Jewelry Box Sizes: Overall Dimensions and the Compartments Your Jewelry Needs
For anyone choosing a jewelry box, armoire, travel case or gift box. The overall sizes tell you whether it fits your dresser; the compartment sizes tell you whether it fits your jewelry.
A tabletop jewelry box is typically 8 to 12 in wide, 6 to 9 in deep and 4 to 8 in tall (20 to 30 × 15 to 23 × 10 to 20 cm). Travel cases are about 4 to 7 in across, and floor-standing armoires 36 to 42 in tall. To hang an 18 in necklace without coiling it, a compartment needs about 10 in (25 cm) of drop.
- Tabletop box
- 8-12 × 6-9 in
- Travel case
- 4-7 in across
- Armoire height
- 36-42 in
- 18 in necklace hang
- About 10 in
On this page
Jewelry box size chart
Sizes below are typical outside dimensions for each type, given as width × depth × height. Manufacturers vary, so use the ranges to plan space on a dresser or shelf, then check the exact listing.
| Type | Inches (W × D × H) | Centimeters | Holds roughly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gift ring box | 2-2.5 × 2-2.5 × 1.5-2 | 5-6.5 × 5-6.5 × 4-5 | 1 ring |
| Travel case or pouch | 4-7 × 4-5 × 2-3 | 10-18 × 10-13 × 5-8 | 5 to 15 pieces |
| Small tabletop box | 6-8 × 4-6 × 3-4 | 15-20 × 10-15 × 8-10 | 10 to 25 pieces |
| Medium tabletop box | 10-12 × 7-9 × 4-6 | 25-30 × 18-23 × 10-15 | 25 to 60 pieces |
| Large chest with drawers | 12-16 × 8-11 × 8-12 | 30-41 × 20-28 × 20-30 | 60 to 150 pieces |
| Floor-standing armoire | 15-20 × 12-15 × 36-42 | 38-51 × 30-38 × 91-107 | 150 pieces and up |
| Wall or over-door mirror cabinet | 14-16 × 3.5-5 × 42-48 | 36-41 × 9-13 × 107-122 | 100 pieces and up, many necklaces |
| Drawer insert trays | Sized to the drawer; 1-2 in deep | 2.5-5 cm deep | Depends on drawer |
A medium tabletop box fits on almost any dresser or vanity; a large chest needs about 16 × 11 in of clear surface, plus room in front to pull out drawers. Dresser top sizes are listed in the dresser dimensions guide. An armoire takes the floor footprint of a small nightstand and needs clearance in front at least as wide as its side doors.
Compartment sizes each type of jewelry needs
A box that is big enough overall can still be wrong inside. These minimum compartment sizes come from the dimensions of the jewelry itself.
| Jewelry | Minimum space | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plain rings and bands | Ring roll or slot 1 in (25 mm) deep | A size 7 band is about 20 to 21 mm across the outside |
| Engagement and cocktail rings | Slot about 1.25 in (32 mm) deep | A raised setting adds 6 to 10 mm above the band |
| Stud earrings | Grid holes or 1 × 1 in (25 mm) cells | Keeps pairs together and backs on |
| Drop earrings, hoops | Cells about 2 × 2 in (5 cm), or hanging bars | Large hoops up to 50 mm lie flat |
| Bracelets laid flat | At least 8 in (20 cm) long, or a bracelet bar | Women's bracelets are about 7 in, men's 8 in |
| Bangles | Cell at least 3 in (76 mm) square, 2 in deep for a stack | A 2.8 bangle is 63.5 mm inside, more outside |
| Necklaces hung | Drop of chain length ÷ 2 plus 1 in | See the hanging table below |
| Watches | Cushion about 2 in (5 cm) wide, 2.5 in (6.5 cm) of height | 40 to 46 mm cases plus clearance; see watch box sizes |
Rings, studs and fine chains are lost in deep compartments. Trays of 1 to 1.5 in (25 to 38 mm) suit most small jewelry; keep 2 to 3 in (50 to 75 mm) drawers for bangles, watches and chunky pieces.
How much hanging height necklaces need
A necklace hung from a hook folds in half, so it needs a drop of half its length plus the pendant. The table assumes a pendant of about 1 in (25 mm).
| Necklace length | Hanging drop (chain only) | With a 1 in pendant |
|---|---|---|
| 16 in (40.6 cm) | 8 in (20 cm) | 9 in (23 cm) |
| 18 in (45.7 cm) | 9 in (23 cm) | 10 in (25 cm) |
| 20 in (50.8 cm) | 10 in (25 cm) | 11 in (28 cm) |
| 24 in (61 cm) | 12 in (30 cm) | 13 in (33 cm) |
| 30 in (76.2 cm) | 15 in (38 cm) | 16 in (41 cm) |
| 36 in (91.4 cm) | 18 in (46 cm) | 19 in (48 cm) |
Check the hanging height of a tabletop box's necklace door before buying: a door with 8 in of drop holds a 16 in chain straight, but not an 18 in chain with a pendant. Longer necklaces need an armoire or a wall cabinet, or can be hooked twice, which quarters the drop. Necklace lengths and where they sit on the body are in the necklace length chart.
Choosing a jewelry box by collection size
- Count by type. Rings, pairs of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and watches each need different spaces, so a total count is less useful than a count per type.
- Find the longest necklace you want to hang straight. That sets the minimum hanging height from the table above.
- Add 25 to 50% for growth. A box that is full on day one becomes a tangle.
- Check the dresser or wall. Measure the clear surface or wall space and leave room to open lids and doors. A lid that opens upward on a 6 in tall box needs about 6 in more above it.
- Separate what scratches. Diamonds and tungsten scratch gold and pearls. Give hard stones and soft pieces separate compartments.
Gift and packaging box sizes
| Box | Inches | Centimeters | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring box | 2-2.5 square, 1.5-2 tall | 5-6.5 square, 4-5 tall | One ring on a slotted cushion |
| Earring box | 2-3 square, about 1 tall | 5-7.5 square, about 2.5 tall | Studs on a card, small drops |
| Pendant box | 3-3.5 square, about 1 tall | 7.5-9 square, about 2.5 tall | Pendant with the chain coiled |
| Bracelet box | About 8 × 2 × 1 | About 20 × 5 × 2.5 | A bracelet laid straight |
| Necklace box (flat) | About 8 × 6 × 1 | About 20 × 15 × 2.5 | A necklace laid out in a U |
| Bangle box | About 3.5-4 square, 1.5 tall | About 9-10 square, 4 tall | One or two bangles |
Cotton-filled boxes are sold by numbered sizes that differ between suppliers, so order by the inch dimensions, not by number. For shipping, a small padded mailer or the smallest stock shipping box that holds the gift box with padding keeps postage down.
Travel jewelry cases
- Roll cases are about 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm) long when open and roll to about 3 in across, with a ring bar, zip pockets and snap loops for chains.
- Zip cases of 4 to 7 in hold rings and earrings in fixed slots, which is the best way to keep pairs together.
- Pill-style cases with 7 to 14 small compartments work for studs and small rings.
Keep the travel case in carry-on luggage. Bag size limits are in the carry-on bag guide. For larger pieces at home, glass-front display cases are an alternative to a closed box, and round hat boxes are sometimes used for bulky costume jewelry.
Frequently asked questions
What size jewelry box do I need?
Count your pieces by type. Up to about 20 pieces fit a small 8 in box with one tray; 20 to 60 pieces need a 10 to 12 in box with two or three tiers; beyond that, or if you own many long necklaces, choose a box with a tall necklace side or an armoire.
How deep should a ring compartment be?
At least 1 in (25 mm) for plain bands and about 1.25 in (32 mm) for engagement rings and other rings with raised stones, so the ring stands in its slot without the stone pressing against the lid.
What size box fits a necklace for a gift?
A pendant on a chain fits a square box of about 3 to 3.5 in (76 to 89 mm) with the chain coiled around an insert. A necklace that should lie flat and full length needs a long box, typically about 8 × 6 in or larger.
What size is a ring box?
Gift ring boxes are usually about 2 to 2.5 in (51 to 64 mm) square and 1.5 to 2 in tall when closed, with a slotted cushion. A single engagement ring box is often slightly smaller in footprint and taller.
Can a jewelry box go in carry-on luggage?
Yes. Travel jewelry cases of 4 to 7 in fit easily, and keeping valuable jewelry in carry-on rather than checked baggage is the usual advice. See the carry-on bag size guide for bag limits.