both sit inside the band that falls at about the center of the chest. The 22 inch chain simply rests a little lower. Choose 20 inches for a chain that sits higher, and 22 for one that falls further down. Width can decide it for you: our widest Miami Cuban chains are offered at 22 inches and not at 20.

How does a 20 inch chain look on a man?

A 20 inch chain sits toward the top of the band that falls at about the center of the chest, lower than the collarbone and higher than a 24 inch chain. How it reads depends on width as much as length: under 2 mm it is a fine thread of gold, while from 4 to 7 mm it is worn as the piece itself. Our men's collection offers 20 inches from 1.4 to 6.6 mm.

Is an 18 inch chain too short for a man?

An 18 inch chain is not too short if you want it high. It sits at the base of the neck or on the collarbone, above the 20 to 24 inch band that falls at about the center of the chest. For a chain that rests lower, start at 20 inches. Of the 35 chains in our men's collection, 24 are offered at 18 inches, from 1.4 to 6 mm wide.

Mentioned in this piece Solid Miami Cuban Chain Necklace in 14K Yellow Gold | 4.0mm $7,744.00 View the piece

Width Can Decide the Length

Width is measured across the chain, and our guide to chain width sets out how each band reads. In the men's collection, 6 chains are under 2 mm, 8 run from 2 to 4 mm, 17 run from 4 to 7 mm, and 4 are 7 mm or over. Those last four narrow the choice of length to one or two options.

Above 6.6 mm, no chain in the collection comes at 20 inches. The 8.0 mm polished Miami Cuban and the 8.00 mm pavé-cut Miami Cuban are offered only at 22 inches. The 7.00 mm semi-solid Miami Cuban comes at 22 inches in yellow gold and at 24 inches in white gold. If a wide chain is the point, read its listing first and let the length follow.

The middle of the range is more forgiving. The Solid Miami Cuban Chain in 14K yellow gold, 4.0 mm comes in five lengths, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 inches, so you can pick the length with no compromise on the link.

Each Step in Length Adds Gold

Length changes more than where a chain falls. A longer chain is more gold, so two chains of the same width at different lengths are not the same piece. The table reads the approximate weight each listing gives for the 14 chains in our men's collection offered at all three lengths, in the listed yellow gold where a chain comes in two colors.

The step is small on a fine chain and large on a heavy one. Going from 20 to 24 inches adds 1.0 g on the 1.5 mm Round Wheat Chain, 4.7 g on the 4.0 mm Solid Miami Cuban, and 6.2 g on the 5.00 mm Solid Diamond-Cut Rope Chain. Width alone does not set the weight either: the 4.50 mm semi-solid Miami Cuban reads 11 g at 20 inches, and the 4.0 mm solid reads 24.4 g. Our guide to hollow vs solid gold chains explains what that difference tells you.

How to Find Your Own Length

Hold a piece of string around your neck at the point you want the chain to rest, let it fall naturally rather than pulling it tight, and measure the string. A chain you already wear gives the same answer: lay it flat, straighten it without stretching it, and measure it end to end, clasp included. Buy that length, or the next one either side. Build changes the result, so a measurement on you is worth more than any chart. Our chain length guide covers every length in the full range, and our size chart names the bands.

What is the best chain length for men with a pendant?

The best chain length for men with a pendant starts from the same 20 to 24 inch band, with one change: the pendant adds its own drop below the chain. Hold the string where you want the pendant itself to rest, then take off the pendant's height to find the chain length. Check that the clasp end fits through the bail before you buy, and match the chain's width to the pendant's size.

Our guide to the right chain for a pendant covers width and bail in more detail, and the length section of our types of gold chains guide sets length beside type and width.

Can a gold chain's length be changed?

Yes. Repairs and length adjustments on our chains are handled by DEEVE's in-house Ontario workshop, so a chain that turns out a little long or short is not the end of the choice. Before you order, it still pays to measure: a chain offered in several lengths lets you choose the right one at the start and keep the piece exactly as it was finished.

What Length Chain for Men Should You Choose?

Start at 20 inches for a chain that sits higher on the chest, 22 for one a little lower, and 24 for the low end of the band. Then read the width, because the widest chains come in fewer lengths, and read the weight, because every step in length is more gold.

Browse the lengths in our men's jewelry collection and our gold chains collection, where every chain lists the lengths it comes in, or start with the Solid Figaro Chain in 14K gold, 6.00 mm, offered at 20, 22 and 24 inches.

Warranty. Every DEEVE chain carries a lifetime manufacturer's warranty for the original purchaser, serviced in-house, with complimentary cleaning, inspection and prong tightening for the life of the piece and rhodium re-plating on white gold at no charge. Read the warranty.