Types of Earrings for Men: Every Style, and How to Wear It

Earrings on men stopped being a statement a long time ago. Now they're just another piece you wear, like a chain or a ring. The only real question is which type.

That's where it gets confusing, because the names overlap and most guides are written for women's jewellery. This one isn't. Here's every type of men's earring, what each one looks like on, which ear to wear it in, and how to choose your first pair without overthinking it.

The simplest place to start: a plain stud. Featured: the Round Stud in silver.

Jump to:

• Every type of earring, at a glance
• Studs: the easiest place to start
• Hoops and huggies
• Charm hoops, for something with meaning
• Which ear to wear an earring in
• How to choose your first earring
• What our earrings are made of
• FAQs

Types of Earrings at a Glance

Studs

The stud is the most worn men's earring there is, and the easiest to get right. It's a small front that sits flat on the lobe, fixed to a thin post that passes through the piercing, and held in place by a back. It doesn't swing, catch or get in the way, which is why it's the one most men wear every day.

A stud is a front, a post and a back. Featured: the Round Stud.

Studs come in three broad styles:

• Plain metal: a simple polished shape, like our Round Stud. The most versatile option, and it goes with everything.
• Stone-set: a single stone, or a cluster, held in a metal setting. Our Diamond Stud uses a clean four-prong setting that leaves more of the stone exposed, while the Crown Diamond Stud lifts it in an eight-prong crown for more shine.
• Symbol studs: a small shape with meaning, like the Cross Stud, or the Diamond Cross Stud if you want the symbol with some sparkle. For more on what the cross means, see why men wear cross necklaces.

A single stone in a four-prong setting. Featured: the Diamond Stud in silver.

Why start here: a stud is small enough that nobody notices it until they're close, which makes it the lowest-risk way to find out whether you like wearing earrings. If you do, everything else builds from it.

More setting, more light. Featured: the Crown Diamond Stud.

Hoops and Huggies

A hoop is a ring of metal that passes through the lobe. On men, the hoops that get worn most are small ones, sitting close to the ear rather than hanging from it. The tightest-fitting version has its own name: the huggie, a small, thick hoop that hugs the lobe.

A small hoop that sits close to the lobe. Featured: the Rounded Hoop in silver.

Most small hoops open on a hinge and click shut, so there's no separate back to lose. That's a big part of why they're so easy to live with. Once it's in, you forget about it.

Most small hoops open on a hinge and click closed. Featured: the Cuban Hoop.

The difference between hoops is mostly in the profile:

• Rounded: a smooth, classic shape. Our Rounded Hoop is the simplest hoop we make.
• Chunky: a wider profile with more weight, like the Chunky Hoop.
• Link and textured: the Cuban Hoop brings our signature Cuban link to an earring, and the Melted Hoop uses sculpted, irregular contours that catch the light.
• Stone-set: a single row of stones around the front of the hoop, like the Diamond Hoop.

The Cuban link, in earring form. Featured: the Cuban Hoop.

If you already wear a Cuban chain, a Cuban hoop is an easy way to tie the look together. Our guide on how to style a Cuban link chain covers the rest.

Texture instead of a stone. Featured: the Melted Hoop.

Charm Hoops

A charm hoop is a small hoop with a drop hanging from it. It sits somewhere between a hoop and a dangle earring: more movement than a plain hoop, but short enough to wear every day.

The charm is usually a symbol, and that's the point of wearing one. The Cross Earring is finished with a sculpted cross, the Arrow Earring carries an arrowhead for momentum and moving forward, and the Dagger Earring is a symbol of strength and courage. If you'd wear the symbol on a chain, it'll probably work in your ear too.

Other Types of Earrings

These are the types you'll see around, but that most men don't start with:

• Dangle or drop earrings: longer pieces that hang below the lobe. They make more of a statement, but they catch on collars and headphones, so they tend to be occasion pieces.
• Ear cuffs: a band that wraps around the outer edge of the ear and needs no piercing. A way to try the look before you commit.
• Plugs and tunnels: cylinders worn in a stretched lobe. Plugs are solid, tunnels are hollow. They're a separate world from standard earrings and only fit stretched piercings.
• Clip-on and magnetic earrings: grip the lobe without a piercing. Easy to try, but they rarely feel as secure as the real thing.

Which Ear Should a Man Wear an Earring In?

Either. There was a time when people read meaning into whether a man wore an earring in his left or right ear, but that idea has faded, and today nobody reads anything into it at all.

If you want a way to decide, pick the side people see most. That might be the side you part your hair, or the ear that faces outward in photos. Otherwise, go with the ear that feels right.

One earring or two?

Both are completely normal. A matching pair looks balanced and considered. A single earring looks relaxed and a little more individual. Plenty of men mix it up too, with a stud in one ear and a hoop in the other.

If you only have one piercing, or you're not sure yet, start with one. That's why our earrings can be bought as a single or a pair.

How to Choose Your First Earring

Keep it simple. Four things make the decision easy:

• Start small. A small stud or a close-fitting hoop suits almost everyone and works with every outfit.
• Match your metal. If you wear silver chains and rings, start with a silver earring. If you wear gold, go gold. Our guide to gold or silver jewellery covers how to mix them if you want to.
• Think about your day. If you train, wear headphones or work with your hands, a stud or huggie will stay out of the way. Save anything that hangs for evenings.
• Choose the style you'd wear anyway. Plain if you keep things minimal, stone-set if you like a bit of shine, a charm if there's a symbol that means something to you.

One important note: if your piercing is new, leave in the jewellery your piercer fitted until it has fully healed, and take any questions about healing to your piercer or a GP. Fashion earrings, ours included, are for healed piercings.

What Our Earrings Are Made Of

What an earring is made of matters more than what it looks like, because it's the one piece of jewellery that passes through your skin. Most reactions to an earring come from the metal that touches the ear, and nickel is the usual cause.

That's why our stone-set earrings split the job. The front has a solid alloy core, because a stone setting needs metal that can be worked around the stone and closed securely, and it's finished in rhodium or real 18K gold with AAA-grade cubic zirconia. The post and the back, the parts that go through and sit against your ear, are solid stainless steel, which releases very little nickel.

Because the core is an alloy, take stone-set earrings out before you shower or swim, and dry them if they get wet. Our guide on whether jewellery can get wet explains how every metal handles water.

If you have a diagnosed severe metal allergy, speak to a piercer about implant-grade titanium. For keeping earrings clean, and why it matters more than most people think, see our guides to how to clean earrings and how to clean earring holes.

Men and Earrings: A Short History

Men have worn earrings for thousands of years, across cultures and continents, as a mark of status, faith, belonging or simply style. In the 20th century, musicians and athletes brought them into the mainstream, and they've never really left.

What has changed is the shape. The bold, hanging styles of a few decades ago have given way to studs and small hoops, pieces a man can wear every day without thinking about it. Our look at men's jewellery trends covers why the small shapes won.

Men's Earrings: FAQs

What types of earrings are there for men?

The main types are studs, which sit flat on the lobe on a post; hoops and huggies, which circle the lobe; and charm hoops, which are small hoops with a drop hanging from them. Less common types include dangle earrings, ear cuffs, plugs or tunnels for stretched lobes, and clip-on or magnetic earrings for unpierced ears.

What is the best earring for a guy to start with?

A small stud or a small hoop. A plain metal stud is the most versatile earring there is, and a small hoop that sits close to the lobe is the next step. Both work with everything, and neither needs any styling thought.

Which ear should a guy wear an earring in?

Either. The old idea that one ear carried a particular meaning has faded, and today it comes down to preference. Many men choose the ear that faces outward in photos, or the side they part their hair.

Is it OK for a man to wear two earrings?

Yes. A matching pair is common, and mixing a stud in one ear with a hoop in the other is just as normal. If you're new to earrings, one is an easy start, which is why our earrings can be bought as a single or a pair.

What is the difference between a hoop and a huggie?

A huggie is a small, thick hoop that sits tight against the lobe, so it 'hugs' the ear. A hoop is the broader term and can hang lower. Most men's hoops are huggie-sized, because they are comfortable to wear every day.

Can I wear fashion earrings in a new piercing?

No. A fresh piercing should keep the jewellery your piercer fitted until it has fully healed, and any questions about healing should go to your piercer or a GP. Change to fashion earrings, ours included, once it has settled.

Are stone-set earrings OK for sensitive ears?

On our stone-set earrings, the post and back, the parts that pass through and sit against the ear, are solid stainless steel, which releases very little nickel. If you have a diagnosed severe allergy, speak to a piercer about implant-grade titanium.

How do I clean my earrings?

Wipe the post and back regularly with a soft cloth and a little mild soap and water, then dry them fully. Our guide to cleaning earrings covers every type, including stone-set pieces.

Where to Go From Here

Start with a stud or a small hoop, in the metal you already wear, and build from there. It's the easiest piece of jewellery to add and one of the hardest to stop wearing.

Explore our full men's earrings collection, or see how earrings fit into a wider look in our guide to men's jewellery styles.