In the United States, a wedding ring goes on the fourth finger of the left hand, the finger between your middle finger and your little finger, which is why it's called the ring finger. The engagement ring goes on the same finger, and most people wear both rings there together after the wedding. Men in the US traditionally wear their wedding band on the same finger, too.
That's the custom, not a rule. In several countries, including Germany, Russia, Poland, Greece and India, it's common to wear the wedding ring on the right hand instead. Many people also choose a different finger for comfort or for practical reasons.
Which finger is the ring finger?
The ring finger is the fourth finger, counting your thumb as the first. On the left hand, it's the finger traditionally reserved for engagement and wedding rings. The same finger on your right hand is also often called the ring finger, but in the US a ring worn there doesn't usually signal marriage.
What hand does the engagement ring go on?
In the US, the engagement ring goes on the left hand, on the ring finger. When you propose, it's the left ring finger the ring is slid onto.
After the wedding, most people keep the engagement ring on the same finger and wear the wedding band with it. The traditional order puts the wedding band on first, closest to the hand, with the engagement ring on top. For the full etiquette, including what to do with the engagement ring on the wedding day, see how to wear your engagement ring and wedding band.
Left or right hand? Wedding ring customs by country
Which hand you wear a wedding ring on depends largely on where you live, and on your family's religious and cultural traditions.
Left hand. Where it's common: The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland, and much of Western culture.
Right hand. Where it's common: Germany, Austria, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria and Greece; also common in India.
Customs can vary within a country, too, depending on religion, region and family. In Germany and Austria, for example, couples traditionally wear their engagement rings on the left hand and then wear their wedding rings on the right hand once they're married.
What hand does a wedding ring go on in America? The left hand. In the US, both partners traditionally wear their wedding rings on the left ring finger.
Why is the wedding ring on the left hand?
The best-known explanation goes back to ancient Rome. It was believed that a vein, the vena amoris or "vein of love", ran directly from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart. A ring on that finger was therefore the closest a ring could be to the heart.
Modern anatomy doesn't support the idea: the veins of the ring finger are no different from those of the other fingers. The tradition stayed anyway. A more practical reason is often given as well: most people are right-handed, so a ring on the left hand is exposed to less day-to-day wear.
Where do married men wear their rings?
In the US, married men traditionally wear their wedding band on the fourth finger of the left hand, the same finger as their partner. Wedding rings for both spouses became widespread in the US and Canada during the twentieth century. In right-hand countries, men usually follow the right-hand custom.
Can you wear your wedding ring on a different finger?
Yes. There's no rule that says you have to use the left ring finger, and people choose other fingers or the other hand for many reasons:
Comfort or work. Some jobs and sports make a ring on the dominant hand, or on a particular finger, impractical.
Being left-handed. Some left-handed people prefer the right hand for the same reason most people choose the left.
Culture or family. Following the custom of the country or tradition you come from.
Personal choice. Some couples simply prefer another finger.
Rings worn on other fingers can carry their own meanings, from the thumb to the little finger. For what a ring on each finger can signify, see ring finger meanings.
Getting the ring size right for the ring finger
Ring sizes can differ between your left and right hands, and between fingers, so measure the exact finger the ring will be worn on. If you move a ring to the other hand, check that it still fits. Here's how to measure your ring size at home.
Choosing rings for the ring finger
If you're choosing an engagement ring or wedding band for that left ring finger, explore engagement rings and wedding bands to pair with it.
About the author
House of Diams. The team behind House of Diams shares insights into bespoke engagement rings, diamond selection, and the process of bringing a ring design to life.
