How Long Does It Take to Resize a Ring? Your Questions Answered

Giving you all the details about resizing your ring so you’re ready for your special day

Co-authored by Nicole Wegman and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 24, 2023

How long does it take to resize a ring?

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Cost of Ring Resizing

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Rings That Cannot Be Resized

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Factors That Affect Resizing

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Where to Get a Ring Resized

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How Jewelers Resize Rings

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Tips

It finally happened—your partner got down on one knee, popped the question, and you said yes! Your ring is perfect, except for being just a little too big (or too small). Ring resizing is very common, and most jewelers know that an engagement ring will probably need to be adjusted before the wedding day. We’re here to tell you everything there is to know about getting a ring resized, including how long it takes, how much it costs, and more.

Things You Should Know

You can usually get a ring resized in 1 to 3 days. However, it can take up to 1 week for more complicated resizing.
Some jewelers will resize a ring for free. Others may charge a small fee between $20 and $50.
Certain rings, like rose gold, tungsten, and titanium rings, cannot be resized.
The type of metal your ring is made of and the details on your ring can affect the timeline and the price of a resizing.

Section 1 of 6:

How long does it take to resize a ring?

Usually, it takes between 1 day and 1 week for a resizing. In reality, it only takes a jeweler about 10 or 20 minutes to resize a ring. However, they might not have time to resize it right when you come in, so it often takes a bit longer. Ring resizing can also take extra time depending on the complexity of your ring and how many sizes you need it to be adjusted.^{[1]
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- While you can try to resize a ring yourself, experts recommend taking it into a professional to avoid damaging it.
- If you’re planning a wedding, it’s a good idea to get any rings resized at least 2 months in advance. That way, there’s plenty of time to drop them off and pick them up, plus wiggle room for any delays.
- If you cut it a bit close and you don’t have time to get your ring resized at a jeweler, use a ring resizer to make your ring fit tightly on your finger.

Section 2 of 6:

Cost of Ring Resizing

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Some jewelers offer complimentary ring resizing. If you’re the one who purchased the ring, take a look at your paperwork. Many jewelers will offer a one-time complimentary ring resizing within the cost of the purchase, meaning that you don’t pay anything extra.^{[2]
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If it’s not complimentary, ring resizing usually costs between $20 and $60. Ring resizing is much less than the actual cost of the ring itself. Prices can vary depending on what your ring is made of and how many sizes you’re going up or down.^{[3]
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Section 3 of 6:

Rings That Cannot Be Resized

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Rose gold, tungsten, and titanium rings Materials like these are too hard for most jewelers to resize. If your jeweler has the right tools to melt the metals, then they may be able to work on your ring—however, most jewelers won’t be able to.^{[4]
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- Stainless steel rings are also very hard to resize.
- You can look for a jeweler who will resize these metals for you, or you can get the center stone in the ring recast into a different band.
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Eternity bands Eternity bands, or the bands with diamonds all around them, are custom-made to include the right amount of diamonds for the size of the band. Since adding to the band or subtracting from it would affect the size, most jewelers won’t resize eternity bands.
- If your eternity band doesn’t fit, the jeweler will likely recommend removing the diamonds and recasting them on a new band. You may have to add or subtract diamonds depending on the amount you need to be resized.
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Tension rings Tension rings are made to fit an individual’s finger, and adjusting them could affect the structure and integrity of the band. Most jewelers won’t adjust tension rings or resize them.
- Since tension rings are custom made, your best bet is to remove the center stone and put it on a new band.

Section 4 of 6:

Factors That Affect Resizing

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Type of metal Typically, silver, platinum, and gold rings are easy to work with and resize. These metals take the least amount of time since they have low melting points.^{[5]
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Engravings and other details Engravings or other intricate designs on the band can make it hard for a jeweler to resize it. If your ring has a lot of details on the band, your jeweler may have to remove some during the process.^{[6]
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Sizing up or sizing down Sizing down almost always costs less than sizing up, since the jeweler is taking away material instead of adding it.^{[7]
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Research source} When you size down, all you’re paying for is the cost of the jeweler’s labor, not any new material for the ring itself.
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The change in size Most rings can be resized within 1 size without much trouble. However, if you need to go up or down 2 sizes or more, it can affect the integrity of the ring. Talk to your jeweler to see if they recommend resizing the ring or just casting a new band entirely.^{[8]
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Section 5 of 6:

Where to Get a Ring Resized

Go to the original jeweler if you can. The person who sold the ring knows it best, and they can do an accurate, polished job to resize it.^{[9]
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Research source} If you bought the ring online or you can’t go back to the original jeweler, consult with local jewelers in your area.
- In general, finding a small, local jeweler is better than resizing at a large chain jeweler. Local jewelers often have fewer customers, meaning they can resize your ring quicker than a chain store can.

Section 6 of 6:

How Jewelers Resize Rings

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To size up, jewelers will add metal to the band of the ring. There are 2 main ways jewelers will size rings up: the most common way is by cutting the band, then soldering on new metal to make the band bigger. The second, less common way is by heating up the band and then slowly stretching the metal to size.^{[10]
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To size down, jewelers will snip the band and close it up again. To make a ring smaller, jewelers simply cut the back of the band and remove the right amount of material. Once the ring is to size, they will solder the band back together and then polish it up.^{[11]
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