Most people pick a necklace length the way they pick a password: whatever the default was. Then the necklace they loved online disappears under every collar they own.
Length decides where a necklace lands. Where it lands decides everything else: whether it shows with your favorite tops, whether it sits flat, whether it layers. Here's the short version.
Where each length lands
On an average neck, here's where the standard lengths fall, and the necklines they're happiest with.
| Length | Where it sits | Best with |
|---|---|---|
| 14 in. | Snug at the neck, like a choker | Off-the-shoulder, boat necks |
| 16 in. | At the base of the neck | Crew necks, button-downs, scoop necks |
| 18 in. | On the collarbone | V-necks and most everyday tops |
| 19 to 20 in. | Just below the collarbone | Open collars, layering under a 16 in. |
| 22 in. | Between the collarbone and the bust | Higher necklines, sweaters |
Two caveats. Every neck is different, so a 16-inch chain sits higher on a larger neck and lower on a slimmer one. And the names (choker, princess, matinee) change from jeweler to jeweler, so go by inches.
What 16 and 19 inches look like
Our tennis necklaces come in two lengths, and they do very different things.
16 inches is the classic tennis look. It sits at the base of the neck, close to the skin, so the stones read as one bright line. It shows above a crew neck, inside an open collar and with nothing at all.
19 inches is the relaxed one. It drops just below the collarbone, so it shows with open collars and V-necks and moves a little more when you do. It's also the length built to sit under a 16.
Wear them together and you get the best of both: 16 and 19 are three inches apart, right in the sweet spot for layering.
Pick the neckline first. The number follows.
How to layer without the tangle
Leave two to four inches between lengths. Closer than that and the chains fight for the same spot. A 16 and a 19 sit three inches apart, which is why they work together.
Put the shortest one on first, and fasten it a little snug so the others fall below it.
Mix the weights. Two chains of different weights tangle less than two of the same, so try a tennis line with a finer chain or a pendant.
Stop at three. Past that, it's a project.
Some combinations we like, each in a single metal:
- Aquamarine Star Tennis Necklace at 16 inches with the Silver Heart Tennis Necklace at 19.
- Gold White Star Tennis Necklace at 16 with the Gold Heart Tennis Necklace at 19.
- Mystic Topaz Star Tennis Necklace at 16 with the Damien pendant on its extender, all in Black Gold.
Measure before you buy
The easiest way to find your length: take a necklace you already love, lay it flat and measure it end to end, clasp included. No favorite? Drape a piece of string where you want the necklace to sit, then add an inch or two for movement.
Then pick the neckline you wear most, and let it choose.
Shop the story
Aquamarine Star Tennis Necklace
Silver Heart Tennis Necklace
Gold Star Bezel Tennis Necklace
Mystic Topaz Star Tennis NecklaceQuestions about necklace length
Where does a 16-inch necklace sit?
On most people, a 16-inch necklace sits at the base of the neck, just above the collarbone. On a larger neck it sits higher, closer to a choker.
What's the difference between a 16 and 18 inch necklace?
A 16-inch necklace sits at the base of the neck. An 18-inch necklace drops to the collarbone, which is the most common length for pendants.
What length tennis necklace should I get?
Choose 16 inches for the classic tennis look at the base of the neck, or 19 inches if you prefer it just below the collarbone or plan to layer it under a 16. Most Oomiay tennis necklaces come in both lengths.
How far apart should layered necklaces be?
Two to four inches apart. Oomiay's 16 and 19 inch tennis necklaces are three inches apart, so they layer cleanly.
Wink Ring
Gold Double Hoop Dangle Earrings
Blake Sterling Silver
Silver Mixed Shape Tennis Necklace