Glasses Frame Size Chart and Finder
You find the Glasses frame size from three numbers printed inside the arm: the lens width, the bridge and the temple length, all in mm. Type either your three numbers or your face width, and you will find out whether it is a small, medium or large frame.
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Do you own glasses that fit well?
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Type the three numbers on the inside of the arm
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How wide is your face from temple to temple?
Hold a ruler across your face at eye level in a mirror and read the gap between your temples.
To find your frame size, answer the question.
Glasses Frame Size Chart
A glasses size chart takes your face width and shows which frame measurements usually go with it. Read across after measuring from one temple to the other at eye level.
| Face width | Temple to temple | Lens width | Bridge | Temple length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow | under 130 mm | 50 mm and under | 14 to 16 mm | 135 to 140 mm |
| Medium | 130 to 139 mm | 51 to 55 mm | 17 to 19 mm | 140 to 145 mm |
| Wide | over 139 mm | 56 mm and above | 20 to 23 mm | 150 mm or above |
The bands come from Clearly's glasses size guide; EyeBuyDirect supplies the small, medium and large lens widths.
Small, Medium or Large Frames
Frames in shops are grouped by their lens width. Lenses of 50 mm or less make a small frame, 51 to 54 mm is medium and 55 mm or more is large (EyeBuyDirect). Lens widths across all frames run about 40 to 60 mm; bridges are 14 to 24 mm and temples 120 to 150 mm.
How to Measure Glasses Size and Face Width
Copying a pair that fits is the simplest method: read the numbers on the arm. If you have no pair to copy, stand in front of a mirror and hold a ruler level across your face at eye level to read the distance between your temples. In the chart, that face width leads you to a lens and arm size. A frame that is roughly as wide as your face, or slightly wider, usually fits best.
Glasses Sizes You Will Often See
The markings below are some of the ones most often seen on frames. From each marking you get a frame PD: the distance between lens centres, equal to the lens width plus the bridge.
50-20-140 Glasses
With 50 mm lenses this counts as a small frame, most often picked for narrow faces (under 130 mm). Its bridge measures 20 mm and the arms run 140 mm. That puts the lens centres 70 mm apart: the frame PD.
51-19-145 Glasses
With 51 mm lenses this counts as a medium frame, most often picked for medium faces (130 to 139 mm). Its bridge measures 19 mm and the arms run 145 mm. That puts the lens centres 70 mm apart: the frame PD.
52-18-140 Glasses
With 52 mm lenses this counts as a medium frame, most often picked for medium faces (130 to 139 mm). Its bridge measures 18 mm and the arms run 140 mm. That puts the lens centres 70 mm apart: the frame PD.
53-17-140 Glasses
With 53 mm lenses this counts as a medium frame, most often picked for medium faces (130 to 139 mm). Its bridge measures 17 mm and the arms run 140 mm. That puts the lens centres 70 mm apart: the frame PD.
54-18-145 Glasses
With 54 mm lenses this counts as a medium frame, most often picked for medium faces (130 to 139 mm). Its bridge measures 18 mm and the arms run 145 mm. That puts the lens centres 72 mm apart: the frame PD.
55-16-145 Glasses
With 55 mm lenses this counts as a large frame, most often picked for medium faces (130 to 139 mm). Its bridge measures 16 mm and the arms run 145 mm. That puts the lens centres 71 mm apart: the frame PD.
56-17-145 Glasses
With 56 mm lenses this counts as a large frame, most often picked for wide faces (over 139 mm). Its bridge measures 17 mm and the arms run 145 mm. That puts the lens centres 73 mm apart: the frame PD.
57-18-145 Glasses
With 57 mm lenses this counts as a large frame, most often picked for wide faces (over 139 mm). Its bridge measures 18 mm and the arms run 145 mm. That puts the lens centres 75 mm apart: the frame PD.
PD and Frame Size
The frame PD is not the same number as your own PD. In a 52-18 frame, the lens centres are 70 mm apart (boxing system). With a PD of 63 mm, the lab moves each optical centre 3.5 mm toward the nose. This is normal. Only a strong prescription causes problems, and only when the frame is much wider than your PD: the outer edge of the lenses becomes thick.
Sunglasses Size Guide and Measurements
The same three numbers are used for sunglasses, and they are usually printed on the bridge or the inside of the arm. Larger lens widths are common in sunglasses because a bigger lens keeps out more light. Your PD is still required for prescription sunglasses. Plain sunglasses do not require it.
Questions About Frame Size
What size glasses do I need for my face?
Begin with the numbers found on a pair of glasses that already fits you well. If you do not have such a pair, a face 130 to 139 mm wide will usually match lenses of 51 to 55 mm.
How can I tell when glasses are too large?
The frame slips down your nose, the arms extend beyond your ears, or your eyes sit close to the inner edge of each lens.
Does PD matter on sunglasses?
Only if the sunglasses are prescription. There is no optical centre to position in plain sunglasses.