How Should Sunglasses Fit? Find Your Size
Sunglasses that fit sit still, feel light and look like they belong on your face. Here is how sunglasses should fit, how to read the size numbers on the temple, how to find your size, and how to fix a pair that sits a little wrong.
How should sunglasses fit?
The frame should be about as wide as your face, with your eyes roughly in the center of each lens. The bridge should rest on your nose without pinching or sliding, and the temples should run straight back and rest on your ears without pressing.
The frame shouldn't rest on your cheeks, and your lashes shouldn't touch the lenses. If your sunglasses stay put when you look down, they fit.
Our three fit categories
Every Corlin frame is made in one of three fits. Start here if you're not sure where to begin:
Frames by fit
A few frames from each fit category, from slim to oversized.
Slim, medium and oversized
All sunglasses-
Alba Tortoise BrownSlim fit, 50 mm lens1 499 SEK
-
Louis Tortoise BrownSlim fit, 52 mm lens1 299 SEK
-
Ana Tortoise BrownSlim fit, 54 mm lens1 499 SEK
-
Ines Tortoise BrownMedium fit, 50 mm lens1 299 SEK
-
Carpi Tortoise BrownMedium fit, 22 mm bridge1 299 SEK
-
Jimi Tortoise BrownMedium fit, 53 mm lens1 499 SEK
-
Gelo Tortoise BrownOversized fit, 55 mm lens1 299 SEK
-
Rey Tortoise BrownOversized fit1 499 SEK
How to read the size numbers
Most sunglasses have three numbers printed on the inside of the temple, for example 52 □ 21 – 145:
Common fit problems and how to fix them
Most fit problems have a simple cause, and many can be fixed at home:
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Slides down your nose | Temples too loose or bridge too wide | Bend the temple tips slightly inward with warm water |
| Presses behind your ears | Temples too tight | Bend the temples slightly outward with warm water |
| One side sits higher | Uneven temples | Bend the lifted temple down on a flat surface |
| Gaps at the sides of your face | Frame too wide | Try a slim fit |
| Presses on the sides of your head | Frame too narrow | Try a medium or oversized fit |
| Rests on your cheeks | Lens too tall for your face | Try a frame with a lower lens height |
| Pinches your nose | Bridge too narrow | Try a frame with a wider bridge |
See how to adjust your sunglasses below for step-by-step instructions.
Five signs your sunglasses fit
1. The frame is about as wide as your face, with no big gaps at the sides and no pressure at the temples.
2. Your eyes sit roughly in the center of each lens.
3. The bridge rests on your nose without pinching or leaving deep marks.
4. The temples run straight back and rest gently on your ears.
5. The sunglasses stay in place when you look down or turn your head.
How to find your size
The easiest way is to start with a pair you already own and like. Check the numbers on the inside of the temple and compare them with the lens width and bridge listed on our product pages. A lens width within a couple of millimeters of your current pair will feel similar.
If you don't have a pair to compare with, start with our medium fit. It is designed to suit most faces. Choose slim if your face is narrow or small, and oversized if your face is wide or you want a bolder look. Read more in our size guide.
Fit for small and large faces
For a smaller or narrow face, look for a slim fit and a lens width around 50 mm, like Alba or Louis. Our guide to sunglasses for small faces has more tips.
For a larger face or a wider head, an oversized fit with a wider lens is often more comfortable, like Gelo with a 55 mm lens. See our guide to sunglasses for big heads.
How to adjust your sunglasses
Acetate frames soften with heat, so you can adjust the fit at home. For a tighter fit, warm the temples under warm water and bend the temple tips slightly inward. For a looser fit, bend them slightly outward. Let the frame cool before you try them on again.
If one temple sits higher than the other, place the sunglasses on a flat surface to see which side is lifted. Warm the frame for 10 to 20 seconds and gently bend the lifted temple down. Always adjust gently, and never force the material.
Fit and face shape
Size is one part of the fit. The shape of the frame matters too. As a rule, frames that contrast with your face shape tend to look most balanced. Find your shape in our face shape guide.
Questions about sunglasses fit
How do I know what size sunglasses I need?
Check the numbers on the inside of the temple of a pair you already like, and compare the lens width and bridge with the frame you're looking at. A lens width within a couple of millimeters will feel similar.
If you don't have a pair to compare with, start with a medium fit, which suits most faces.
Should sunglasses touch your cheeks?
No. The frame should rest on your nose and ears, not on your cheeks. If the frame touches your cheeks, especially when you smile, the lenses are probably too tall for your face or the frame sits too low.
A frame with a lower lens height usually solves it.
How tight should sunglasses be?
Snug enough to stay in place when you look down, but without pressure behind the ears or at the sides of your head. If you get marks or headaches, the temples are too tight.
Acetate temples can be bent slightly outward with warm water for a looser fit.
Why do my sunglasses slide down my nose?
Usually the temples are too loose, or the bridge is too wide for your nose. Bending the temple tips slightly inward with warm water often fixes it.
If the problem is the bridge, a frame with a narrower bridge will sit better.
Can I make sunglasses smaller or bigger?
You can adjust how tight the temples sit, but you can't change the width of the frame or the size of the lenses. If the frame is clearly too wide or too narrow, a different fit is the better choice.
Our slim, medium and oversized fits make it easier to find the right width.
What if the sunglasses don't fit when they arrive?
You have 30 days to return your sunglasses. If the fit is almost right, try adjusting the temples first, following the steps in our size guide.
Often a small adjustment is all it takes.