If a press-on lifts at the sides by day three, or the edge digs into your skin by lunchtime, the problem usually started before the glue came out. It started with the size. A press-on that is half a millimeter too narrow leaves a gap along the side wall, water gets in, and the bond lets go. One that is far too wide presses on your skin and pops up at the corners.
The good news: measuring takes about five minutes, you only do it once, and the same ten numbers work for every set you buy afterward. This guide walks you through the press-on nail size chart we use in our studio, how to measure each nail at home with a tape or a strip of paper, what to do when you land between sizes, and how to fix a fit that feels slightly off.
Short answer: To use a press-on nail size chart, measure the width of each natural nail at its widest point, following the curve, in millimeters. Compare your ten numbers to the chart and pick the size that matches most of your fingers. If you fall between two sizes, size up and file the sides to fit.
Jump to: What you need · How to measure (6 steps) · Handora size chart · Tape vs paper vs sizing kit · Between sizes · Size vs length · Mistakes · Fixing a bad fit · FAQ
What You Need to Measure Your Nails
You don't need special equipment. Most people already have everything at home.
- A flexible measuring tape in millimeters (the soft kind used for sewing), or
- A thin strip of paper or clear tape, a pen and a ruler with a millimeter scale.
- A notes app or a scrap of paper to write down ten numbers, left and right hand separately.
- A nail file, for later. A slightly wide press-on is fixed in thirty seconds with a few strokes along the side.
If you like to check a new fit before committing to glue, a pack of adhesive tabs lets you wear a set for a day, see how it sits, then take it off cleanly.
How to Measure Your Nails for Press-Ons (6 Steps)
Step 1: Start with bare, clean nails
Remove any old press-ons, gel or acrylic first. Measuring over an enhancement adds thickness and width, and you will end up a size too big. Push back your cuticles gently so you can see where the nail bed actually begins at the sides. That edge is what the press-on needs to cover.
Step 2: Find the widest point of each nail
The widest part of your nail is usually about one-third of the way up from the cuticle, not at the free edge. Look at the nail straight on and find where the two side walls are furthest apart. On most thumbs it is lower down; on pinkies it can be almost in the middle.
Step 3: Measure across the curve, not straight across
Lay the tape or paper strip across that widest point and let it follow the natural curve of your nail, from one side wall to the other. Do not press it flat. A press-on is curved too, so a straight-line reading under-measures by 1–2 mm, which is often a full size.
With a paper strip, mark a dot at each edge of the nail bed, peel the strip off, lay it flat against a ruler and measure the gap between the dots.
Step 4: Write down all ten numbers
Measure every finger on both hands. Your left and right hands are rarely identical, and your ring finger may be wider on one side. Write the numbers in order: thumb, index, middle, ring, pinky. Round to the nearest whole millimeter.
Step 5: Match your numbers to the size chart
Compare your ten numbers to the chart below and pick the size that matches most of your fingers. Almost nobody matches one size on every nail, and that is normal. If you'd rather not compare by eye, the fit finder on our sizing guide page takes all ten measurements and recommends a size for you.
Step 6: Test the fit before you glue
When your set arrives, lay each nail against its finger before opening the glue. It should cover the nail from side wall to side wall without touching the skin. If one is a touch wide, file the side, not the tip. If you want a real-life test, wear the set on tabs for a day, then soak it off and glue it on for the long run as described in our step-by-step application guide.
Handora Press-On Nail Size Chart (mm and inches)
Every number is the width of the nail bed at its widest point. Because each Handora set is hand-painted to order, the ten nails in your box are made to these widths, one per finger.
| Size | Thumb | Index | Middle | Ring | Pinky |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 14 mm (0.55") | 10 mm (0.39") | 11 mm (0.43") | 10 mm (0.39") | 8 mm (0.31") |
| S | 15 mm (0.59") | 11 mm (0.43") | 12 mm (0.47") | 11 mm (0.43") | 9 mm (0.35") |
| M | 16 mm (0.63") | 12 mm (0.47") | 13 mm (0.51") | 12 mm (0.47") | 10 mm (0.39") |
| L | 17 mm (0.67") | 13 mm (0.51") | 14 mm (0.55") | 13 mm (0.51") | 11 mm (0.43") |
A quick way to read the chart: find your thumb and middle finger first. They are the widest nails and the ones most likely to show a gap. If those two land in M, M is almost always your size, even if one pinky reads S.
Outside the chart, or very different from hand to hand? Custom sizing is free. Leave each finger's measurement in the order note at checkout, and we paint the set to your numbers.
Measuring Tape vs Paper Strip vs Sizing Kit
All three work. What changes is how accurate they are on a curved nail and how much guessing is left.
| Flexible tape | Paper strip + ruler | Press-on nail sizing kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Soft tape measure laid across the nail | Strip of paper or tape, marked and measured flat | A set of blank numbered tips you hold against each nail |
| Accuracy | High, if you follow the curve | High, and easy to re-check | High, especially for very curved nails |
| Time | About 5 minutes | About 5–10 minutes | About 5 minutes, plus the wait for delivery |
| Cost | Usually already at home | Free | An extra purchase and an extra shipment |
| Best for | Most people | No tape at home, small nails | Very curved or very flat nail beds, people buying from many brands |
Do you need a press-on nail sizing kit?
Sizing kits have become very popular, and they are useful: you see the fit on your actual nail instead of reading a number. The catch is that every brand's tips are numbered differently, so a kit from one brand doesn't translate cleanly to another. For a Handora set, a measuring tape gives you the millimeter numbers our chart uses directly. If you're still unsure, email a photo of your nails next to a ruler to cs@handoranails.com and we will read the sizes for you.
What If You're Between Press-On Nail Sizes?
Size up. A slightly wide press-on can be filed along the side until it sits flush with your nail edge. A narrow one cannot be made wider, and the bare strip it leaves at the side is exactly where lifting starts.
Size up as well if you have flatter nail beds, or if you're ordering short almond tips, which run a touch small against the other shapes. And if you land in different sizes on each hand, choose by the hand with the wider nails, then file the other side down.
Not sure after all that? Every order includes one free size exchange within 30 days, so a near miss is fixable.
Press-On Nail Sizes vs Lengths: Two Different Choices
Size is the width across your nail bed. Length is how far the tip extends past it, and you choose it separately on each product page. A size M nail can be short, medium or long. Getting the length wrong changes the look; getting the width wrong changes how long the set stays on. If you type a lot or wear press-ons for the first time, start with short or medium in your correct width.
Shape also affects how a size feels. Almond and stiletto narrow toward the tip, so a slightly wide base is less noticeable. Square and coffin keep their width all the way up, so an oversized nail shows more. The sizing guide page lists tip lengths for every shape.
6 Sizing Mistakes That Make Press-Ons Lift
Flattening the tape. Pressing the tape straight across a curved nail under-reads by 1–2 mm. Let it hug the curve from wall to wall.
Measuring at the tip. The free edge is often narrower than the nail bed. Measure about a third of the way up from the cuticle.
Measuring only one hand. Most people have at least one finger that differs by a millimeter between hands. Measure both, then size by the wider one.
Measuring over gel or old press-ons. Any coating adds width. Measure your own nails, freshly cleaned.
Choosing by feel, not by numbers. "I'm probably a small" is how most sizing problems begin. Five minutes with a tape beats a guess.
Forcing a tight nail on. If a press-on only fits when you squeeze its sides together, it will spring back and lift. That finger needs the next size up.
Troubleshooting: When the Fit Feels Off
Gap at the sides. The nail is too narrow. Use your free size exchange for the next size up, or order custom sizing for that finger. Glue won't fill a gap reliably.
Edge touching or pressing on the skin. The nail is too wide. File along the side, a few light strokes at a time, checking against your finger as you go. Stop when the edge sits just inside your side wall.
Thumb fits, pinky doesn't. That's normal; pinkies vary the most. Size by thumb, index and middle, and file the pinky if needed. If the pinky is much smaller, note it in a custom sizing order.
Correct size but still lifting. Then it's likely the prep or the adhesive rather than the fit. Our press-on nail glue guide covers how to get 2–4 weeks from a glue application.
Find Your Size, Then Find Your Set
Once your ten numbers are written down, they work for every set you order. Each Handora design is hand-painted to order in our studio in your chosen size and length and delivered in 10–15 days, with glue and adhesive tabs in the box. Browse the handmade press-on nails collection, or start with one of these.
Press-On Nail Size Chart FAQ
How do I know what size press-on nails to get?
Measure the width of each natural nail at its widest point, following the curve, in millimeters. Compare the ten numbers to a press-on nail size chart and pick the size that matches most fingers, prioritizing your thumbs and middle fingers. If you're between sizes, size up.
Are press-on nail sizes the same across brands?
No. Brands number their tips and name their sizes differently, so a "medium" in one brand can be a small in another. Always compare your millimeter measurements to the chart of the brand you're buying from, rather than reusing a size letter.
Should press-on nails be bigger or smaller than my nail?
The same width as your nail bed, or very slightly wider and then filed to fit. A press-on should cover your nail from side wall to side wall without touching the skin. Smaller nails leave gaps that let water in, and that is the most common reason sets lift early.
How do I measure my nails for press-ons without a measuring tape?
Use a strip of paper or clear tape. Lay it across the widest part of the nail, mark a dot at each edge, peel it off, lay it flat against a ruler and measure the distance between the dots in millimeters.
Can I make press-on nails smaller if they are too big?
Yes, slightly. File along the side of the press-on with a fine file, a little at a time, until it sits just inside your side wall. Avoid filing the underside or the cuticle end, which changes how the curve sits on your nail.
What if my size is wrong after I order?
Every Handora order includes one free size exchange within 30 days. If you're outside the standard sizes, choose custom sizing for free by leaving each finger's measurement in the order note at checkout.
