Zum Hauptinhalt springen
Online Ring Size
Jetzt messenMessen

Diese Anleitung ist nur auf Englisch verfügbar. Der Ringmesser selbst ist vollständig übersetzt und funktioniert in Ihrer Sprache. Lange Anleitungen übersetzen wir erst, nachdem ein Muttersprachler sie geprüft hat, statt maschinelle Ausgabe zu veröffentlichen.

Ringmesser öffnen

Watch strap size · No sign-up

A 20 mm strap will not fit an 18 mm watch.

Lug width is the one measurement here with no tolerance — it either fits or it doesn't. Measure the gap between your lugs on a calibrated screen and buy the exact size.

Step 1. Calibrate the screen — or reuse the scale from the ring sizer.

Screen scale: — CSS pixels per mm

Step 2. Hold the watch against the screen, strap removed, and widen the gap until the markers sit against the inside of each lug.

Measured: —

Don't have the watch to hand?

Strap width to buy

—

Step 3 (optional). Strap length is a separate number from lug width, and has real tolerance.

Two numbers, often confused

Lug width

The gap between the lugs, where the strap attaches. Always an even number of millimetres. Must match exactly — there is no close enough.

Strap length

How far it goes round your wrist. Sold as short, regular or long, and unlike width there's genuine room for error, because the buckle holes give you a range.

A third number — case diameter — is neither of these, and mistaking it for lug width is the most common way a strap arrives unusable. A 40 mm watch is 40 mm across the face; its lug gap is usually 20 mm.

How to measure it

  1. 01

    Take the old strap off

    The lug width is the gap between the lugs — the two horns the strap sits between — and you cannot measure it accurately with a strap in the way. Most spring bars release with a small tool, or a fingernail on a quick-release strap.

  2. 02

    Hold the case against the screen

    Calibrate the screen first, then widen the two markers until they sit against the inside face of each lug. Look straight down at the screen rather than at an angle — viewing angle is the biggest source of error at this scale.

  3. 03

    Buy the exact width

    Straps are made in even millimetres, so the tool snaps your measurement to the nearest real size. If your reading is more than about 0.8 mm from any manufactured width, something is wrong with the calibration or the alignment — it isn't a 19.4 mm strap, because those aren't made.

Case diameter to lug width

A fallback for when the watch isn't to hand. This is a convention rather than a standard — makers vary, and dress watches run narrower than divers at the same diameter — so measure the gap directly whenever you can.

Typical lug widths for common watch case diameters
Case diameterUsual lug width
26–32 mm12 or 14 or 16 mm
33–36 mm16 or 18 mm
37–39 mm18 or 20 mm
40–42 mm20 or 22 mm
43–46 mm22 or 24 mm
47–55 mm24 or 26 mm

Strap lengths

Quoted as two figures — the long and short halves either side of the case.

Short105/65 mmwrist 140–165 mm (5.5–6.5″)

Sometimes sold as XS or 'ladies'. Also the right choice for a large case on a small wrist, where a regular strap leaves too much tail.

Regular120/75 mmwrist 160–195 mm (6.3–7.7″)

The default, and what a strap is unless the listing says otherwise.

Long135/80 mmwrist 190–225 mm (7.5–8.9″)

Sometimes sold as XL. Worth choosing if a regular strap leaves you on the last hole.

Watch strap questions

How do I measure my watch strap size?
Measure the lug width: the gap between the two lugs where the strap attaches, in millimetres. Remove the existing strap first, then measure the inside-to-inside distance across the gap. Straps are manufactured in even numbers — 18, 20, 22 and so on — and the width has to match exactly. A 20 mm strap will not go into an 18 mm gap, and an 18 mm strap in a 20 mm gap will rattle and eventually fall out.
Is watch strap size the same as case size?
No, and confusing the two is the most common reason a strap arrives wrong. Case diameter is how wide the watch face is — 38 mm, 40 mm, 42 mm. Lug width is the gap where the strap attaches, and it's always smaller. A 40 mm watch usually takes a 20 mm strap, but that's a convention rather than a rule: dress watches often run narrower than divers at the same diameter, and any individual model can depart from it. Measure rather than assume.
What is the most common watch strap width?
20 mm, followed by 22 mm and 18 mm. Those three cover the large majority of men's watches. Women's watches more often take 12 to 16 mm. Sticking to a common width matters practically: 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 mm are available in every style and material, while 19 mm and 21 mm are manufactured but much harder to find in the strap you actually want.
Can I use a strap that's slightly the wrong width?
No. Unlike almost every other sizing question, this one has no tolerance. Too wide and it physically won't fit between the lugs. Too narrow and it will sit loose, wear unevenly at the spring bar, and eventually let go — usually taking the watch with it. If your measurement falls between two sizes, remeasure rather than round.
What length watch strap do I need?
Length is a separate question from width, and it does have tolerance because the buckle holes give you a range. Straps are sold as short, regular or long — quoted as two figures like 120/75 mm, the long and short halves either side of the case. Regular suits most wrists between about 160 and 195 mm. If a regular strap leaves you on the last hole, you want a long; if there's a lot of tail tucked away, a short will sit better.
How accurate is measuring lug width on a screen?
Good enough, because you're not trying to hit an arbitrary number — you're identifying which of a handful of manufactured sizes you have, and they're 2 mm apart. Once the screen is calibrated, a careful measurement lands well within 1 mm, which is unambiguous. That's why the tool reports a confidence rather than a range: if your reading is more than about 0.8 mm from any real strap width, the measurement is wrong rather than unusual.
What if my watch has an integrated bracelet?
Then it may not take a standard strap at all. Integrated designs shape the strap end to the case, so an off-the-shelf straight-ended strap will leave visible gaps even at the correct width. Check whether your model has aftermarket support before buying — some popular integrated watches have fitted straps made for them, and many don't.

Also on this site