SearchWedding ring finger: which hand it goes on, and the order with the engagement ring
From the counter at TraxNYC, 47th Street.
The short answer
- The ring finger is the fourth finger, the one between the middle finger and the pinky, on either hand.
- In the US it is the left hand. So it is in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, France and Italy. In Germany, Austria, Norway, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Greece, the band goes on the right.
- The band goes on first. By tradition the wedding band sits at the base of the finger, closest to the heart, with the engagement ring above it.
- Size the hand you will wear it on. The two hands can run about a half size apart.
Buying the band or the ring? Talk to a personal jeweler: call 212-872-9692 or text us, seven days.
Which finger is the ring finger?
The fourth finger, counting the thumb as the first: the one between the middle finger and the pinky. On either hand it is called the ring finger, and it carries the engagement ring and the wedding band.
The custom is old. The usual telling is that a vein ran from the fourth finger of the left hand straight to the heart: the vena amoris, the vein of love. Anatomy says otherwise, since the veins of every finger reach the heart the same way, but the custom stayed.
Which hand: left or right, by custom
It depends on where you live and how your family marries.
| The custom | Where you see it |
|---|---|
| Left hand, ring finger | The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy and Sweden |
| Right hand, ring finger | Germany, Austria, Norway, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Greece, and the Orthodox Christian tradition |
| Right while engaged, left once married | Brazil |
| Right index finger at the ceremony | The Jewish wedding ceremony; many brides move the ring to the ring finger afterward |
Customs vary inside every country, between regions, faiths and families. The right hand for you is the one your family keeps.
The order: wedding band and engagement ring
By tradition the wedding band goes on first, at the base of the finger, closest to the heart, and the engagement ring sits above it. On the wedding day many brides wear the engagement ring on the right hand so the band can go on first, then move it back on top.
That is tradition, not a rule. Some brides wear the engagement ring below the band because it sits better, and some wear only the band day to day. An anniversary band often joins later, above the engagement ring, so the center stone sits between two bands.
Two things help the rings live together. The band has to sit flush: a low center, a halo, or a pear or marquise can hold a straight band away from the ring, and a curved or notched band closes the gap. And rings side by side rub, so keep them in one metal and karat and they wear evenly.
Read September 28, 2026: our women's wedding bands are mostly 14K, then 18K and platinum; nearly all carry diamonds, natural and lab-grown about evenly, and most that state a width are 1.5 to 3 mm. See women's wedding rings and bands, bridal sets, engagement rings and eternity rings for women.
From the counter
“Start with a beautiful ring on a great band, and think about the wedding bands that go with it. If holding value is not a priority, a lab-grown diamond does the job. If you are making a serious investment, buy a natural diamond with a GIA grading report.”
For him: the same finger
Most men wear the band on the same finger and hand as the custom where they live: the left ring finger in the US. Some men who work with their hands wear it on a chain at work.
Our men's bands are mostly 14K gold, and most are set with diamonds. See men's wedding bands and men's eternity bands.
Sizing the ring finger
Size the finger on the hand you will wear the ring on: the two hands can run about a half size apart, and the fingers of your writing hand often run larger. Measure at the end of the day, when your hands are warm, and check the knuckle. A wide band fits tighter, so give it about a half size more.
The chart and the steps are in our ring size chart, and the ring sizer on our men's rings page measures any hand. Settle the size first: "Resizing and other alterations are done for you and are not returnable," in our showroom page's words.
Talk to a personal jeweler
Buying the band after the ring? Ask which bands sit flush.
Our personal jewelers on 47th Street answer by phone and text seven days. Send us the engagement ring's listing link before you order the band.
Questions about the wedding ring finger
Which hand does a wedding ring go on?
In the United States, the left: the fourth finger of the left hand. So it is in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, France and Italy. In Germany, Austria, Norway, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Greece, it goes on the right.
Which finger is the wedding ring finger?
The fourth finger, between the middle finger and the pinky. It is the same finger on either hand.
Does the wedding band go before or after the engagement ring?
By tradition the band goes on first, closest to the hand, and the engagement ring sits above it. Many brides wear the engagement ring on the right hand during the ceremony, then move it back on top of the band.
Do men wear their wedding ring on the same hand?
Usually, yes: the same finger and hand as the custom where they live, the left ring finger in the US.
Can you wear a wedding ring on your right hand?
Yes. It is the custom in Germany, Poland, Russia and Greece, and some people choose it for comfort or work. There is no wrong hand.
Which hand does the engagement ring go on?
In the US, the left ring finger, with the band. In Brazil, engaged couples wear their rings on the right hand and move them to the left at the wedding.
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 the ring and the band on together. Text or call 212-872-9692, or write to sale@traxnyc.com. Before you visit, read our showroom page.