Silver Chain Lengths: Should You Buy 16, 20 or 22 Inch?

Chain length decides where a pendant sits on your neckline, and buying the wrong one online is one of the easiest regrets to make. Most silver chains come in a handful of standard lengths, and knowing what each one actually looks like on makes the choice far easier.

How chain length is measured

A chain's length is measured end to end, as if it were laid flat and clasped — not how far it hangs down your chest. The number tells you where the chain itself sits; a pendant hanging from it always sits below that point, so a longer pendant on a shorter chain can end up sitting lower than a shorter pendant on a longer chain.

The three lengths, and where each sits

Within each length, finish varies too — including a mirror-finish Italian chain — so length is the first decision, not the only one.

• 16 inch: sits close, right at the base of the neck — closer to a collar or choker than a classic necklace. Good for showing a small pendant high, even under a collared shirt, and works well as the shortest piece in a layered stack.
• 20 inch: rests on the chest, below the collarbone. This is the length most people reach for day to day — it suits most necklines and gives a pendant room to sit properly.
• 22 inch: sits lower still, often over the top of clothing rather than against skin, and reads as a more deliberate styling choice. Suits larger pendants and works well as the longest piece in a layered set.

If you are buying your first chain and are unsure, 20 inch is the safest starting point — it suits the widest range of necklines and pendant sizes, and you can add a shorter or longer piece to layer once you know what you like.

What about 18 inch?

18 inch is the length most commonly stocked as a general default across the wider jewellery market, sitting between the 16 inch and 20 inch looks above. We keep our range to 16, 20 and 22 inch, several with a 2 inch extender. Check the product page for the length range on a specific design before you buy.

Buying a pendant separately

Many of our pendants are sold as Pendant Only or as Pendant + Chain, so you can pair a pendant you already own with a new length, or choose the chain length yourself rather than accepting whatever comes bundled. Browse silver pendants to see which listing applies to a design you like.

Why the metal matters

Every chain we make is 925 sterling silver, stamped 925, and finished with R-Coat™, our protective anti-tarnish coating, so it keeps its shine through daily wear. The silver is also nickel-free, cadmium-free and lead-free, worth knowing for a chain worn against the neck all day.

Layering more than one chain

If you are wearing two chains together, a gap of around 2 inches between lengths — 20 inch and 22 inch, for example — stops them tangling through the day and reads as an intentional stack rather than an accident. Because several of our chains come with a 2 inch extender, one 20 inch chain can sit at 22 inch when you need that gap without buying a second piece. Browse the full silver necklaces range to build a layered look, or start with silver chains if you are choosing your first one.