Over the last decade, ear gauges have erupted in popularity in the Western world.

This is the real secret to choosing the right gauge size

Ear gauges are all about size.

The popularity of different sizes may vary by region, but some sizes remain overall more common than others.

Woman with an ear gauge

According toBanter by Piercing Pagoda, traditional ear lobe gauges often land at the 20 gauge size.

The smaller the gauge number, the larger your piercing actually is, per Banter.

That part is completely up to you!

Woman with a large ear gauge

Ultimately, though, the standard-size gauges for beginners are between 20 and 16 gauge (viaSpencer’s).

Therefore, the size you start with should be determined by your end intention.

So, be sure to fully think it through before you go in for your appointment.