SearchNecklace length chart for women: choker to opera, and how to layer necklaces
From the counter at TraxNYC, 47th Street.
The short answer
- 18 inches sits at the collarbone. It is the classic length for a pendant, and the safe choice when you are not sure.
- Shorter hugs the neck; longer falls to the chest. 14 inches is a collar, 16 a choker at the base of the neck, 20 to 24 the matinee lengths, and 28 and up the opera and rope lengths.
- Layer 2 inches apart. 16, 18 and 20 is the classic stack: every 2 inches of chain drops the center about an inch.
- Measure before you order. A string around your neck at home, or a necklace you already love, laid flat.
Not sure of the length? Talk to a personal jeweler: call 212-872-9692 or text us, seven days.
Women's necklace lengths, from collar to rope
Necklace length chart: where each length sits
| Length | Name | Where it sits | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 in | Collar | Snug, high on the neck | Open necklines; the top of a stack |
| 16 in | Choker | At the base of the neck | A tennis necklace or a small pendant worn high |
| 18 in | Princess | At the collarbone | Most pendants, name and initial necklaces |
| 20 in | Matinee | Just below the collarbone | A pendant that shows over a crew neck |
| 22 in | Matinee | Above the bust line | Layering, and higher necklines |
| 24 in | Matinee | At the bust line | A longer pendant, or over a sweater |
| 28 to 30 in | Opera | Below the bust | Worn long over knits |
| 36 in and up | Rope | Toward the waist | Worn long, or doubled into two strands |
On an average neck. A fuller neck, or a thick link, uses up more of the chain and lifts it higher: go up one length, 2 inches.
What our necklaces come in
Read September 28, 2026: of our women's necklaces with one fixed length, most are 16 or 18 inches. Our chains and pendant sets mostly let you pick 18, 20, 22 or 24 inches; 16 is on fewer, and a few chains go to 26, 28 or 30. Our tennis necklaces run mostly 18 to 22 inches, some at 24 and a few at 16 or 17.
A true collar, 14 or 15 inches, is rare in our case. We can shorten or lengthen a chain we sell; ask the desk about the charge. In our showroom page's words: "Resizing and other alterations are done for you and are not returnable."
Shop by kind: women's necklaces, gold necklaces, gold chains, diamond necklaces and tennis necklaces.
A pendant changes the length
A pendant hangs below the chain by its own height. And every 2 inches of chain drops the center about an inch, because the extra length splits between the two sides. So a pendant about an inch tall on an 18 inch chain reaches about as low as a bare 20.
For most pendants, 18 inches is the length; 16 keeps a small one high at the base of the neck, and 20 lets a larger one show over a crew neck. The pendants are at women's pendants, and which chain carries which pendant is in which chain for a pendant.
How to layer necklaces
Space them 2 inches apart, so each one lies at its own level. Put the thinnest chain on top and the heaviest piece, or the pendant, at the bottom, where its weight helps keep the stack from twisting.
| Stack | Lengths | The look |
|---|---|---|
| Two, close | 16 and 18 | Tight at the neck, for an open collar |
| Two, everyday | 18 and 20 | A chain and a pendant, just apart |
| Three, classic | 16, 18 and 20 | Even steps down from the neck |
| Three, wide | 16, 20 and 24 | More room, for a long pendant at the bottom |
Mix the links, say a fine cable, a rope and a tennis line, so the layers read apart. 10K, 14K and 18K yellow differ a shade, so see a mixed stack in one light. Layers do tangle: how to untangle a necklace.
From the counter
“Buy jewelry you fall in love with: something that makes you happy every time you put it on, a reward for your hard work. And it has to be right, and it has to fit right. Otherwise there is no point.”
How to measure your necklace length at home
- Lay a string or a phone cable around your neck.
- Let it fall where you want the necklace, and pinch where the ends meet.
- Measure it flat, in inches, and round up to the next even length.
Or lay a necklace you love flat, clasp closed, and measure end to end. As a rule of thumb, your neck size plus about 2 inches rests at the base of the neck, and plus about 4 near the collarbone.
Talk to a personal jeweler
Tell us the neckline and the look, and we will help with the length.
Our personal jewelers on 47th Street answer by phone and text seven days. Send the listing link and the length of a necklace you already wear.
Questions about necklace length
What is the most common necklace length for women?
18 inches, the princess length, is the classic: it sits at the collarbone and suits most pendants. Of our women's necklaces with one fixed length, most are 16 or 18 inches.
Is 16 or 18 inches better for a necklace?
16 sits close at the base of the neck and suits open necklines and tennis necklaces. 18 falls to the collarbone, where most pendants look right, and is the easier length to wear every day.
Where does a 20 inch necklace fall on a woman?
Just below the collarbone, low enough for a pendant to show over a crew neck.
How long is a choker necklace?
16 inches, at the base of the neck; 14 inches is a collar, snug and high. For a fuller neck, add 2 inches.
How do you layer necklaces without tangling?
Space them 2 inches apart, mix the links, and put the heaviest piece at the bottom, where its weight holds the stack in place.
Keep reading
More answers from the counter: all TraxNYC buyer's guides.
Come to 47th Street, or ask the desk
The showroom is at 64 W 47th St, Booth F-1, in New York's Diamond District, on 47th Street since 2004. Hours are Monday to Friday 11 am to 6 pm ET, and Saturday and Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm ET; around a holiday, text first.
Come try two lengths on in front of a mirror. Text or call 212-872-9692, or write to sale@traxnyc.com. Before you visit, read our showroom page.