For most men, 55 cm is the right answer. It lands just below the collarbone, stays visible above a crew neck and disappears completely under a shirt. Slimmer or shorter men are usually better at 50 cm. Taller or broader men, and anyone hanging a pendant on it, should go to 60 cm.
That covers roughly eight out of ten cases. The rest of this guide is for the other two: the in-between builds, the thick chains that behave differently from thin ones, and the men who want to know exactly where a length will fall before they order. Everything below is in centimetres first, with the inch equivalent next to it, because chains sold in Europe are cut in centimetres and half the advice online is written for a market that isn't ours.
The length table, in cm and inches
Read the table by build first, then check the collar column against what you actually wear. A chain that is right for your neck but wrong for your wardrobe still ends up in a drawer.
| Length | Inches | Where it falls | Build it suits | Collar | Pendant? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 cm | 17.7" | High on the neck, close to the throat | Slim necks, slim frames; also worn as the top layer of a stack | Visible above every collar, including a buttoned shirt | No — a pendant sits too high and pulls at the throat |
| 50 cm | 19.7" | On the collarbone | Slim to average, or anyone under about 175 cm | Shows above a crew neck; peeks out of an open shirt | Small pendants only |
| 55 cm | 21.7" | Two to three fingers below the collarbone, top of the sternum | Average to athletic; the default for most men | Sits nicely above a crew neck, hides under a buttoned shirt | Yes — the safest length for a standard pendant |
| 60 cm | 23.6" | Mid-sternum, roughly level with the second shirt button | Broad shoulders, larger neck, or anyone over about 185 cm | Falls inside an open shirt collar rather than above it | Yes — the best length if the pendant is the point |
| 65 cm | 25.6" | Mid-chest, clearly on the chest rather than the neck | Tall or heavy builds; worn over a T-shirt or jumper | Deliberately worn on top of clothing, not under it | Yes — for a large statement pendant |
How to measure without a tape measure
You don't need a tailor's tape. You need something flexible and something with a known length.
- Use a phone charging cable, a shoelace or a strip of paper. Drape it around your neck and let it hang exactly where you want the chain to sit. Pinch the two ends together at the back of your neck.
- Mark the pinch point with a pen or your thumbnail, then lay the cable flat.
- Measure it against an A4 sheet. A4 is 29.7 cm on the long edge and 21 cm on the short edge. One long edge plus one short edge is 50.7 cm — near enough to tell you whether you're closer to 50 or 55. Two long edges is 59.4 cm, which brackets 60 cm.
The faster method: measure a chain you already own and like. Lay it flat in a straight line, clasp closed, and measure end to end. That number is the length you should be ordering, and it beats any guess based on your height.
One warning: judging length in the mirror tends to make men choose short, because you're looking down at your own neck at an angle nobody else sees you from. Trust the measurement.
Why an 8 mm chain wants about 5 cm more than a 2 mm
Two chains cut to the same 55 cm do not sit in the same place. A thick chain has body: the links stand away from the skin, the mass pulls the curve of the chain outward instead of letting it drape into the hollow of your neck, and the clasp end takes up real space. The practical effect is that a heavy chain at a given length wears higher and tighter than a fine one at the same length.
There is a visual half to this as well. A fine chain high on the neck reads as understated. A wide chain high on the neck reads as cramped — it looks like it has been squeezed into a space too small for it. Giving it 5 cm more lets it settle into a proper curve.
As a working rule: whatever length you land on for a fine chain, add one step for a wide one. If 50 cm is right for a 2 mm Cuban chain (€29), then 55 cm is right for the 5 mm version (€59), and 55 to 60 cm is right for the 8 mm (€79). The same logic applies in reverse: if you already own an 8 mm at 60 cm and want a thin chain to layer above it, don't buy another 60.
Matching the length to your collar
Crew neck T-shirt. The collar sits around 45 cm of neck circumference height, so anything from 50 cm up will show above it. 55 cm gives you a clean gap between fabric and metal.
Open shirt, one or two buttons undone. 55 cm shows in the gap. 60 cm sits inside the shirt against the chest, which is the more grown-up look if you're wearing a pendant.
Buttoned shirt with a tie or under a jacket. Anything 55 cm or longer disappears entirely, which is usually the point. Only 45 cm will be visible above a closed collar, and that is a deliberate choice rather than an accident.
Polo or henley. These sit lower than a crew neck. 55 cm can end up half-hidden; 50 cm shows more reliably.
If you're wearing a pendant
A pendant does two things to your calculation. It adds its own drop — typically 2 to 3 cm below where the chain bottoms out — and it adds weight, which pulls the chain marginally lower still. So a pendant at 55 cm sits where a bare chain at roughly 58 cm would.
The rule most men get wrong: pendants want to sit on the chest, not on the collarbone. A small cross pendant (€59) on a 50 cm chain sits at the base of the throat, where it catches on collars and gets tucked away. The same pendant on a 60 cm chain hangs where you can actually see it. If the pendant is the reason you're buying, go 60.
Layering two or three chains
Layering works when the lengths are far enough apart to read as separate pieces. A 5 cm gap looks like a mistake — the chains tangle and overlap. A 10 cm gap looks deliberate. The standard stack is 45 and 55 cm, or 50 and 60 cm. If you're adding a third, go 45, 55 and 65.
Keep the widths different too. Two identical 5 mm chains at different lengths look like you couldn't decide. A 2 mm above a 5 mm, or a 5 mm above an 8 mm, gives the stack a hierarchy.
What length does not change
Length affects how a chain looks. It does not affect how it holds up. Every chain in the chains collection is built the same way at every length: DeRuiterDR — men's jewellery in 316L surgical steel and 18K gold plating, waterproof, with a lifetime warranty, shipped from the Netherlands/Europe. A 60 cm chain will not tarnish faster than a 50 cm one, and you can shower, swim and train in either.
That matters more than it sounds. The most common reason men take a chain off is not the length — it's the fear that water will ruin it. If it can stay on, you'll actually wear it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common chain length for men?
55 cm, by a clear margin. It suits average builds, works with both crew necks and shirts, and takes a pendant without looking crowded. If you're buying without measuring, 55 cm is the lowest-risk choice.
Is 50 cm too short for a man?
Not at all — it's the right length for slimmer frames and for anyone under roughly 175 cm. It sits on the collarbone rather than below it. It only becomes a problem if you plan to add a pendant, which will then hang at the base of your throat.
What length is 20 inches in cm?
20 inches is 50.8 cm, so it corresponds to a 50 cm chain in European sizing. 22 inches is 55.9 cm (a 55 cm chain) and 24 inches is 61 cm (a 60 cm chain). The half-centimetre differences are not noticeable when worn.
Should a chain sit above or below the collarbone?
Below, for most men. Above the collarbone reads as tight and draws attention to the neck itself. Two to three fingers below the collarbone is the position that flatters the widest range of builds, which is what 55 cm gives you.
Does a thicker chain need to be longer?
Yes. A wide chain stands further off the skin and wears higher than a fine chain cut to the same length. Add roughly 5 cm when you move from 2 mm to 5 mm, and again from 5 mm to 8 mm, if you want it to sit in the same place.
How do I measure my neck for a chain?
Don't measure your neck — measure where you want the chain to fall. Drape a shoelace or charging cable around your neck, let it hang at the height you want, pinch the ends and measure that length flat. That is the chain length to order.
Can I wear a chain in the shower or at the gym?
Yes. These pieces are 316L surgical steel, some of them gold plated over that steel, and they are waterproof — shower, pool and gym are all fine. The lifetime warranty covers discolouration, so you're not risking the finish by keeping it on.
What length should I buy if I'm between two sizes?
Go longer. A chain that is slightly long sits a centimetre lower than planned and nobody notices. A chain that is slightly short sits tight against the throat and you'll feel it all day. This is especially true if there's any chance you'll add a pendant later.
Measure once with a shoelace, then open the chains collection and pick your length. If the size turns out wrong on your neck, we exchange it free — shipped from the Netherlands, so there are no customs charges or import fees within the EU.