The Cost of Sizing a Ring Larger
The Cost of Sizing a Ring Larger vs Smaller, What is Involved?
People ask me all the time about the cost of sizing a ring larger vs sizing it smaller. In fact, over the last thirty years, I may have been asked that question more than any other.
Sizing Ring Costs and Dining Out Costs
Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. It’s like asking how much it costs to dine at a decent restaurant. Will you be ordering appetizers? Wine? Dessert? You and your spouse could spend $50. You could spend $200. There are many factors to take into account. So, for this blog I will cover the cost of sizing a ring larger, as well as some of the other variables that affect cost . Next week I’ll cover the costs of sizing a ring smaller.
What is Involved in Sizing a Ring Larger?

The first thing to consider when sizing a ring up is its size. By this, I mean how wide and how thick is the shank (the shank is the bottom part of a ring that sits under the finger).
More metal will have to be inserted into a thicker, wider, and heavier shank than a thinner one. Since gold is selling for well over $1200.00 an ounce, the difference can be significant.
The second factor to consider when sizing a ring larger is how many sizes up the ring is being sized. Going from a size 5 to a size 10 will cost considerably more than going from a size 5 to a size 5 ½. Much more metal will have to be used.
Generally any sizing over 2 sizes becomes more complicated by the need to change the original shape of the ring. This can effect mountings and design elements for the worse.
The third issue in considering the cost is the amount of labor that will be involved.
Typically, this constitutes the greatest part of the cost and since there are so many factors involved, I will divide these factors up and cover them separately in this post.
The range of cost for a simple minor sizing up of a thin gold ring with no gemstones: $45.00 to $85.00.
What Effects the Labor Costs in Sizing a Ring?
The cost of the labor is what largely determines the cost of the sizing. A simple, smooth, gold band will cost less to size than a big opal ring surrounded by multiple diamonds.
A sizing that involves an alteration of less than one size will be less expensive.
More Labor Intensive; Dealing with Gemstones and Heat
Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are not as sensitive to the heat generated by the soldering process as some super sensitive gemstones. For this reason they can often be left in the ring during the sizing. Other stones, such as opals, tanzanites and emeralds, can’t take the heat and have to be removed before any heat can be applied.
Any time gemstones have to be removed and then reset will add to the cost of the sizing.
Range of cost to unset and reset the gemstones on your ring: $20 to $100.
An alternate to this is to use laser as the soldering tool instead of open flame solder. This is more expensive, but a life-saver for otherwise unalterable rings.
Ring Setting Styles and Their Effect on Sizing Costs
Some settings are easier to deal with than others. An opal set inside a bezel will require much more work than one held in place by four prongs. Oftentimes, bezels have to be cut open to remove the gemstone and then reconstructed once the ring is sized.
But if the choice is doing this work and wearing your opal ring or just letting it sit in the jewelry box, it is worth doing.

Channel settings are notorious for going out of alignment in the sizing process. This is especially true when sizing rings up or down by more than a couple of sizes. A good jeweler can deal with this.
This could involve un-setting some or all of your gemstones. Once the un-setting of gemstones is done, then the sizing is done and then the needed work done to restore the integrity of your channel setting. At this point the re-setting of your gemstones is done. You may need to pay for broken gemstones from this process.
Range of cost to handle channel setting ring work beyond sizing: $25 to $200.
Final Words

As you can see, there are as many factors to consider when sizing a ring larger as there are when determining what you’ll pay when going out to dinner at a nice restaurant. Check out my post on sizing a ring smaller and what is involved in that!
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
More in the cost of sizing rings series:
Why Sizing Your Pearl Ring Costs More
How Much Does it Cost to Size My Ring Platinum and White Gold
How Much Does it Cost to Size my Ring – Gold and Silver
Ring Sizing – What Do You Pay More For and Why?
How Much Does it Cost to Size my Eternity Band Ring?
Ring Sizing, Weight Gain and Weight Loss
Ring Sizing Cost with Milgrain Edging and Carved in Designs
How Much to Have My Enamel Ring Sized?
How Much to Size My Ring – With Scratched and Dull Gems
How Much to Size My Ring – With Matte Finish and Oxidations
Here’s the link to the companion blog post to this one: The Cost of Sizing a Ring Smaller.
I have a diamond ring with a a plain 14kt gold shank, its a 6.50, I need a size 9.00,could you give me a ball park price on sizing it, I would have to mail it to you.thank you for your time, Rita
Hello Rita,
The price of sizing your ring would depend on the width and depth of your plain band. Here is the info on the best way to email me this information:
https://www.callagold.com/education/how-to-send-ring-pictures-to-your-jeweler-effectively/
I will respond by email.
I work with distance clients regularly.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hey,
Im planing on getting my mums wedding ring resized for her aniversary…it is a gold ring with about 3-5 diamonds in it how much would it cost to go up one size?
Hi Jordynn,
Are you in the Santa Barbara area? In that case I’d ask to see it or see pictures.
If you are not in my area, it’d depend on your local jeweler. My prices and projects show are an example and not in anyway written in stone.
Princing depends on width of the shank of the ring where the sizing will take place, whether the sizing will cause the settings to need readjustments and like that.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I have a gold ring to be sized from 7 to 6 1/2 and another to be sized from 7 to 7 1/2. Can the gold from downsizing be used for upsizing? What will approximate costs be?
Hello Judy, Just like a brake job on a Mazerati and a Toyota differ in price so from one ring to another the prices differ. That’s why I included pictures of actual rings sized, the amount sized and the pricing for each. If you would like to send me pictures of these rings I could give you my estimate of pricing. I need all the views mentioned in this article: https://www.callagold.com/education/how-to-send-ring-pictures-to-your-jeweler-effectively/ I think I mentioned that different jewelers charge different amounts. I’m in California, in the small town of Santa Barbara. I’d imagine it costs more in big cities to… Read more »
Re: 15 gold rings, one to be up a half size and one to be downsized a half size. Approximate cost?
Hi Judy,
What does your 15 rings reference?
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I am thinking of purchasing an estate piece that needs to be sized from a 5 1/4 to a 71/2. It is set in heavy 14k white gold and has a few stones on each side of the band. Person selling the ring states it appears to have been resized previously. Can it be sized up?
Dear Caryn,
I’d like to see pictures of the ring to help me know. That would be an “extreme sizing,” any sizing over two I call an extreme sizing. Please use the information in this article to send me pictures:
https://www.callagold.com/education/how-to-send-ring-pictures-to-your-jeweler-effectively/
I’ll weigh in after seeing your ring.
Since there are only three gems or so on each side, there is a good chance it can be sized.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
My engagement ring is a sterling silver band, with white topaz gems. It’s a size 6, and I need it sized up to a 7. Can you give me a ballpark figure as to how much that would cost? Thank you in advanced.
Dear Ashley,
Without looking at it my guess is suspect and not to be used against the real jeweler who would do the work. I’d guess between $35.00 and $75.00.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I am bidding on two marquise shaped rings with plain bands on the back. They are size 5. Can I have them resized to a size 9? Both are gold.
Hi J,
You’d want to send pictures first so a bid could be possible.
The views I’d need to see are detailed in this blog:
https://www.callagold.com/education/how-to-send-ring-pictures-to-your-jeweler-effectively/
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla