Are Your Rings Too Big? Here Are Ways to Keep Them from Sliding Off

Easy DIY tricks for resizing your rings

Co-authored by Nicole Wegman and Aimee Payne, MFA

Last Updated: June 19, 2024 Fact Checked

Rings often slide around on your finger if the ring is a little too big. If you'd like to make sure your ring stays put on your finger, there are lots of simple fixes that will help keep it in place. If you have materials at home like hot glue, tape, or string, you can make your own solution in just a few minute’s time. While taking your ring to a jeweler for a more permanent fix will take a little longer, it's a great way to keep your ring from sliding around on your finger, too.

Quick DIY Tricks to Resize Your Rings

Line the inside of your ring with hot glue or clear nail polish to stop it from sliding around. Alternatively, wrap clear tape around the bottom of the band to make it smaller, or put a thin, nude-colored rubber band around your finger to help hold the ring in place.

1

Line the band with hot glue.

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Use a hot glue gun to make your ring 1 to 2 sizes smaller. To use a hot glue gun, load it with glue sticks and let it heat up. Using the glue gun, cover the inside of the band with hot glue. Let the glue cool and harden, making a clear ring adjuster that’s not visible outside the band.^{[1]
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- For a more precise fit, squirt additional thin lines of hot glue inside your ring’s band.
- This method also works with silicone glue.

2

Use clear tape.

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Wrap clear tape around your ring’s band to make it feel smaller. find the tape’s edge and pull off a piece roughly 2 in (5.1 cm) long. Start at one end of the tape and roll it into a tube with the sticky side out. Leave enough length at the end to wrap around your ring’s band. Once the tape is in a small tube, place it inside your ring on the bottom of the band. Use the extra length of tape, not in a tube, to secure it to the outside of the band.^{[2]
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- Use clear tape or packing tape if possible so it’s not as noticeable when you put it on your ring.
- Clean your ring before you add the tape so it sticks better.

3

Try clear nail polish.

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Apply a quick-drying clear nail polish on the inside of the ring. For an invisible fix, use a bottle of clear nail polish top coat. Shake the bottle of top coat. Unscrew the lid and use the applicator brush to carefully swipe the polish onto the inside of your ring’s band. Apply a thin layer on the bottom of the band. Avoid getting any nail polish on the outside of the ring. Wait a few minutes for the nail polish to dry before putting on your ring to make sure it doesn’t smear.^{[3]
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- If your ring is still sliding around on your finger, apply another clear coat layer on top of the first layer to give it more height.
- Use your fingers to wipe away any excess nail polish that gets on the sides of your ring, if necessary. Then, remove the nail polish from your skin with a dab of nail polish remover.
- If you need to remove the top coat from the ring, soak a cotton ball in nail polish remover and dab the ring until the nail polish comes off.

4

Install a ring guard.

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Plastic ring guards are transparent little tubes that slip onto your ring’s band to help keep it from moving around on your finger. Pick out a plastic ring guard in a size right for your specific ring and place the plastic tube onto your band by slipping it through the slit in the ring guard.^{[4]
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5

Wrap the ring band with fishing line.

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Loop clear fishing line around the ring to help keep it in place. Cut a strand of clear 30-pound monofilament fishing line at least 5 in (13 cm) long. String the clear fishing line through the ring and tie a knot near the edge of the band to keep it secure. Begin wrapping the fishing line through the band to create loops. Push the loops close together when they’re on the band as you go. Once you get to the other side of the band, tie another knot to secure the fishing line in place.^{[5]
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- Pull the fishing line taut as you’re looping it through the band to make sure it stays on the ring tightly. This will also help you push the loops together more easily.
- If you need to remove the fishing line from the ring, cut the knots at the band and unravel it carefully.

6

Resize the band with yarn.

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Wrap a piece of yarn around the band for a comfortable solution. If you think the plastic or fishing line solutions might be uncomfortable on your finger, pick out a piece of soft string or yarn at least 5 in (13 cm) long. Tie a knot onto the side of your band using the string or cloth and begin looping it through the band and pulling it tightly. This will create a soft cushion to help keep your ring from moving around.^{[6]
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- Tie another knot at the other end of the band to keep the string or cloth in place.
- Use a soft cloth that’s less than 1 cm (0.39 in) wide to make looping it easier.
- Use scissors to cut the string or cloth off of the ring, if necessary.
Helen Driggs, Jewelry Designer

For rings that twist and turn on your finger, a bit of non-adhesive dental wax can help secure a comfortable fit. Simply warm a small ball of wax between your fingers until pliable. Then press the wax along the inner band of the ring, molding it into place. The wax creates just enough friction to keep your ring from sliding without having to permanently alter the size.

7

Wrap a rubber band around your finger.

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Use a tan rubber band under the ring to stop it from sliding. Take a standard rubber band and loop it around the base of your finger.^{[7]
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- Use a smaller rubber band if you only need a slightly smaller ring.

8

Add sizing beads

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Ask your jeweler to add sizing beads to your ring. Sizing beads are made out of the same material as your ring and are added to the inside of the band to keep your ring from moving around on your finger. Two beads are soldered on in the lower left and lower right section of the band and can be smoothed out to be more comfortable.
- Sizing beads will resize your ring about a half size smaller.
- Contact your local jeweler to find out how much sizing beads would cost for your specific type of ring.
- For example, if your ring was made out of 14K gold, the beads that are attached would be made of 14K gold as well to match.
- Sizing beads can also be removed later on by your jeweler, if needed.

9

Install a metal spring insert.

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Pay a jeweler to add a metal spring insert for a comfortable fix. Spring inserts are ‘U’ shaped and attach to the inside of your ring’s band. When you slide your finger into your ring, the metal ‘U’ shape will expand to hold your ring in place.
- Many people find these to be the most comfortable temporary option for resizing rings.
- The spring insert is usually silver, even if your ring is a different color or material.

10

Have the ring professionally resized.

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Get your ring professionally resized for a permanent solution. If your ring slides around constantly or is just clearly too large, the best thing to do is to get it resized. While this may be a little more expensive, resizing your ring will ensure that it’s comfortable and permanently fixed. To resize the ring, your jeweler will likely cut out a small section of the ring and rejoin it so it’s the right size.^{[8]
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- Make sure you talk with your jeweler about how much smaller your ring needs to be and what your correct ring size is so they know exactly how to resize it.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I figure out my ring size?

Nicole Wegman
Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge
Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand. Specializing in engagement ring and wedding band trends, Ring Concierge creates a luxury experience catered towards millennials. Ring Concierge offers engagement rings along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Nicole's work and Ring Concierge have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Who What Wear, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Cosmopolitan. Nicole is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Accredited Jewelry Professional and holds a BS in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University.

Nicole Wegman

Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge

Expert Answer

If you don't know your ring size, you can order a ring sizer for only a couple of dollars. When you measure your ring size, be at a comfortable temperature and avoid sizing in the morning when your hands tend to be swollen.

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Question

How do I know if a ring is the right size?

Nicole Wegman
Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge
Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand. Specializing in engagement ring and wedding band trends, Ring Concierge creates a luxury experience catered towards millennials. Ring Concierge offers engagement rings along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Nicole's work and Ring Concierge have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Who What Wear, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Cosmopolitan. Nicole is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Accredited Jewelry Professional and holds a BS in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University.

Nicole Wegman

Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge

Expert Answer

A ring that's the right size should go on easily but need to be wiggled to be removed.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
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