Blog · 30 Oct 2026 · Fit

Glasses for small faces: sizes, shapes and fit

Most frames are made for a medium face. On a small face, they look too big and slide down.

A frame too big for a small face, and one the right size The same face, 126 mm wide, drawn twice to scale. Dashed lines mark the edges of the face. On the left, a 140 mm frame sticks out past both lines, and the eyes sit near the nose side of each lens. On the right, a 128 mm frame ends at the lines, and the eyes sit near the centre of each lens. Too big Right size 140 mm frame. It sticks out. 128 mm frame. It ends at the face. Same face, 126 mm wide. Drawn to scale. Dashed line: edge of the face.
A frame for a medium face sticks out past a small one. Your eyes also sit near the nose side of each lens.

Do you have a small face?

Face width is the key number. Measure it from temple to temple, where the arms of your glasses pass.

Where to measure face width A photo of a woman facing the camera. A red line runs straight across her face just above her eyes, from one temple to the other. Next to the photo, three size bands: under 130 mm is small, 130 to 140 mm is medium, over 140 mm is wide. Measure here: temple to temple, with a flat ruler. Under 130 mm small 130 to 140 mm medium Over 140 mm wide
Hold a ruler flat, just above your eyes. Read it from one temple to the other.

Your glasses can tell you too. These are signs a frame is too big:

For a real case, see glasses too big for your face.

The sizes to look for

Check four numbers. They are in mm, on the product page or inside the arm.

NumberSmall faceMost frames
Total width126 to 132 mm131 to 140 mm
Lens width46 to 50 mm50 to 54 mm
Bridge width14 to 17 mm16 to 19 mm
Arm length130 to 135 mm135 to 145 mm

These are a guide, not a rule. Brands use the word small in different ways.

The three frame numbers for a small face The size stamp 50, square, 16, 135, as printed inside a frame arm. Under each number is its name and the range for a small face: lens width 46 to 50 mm, bridge 14 to 17 mm, arm length 130 to 135 mm. Below, the sum 50 plus 50 plus 16 plus 12 gives about 128 mm in total. 50 16 135 Lens width Bridge Arm length 46 to 50 mm 14 to 17 mm 130 to 135 mm 50 + 50 + 16 + 12 = about 128 mm wide The 12 mm is for the rims and hinges. A small-face size.
A 50□16 135 frame is about 128 mm wide. That suits a face of about 126 to 130 mm.

No total width on the page? Use the sum above.

More in frame numbers explained and the glasses size chart.

Shapes that suit a small face

Pick a frame that lets your face show. Light, fine lines do this best.

A thin rim and a thick rim on the same face The same man in two pairs of glasses of about the same width. On the left, a thin metal frame with a tortoise top bar. His cheeks and brows still show. On the right, a thick black square frame. It is taller and covers more of his face. Thin rim Thick rim Light. The face shows. Heavy. It hides more face.
Same face, about the same width. The thick black rim looks bigger and covers more.

What to avoid

Small bridges and nose pads

Many small faces have a narrow or low nose bridge. A flat plastic bridge may not grip it.

Then the frame sits low. You end up looking over the top of the lenses.

A wide bridge sits low, nose pads hold the frame up Two drawings of eyes and a nose with glasses. On the left, the bridge of the frame is too wide for the nose. The frame has slid down, so the pupils sit near the top edge of the lenses. On the right, two nose pads rest on the sides of the nose. The frame sits higher, and the pupils are near the centre of the lenses. Bridge too wide Nose pads It slides down. You look over the top. Pads hold it up. Eyes near the centre. White dot: pupil. Red: nose pads.
A bridge too wide lets the frame drop. Nose pads rest on your nose and hold it up.
Thin metal frame with nose pads A close photo of a woman in thin metal cat-eye glasses. Red circles mark the two nose pads, which rest on the sides of her nose. Nose pads They rest on the sides of the nose. A thin metal rim keeps the frame light on a small face.
Thin metal rims and nose pads. The pads keep the frame up on a narrow nose.

Where to find small sizes

Not sure how a frame should sit? See how glasses should fit.

How SpecFit helps

SpecFit is a free iPhone app. It measures your face with the Face ID depth camera.

SpecFit results screen with face width, PD and bridge drawn on a photo
Face width and PD on your photo. This one is a photo estimate.
SpecFit fit check screen with a match score and a width bar for a frame
A fit check scores the width against your face.
Check your size Measure your face width on your iPhone

One guided scan on a Face ID iPhone. Then check any frame against your face.

Download SpecFit

Questions

What size glasses fit a small face?

Look for frames about 126 to 132 mm wide. Most have lenses of 46 to 50 mm.

What face width counts as small?

Under about 130 mm, temple to temple. Most frames are made for 130 to 140 mm.

Can adults wear kids glasses?

Yes, if the numbers fit. Large kids and teen sizes can suit a small adult face.

How do I stop glasses sliding down a small nose?

Pick a narrow bridge or a frame with nose pads. An optician can bend the pads to fit.

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