Rhinestone size chart
SS sizes are nominal round numbers, not measurements. This chart pairs the usual millimetre value with a hole size you can start from — then tells you how to correct it with a ruler and one stone from your own pack.
Rhinestone sizes are nominal: SS6 is about 2.0 mm, SS10 about 2.8 mm, SS16 about 4.0 mm, SS20 about 4.8 mm and SS30 about 6.4 mm. The hole in a template should be roughly 0.1–0.2 mm larger than a stone you have measured yourself, because suppliers vary.
Type a name or drop an image. True-size SVG and a printable PDF, no account.
SS size, millimetres, inches and a starting hole size
| SS size | Stone ⌀ (mm) | Stone ⌀ (in) | Template hole to start with | Usually used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS3 | 1.2 | 0.05 | 1.3–1.4 mm | Nail art, tiny accents |
| SS4 | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1.6–1.7 mm | Fine detail |
| SS5 | 1.7 | 0.07 | 1.8–1.9 mm | Small monograms |
| SS6 | 2.0 | 0.08 | 2.1–2.2 mm | Small names, collars, cuffs |
| SS8 | 2.4 | 0.09 | 2.5–2.6 mm | Small-to-medium text |
| SS10 | 2.8 | 0.11 | 2.9–3.0 mm | Names on shirts and hoodies |
| SS12 | 3.1 | 0.12 | 3.2–3.3 mm | Medium lettering |
| SS16 | 3.9 | 0.15 | 4.0–4.1 mm | Back designs, bold letters |
| SS20 | 4.7 | 0.19 | 4.8–4.9 mm | Large lettering, jerseys |
| SS30 | 6.4 | 0.25 | 6.5–6.6 mm | Big graphics, costuming |
| SS34 | 7.2 | 0.28 | 7.3–7.4 mm | Very large stones |
| SS40 | 8.5 | 0.33 | 8.6–8.7 mm | Oversized decorative stones |
The hole allowance is the important column: it is the stone diameter plus roughly 0.1–0.2 mm, so a stone drops in without rattling. Blade kerf, material and stone coating all shift that number — which is why the next section matters more than this table.
Why your supplier’s SS10 is not exactly 2.8 mm
SS numbers are trade labels with tolerances. Two bags labelled SS10 can measure 2.7 mm and 3.0 mm, and coated or AB stones run larger than plain ones. A template cut to the label rather than to the stone is the single most common reason stones fall through or will not seat.
- Take ten stones from the bag you will actually use.
- Line them up against a ruler, or measure five with digital calipers.
- Use the middle value, not the largest.
- Add 0.1–0.2 mm for the hole, cut a calibration strip, and confirm one stone seats.
Which stone size for which letter height
| Finished letter height | Stone that reads well | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 mm (1 in) | SS6 | Larger stones leave no room for the stroke |
| 25–50 mm (1–2 in) | SS10 | Two stones across a stroke, still readable |
| 50–90 mm (2–3.5 in) | SS16 | Bolder presence without a coarse grid |
| Over 90 mm (3.5 in) | SS20–SS30 | Fewer stones to place for the same impact |
The rule behind the table: a letter reads cleanly when its thinnest stroke is at least two stones wide. If it is not, go smaller on the stone or wider on the design.
Checking a printed chart is actually to scale
A chart on screen is not to scale, and a printed one often is not either. Print any page from this site at 100% / Actual size — never “Fit to page” — then measure the 25.4 mm calibration line on the template PDF with a ruler. If that line is not exactly one inch, the printer scaled the page and every hole size is wrong by the same percentage.
For a real check, use the free maker: enter a measured diameter, export the calibration strip, and seat a stone in each of the three test holes.
Questions
What size rhinestones should I use for a shirt?
SS10 (about 2.8 mm) is the usual choice for a name across a shirt, because it reads at arm’s length without making the lettering coarse. Use SS6 for small text under about 25 mm tall and SS16 or larger for back designs.
What is the difference between SS10 and SS20?
SS10 measures about 2.8 mm across and SS20 about 4.7 mm — roughly 70% wider and about three times the area per stone. The trade-off is detail: SS20 covers faster but cannot form fine strokes.
How do I measure a rhinestone accurately?
Measure the flat back diameter, not the height, and not the glue layer. Calipers on five stones from the bag you will use, then take the middle value — that is the number to put into the template.
Do SS sizes include the glue?
No. SS sizes describe the stone, and hotfix glue adds a thin layer under it that does not change the footprint you cut for. Coated, AB and opal stones can still run slightly larger than the nominal size.