Necklace Length Guide – Right Size for Adults & Children | Le Lika
Necklace Length Guide – How to Choose the Right Size for Adults and Children
A necklace measurement on a product page does not always tell you much. The difference between 40 and 50 cm may sound small, but on the body it is clearly visible — and it is exactly that difference that determines whether a necklace lands nicely at the collarbone or sits a little too high or low.
This guide covers the most common necklace lengths, where they tend to sit on the body and how to easily find the right measurement at home. Keep in mind that placement is always approximate — neck circumference, body proportions, chain style and any pendant all affect where the necklace actually rests.
Common necklace lengths for adults
Shorter necklaces sit close to the neck or at the collarbone. The longer the chain, the further it falls down the chest.
Insert image: adult wearing chains in lengths 35–60 cm
The images show roughly where the different lengths fall. Placement varies depending on neck circumference and body proportions.
Which necklace length is most popular?
A 45 cm chain is one of the most popular choices — it typically lands right at or just above the collarbone and works well both on its own and with a pendant.
Those who prefer the chain to sit a little shorter and closer to the neck choose 40 cm. If you want it to hang a little more freely, opt for 50 cm instead.
Desired fit
Recommended length
Very close to the neck
35–40 cm
At the base of the neck
Around 40 cm
Around the collarbone
Around 45 cm
Just below the collarbone
Around 50 cm
Upper chest
55–60 cm
Long necklace
70 cm or longer
These are guidelines rather than exact rules. The same chain can sit higher on one person and lower on another.
How to find the right length at home
The best way to find your size is to test the length with a piece of string or a soft tape measure before ordering. It only takes a minute.
Try it with a piece of string
Cut a piece of string to the length you are considering.
Hold it around your neck.
See where the lowest point of the string falls.
Try a few lengths — for example 40, 45 and 50 cm — and compare.
Remember that a pendant can pull the centre of the chain down further.
Measure a necklace you already own
Lay the necklace flat on a level surface.
Measure the full length from end to end.
Include the clasp in the total length.
Compare with the measurement of the necklace you want to buy.
If you already have a necklace that sits exactly where you want it, that is your best starting point. Choose the same length or adjust a couple of centimetres up or down.
How many centimetres longer than the neck circumference?
It depends on how you want the necklace to sit. For a close fit, your neck circumference plus 2–3 cm can be a good starting point. To reach the collarbone or fall further down, you will need more.
The example below is based on a neck circumference of approximately 33 cm:
Chain length
Approximate result
35 cm
Very close to the neck
40 cm
Short and fairly close
45 cm
Around the collarbone
50 cm
Loose fall below the collarbone
55 cm
Upper chest
60 cm
Further down the chest
The table is an example only. The shape of your neck, shoulder width and body proportions all affect how the chain falls.
Necklace lengths for children
Children grow at different rates, and two children of the same age may need completely different sizes. Age is a guide only — an actual neck measurement is always more reliable.
Approximate age
Common length
Approximate placement
3–5 years
30–35 cm
Close to the neck or at its base
6–8 years
35–40 cm
From the base of the neck to the upper chest
9–12 years
40–45 cm
Further down the chest
From around 13
45 cm or longer
Similar to adult lengths
Insert image: child wearing chains in lengths 30–45 cm
Age ranges are approximate. A 40 cm chain can sit quite low on a small child but close to the neck on an older one.
Important when children wear necklaces
Children should always wear necklaces under adult supervision. Remove the necklace before sleep, play, bathing and sports.
Always measure the child before choosing a size.
The necklace should not feel uncomfortably tight.
Choose a light chain with a pendant that suits the child's size.
Consider a child-appropriate safety release.
Never let the child sleep wearing the necklace.
Always remove the necklace during active play and sports.
Does the pendant affect how the necklace sits?
Yes, quite a lot. A heavier pendant pulls the centre of the chain down and creates a more pronounced V-shape — the necklace can appear longer even though the chain is exactly the same length.
Style
How the necklace may be affected
Chain without pendant
Soft, rounded curve
Small, light pendant
Affects placement relatively little
Larger or heavier pendant
Pulls the centre of the chain down further
Thick or stiff chain
May sit higher and feel shorter
Thin, flexible chain
Follows the body's shape more easily
The children's image shows chains with different pendants, which means the placements shown are approximate. A different pendant can make the same chain length fall slightly differently.
Which length suits which pendant?
For a small pendant, 40 or 45 cm works well if it should sit close to the neck or at the collarbone. A larger or heavier pendant does better with 50–55 cm, giving it enough room to stand out.
Pendant type
Suggested length
Very small pendant
40–45 cm
Everyday pendant
45 cm
Medium pendant
45–50 cm
Locket
50–60 cm
Larger pendant
55 cm or longer
Also consider the neckline of the garment — a pendant shows more clearly when the chain ends above or below the neckline, not halfway through it.
Layered necklaces
When combining several chains, you need enough spacing between them so each one shows separately. Around 5 cm difference is a good rule of thumb, but if the pendants are large you may need a bit more.
Number of chains
Suggested lengths
Two chains
40 and 45 cm
Two chains, more spacing
40 and 50 cm
Three chains
40, 45 and 50 cm
Four chains
40, 45, 50 and 55 cm
Longer combination
45, 50 and 60 cm
If you have pendants on multiple chains, check that the pendant on the shorter chain does not land directly on top of the next chain.
The neckline matters
The neckline of a garment affects how long the chain appears and how clearly the necklace shows.
Neckline
Lengths that often work well
V-neck
45–60 cm
Round neck
40–50 cm or noticeably longer
Square neck
40–50 cm
Shirt with open collar
40–50 cm
Polo neck / turtleneck
60 cm or longer
Off-shoulder or open neckline
35–50 cm
There are no fixed rules — the table is a guide for when you want the necklace and the garment to complement each other.
Extension chains
An extension chain makes a necklace more flexible. A necklace listed as "40 + 5 cm" can typically be adjusted between approximately 40 and 45 cm.
This is practical if you want to:
Wear the necklace with different necklines.
Switch between a closer and a slightly lower placement.
Combine the chain with other necklaces.
Share the chain with someone who has a different neck size.
Always check whether the stated length includes the extension chain or whether it is listed separately.
Quick guide
If you want the necklace to sit…
Choose approximately
Very close to the neck
35–40 cm
At the base of the neck
40 cm
Around the collarbone
45 cm
Just below the collarbone
50 cm
Upper chest
55–60 cm
Further down the chest
70 cm or longer
Summary
A 35–40 cm chain sits close to the neck. 45 cm typically lands around the collarbone, and 50 cm just below it. Chains of 55–60 cm fall further down the chest.
For children, 30–45 cm are the most common lengths depending on age and size — but an actual neck measurement is always more reliable than guessing from age.
The images in this guide show approximately how the different lengths can look. The best way to choose correctly is still to try the equivalent length at home with a piece of string, or to measure a necklace you already own and like.
At Le Lika you will find the necklace length in the product information on each product page. We recommend trying the same length at home with a piece of string before ordering — that way you will know exactly where the necklace will sit.
