What Size Sunglasses for a Wide Face? 155mm+ Fit Guide
Stop pinching sunglasses. Wide faces (155mm+) need 155mm+ front width, a 20–22mm bridge and 150mm temples. Measure in 60 seconds and find frames that fit.
Published 2026-06-03 · 7 min read
What size sunglasses fit a wide face?
A face measuring 155–161 mm generally needs sunglasses with a total front width around 158 mm.
The same sizing logic applies to our extra wide sunglasses-ready frames with UV400 lens options.
A wide face (155 mm or more temple to temple) needs sunglasses with a 155-160 mm front width, a 20-22 mm bridge and temples of 148 mm or more. Most sunglasses stop at 140-148 mm, so they pinch within an hour. Bigger lenses do not fix it - only a wider front does.
The single most common question we get from wide-faced buyers is also the simplest: what size sunglasses do I actually need? The short answer fits in one line — a front width of 155 mm or more, a 20–22 mm bridge, and temples of at least 148 mm. The long answer is what this guide is for: how to read the three numbers on a sunglass frame, how to measure your own face in under a minute, and how to avoid the most common sizing mistake.
The one-line answer
If your face measures 155 mm or more across the temples, you want a sunglass frame with:
- Front width (hinge to hinge): 155 mm or more
- Bridge: 20–22 mm
- Temples: 148 mm or more
Anything narrower will pinch within an hour, leave marks behind your ears, and slide forward on your nose when you sweat. This is not a styling preference — it is mechanics. A 140 mm frame on a 158 mm face has nowhere for the temples to go but outward, and the hinges take all the load.
How to read the three numbers on a sunglass frame
Most frames print a string like 52□19 145 on the inside of the temple. That is lens width — bridge — temple length, all in millimetres. It tells you almost nothing useful for wide-face sizing, because the number that actually matters is missing: front width (hinge to hinge).
You can estimate front width as: (lens width × 2) + bridge + ~6 mm for the hinge area. So 52□19 means roughly 52 + 52 + 19 + 6 = 129 mm of front width — far too narrow for a 155 mm+ face. Or just ask the seller for the hinge-to-hinge measurement directly. Specialist wide-face brands publish it; mainstream brands usually do not.
How to measure your face in under a minute
You need one tool: a credit card (85.6 × 53.98 mm — same size globally) or a soft tape measure.
- Stand in front of a mirror in good light, looking straight ahead.
- Find the widest point of your face — usually across the cheekbones, just below your eyes.
- Hold the credit card flat and level against your forehead, just above the eyebrows, and take a straight-on photo at arm's length.
- On the photo, compare the card with your face at the widest point: face width = (face width ÷ card width) × 85.6 mm. A face 1.8 times wider than the card measures about 154 mm.
For a precise number, our AI Fit Wizard uses your phone camera and a credit card to give you a measurement accurate to within 2 mm. Or use the manual credit-card method if you prefer not to use the camera.
Wide-face sunglass size brackets
| Your face width | Sunglass front width | Bridge | What to buy |
|---|
| Under 150 mm | 135-148 mm | 17-19 mm | Any mainstream brand. |
| 150-154 mm (medium-wide) | 148-152 mm | 19-20 mm | Mainstream "wide fit" lines, e.g. Ray-Ban Justin XL. |
| 155-161 mm (wide) | 155-160 mm | 20-22 mm | Specialist wide-face brands. Woolet 007 and 009 run a 158 mm front, 21-22 mm keyhole bridge, 150 mm temples. |
| 162 mm and above (extra-wide) | 162 mm+ | 21-24 mm | Made to measure only - see Woolet Bespoke. |
The most common sizing mistake
The biggest mistake wide-faced buyers make is sizing up the lens instead of the frame. "Oversized" at most mainstream brands means a larger lens cut-out on the same 140 mm front. The lens looks big in product photos, but the frame still pinches your temples. Always ask for the front width (hinge to hinge). If the brand can't or won't tell you, that is the answer — it is not built for a wide face.
Bridge size matters more than you think
Bridge is the gap between the two lenses. Mainstream sunglasses use a 17–19 mm bridge, designed for a standard nose. Wider faces almost always come with wider noses — a 20–22 mm bridge sits the frame correctly on your nose pads, distributes weight evenly, and stops the frame riding up onto your cheekbones when you smile. Woolet uses a 21 mm keyhole bridge as standard, with bespoke options between 16 and 26 mm.
Quick FAQ
What size sunglasses are best for a wide face?
155 mm or more in front width (hinge to hinge), a 20–22 mm bridge, and temples of at least 148 mm. Below 155 mm front width, the frame will pinch — regardless of how big the lens looks.
How do I measure my face width for sunglasses?
Find the widest point of your face across the cheekbones. Use a credit card (85.6 mm) as a reference, or use the AI Fit Wizard for a precise measurement.
What does 52□19 145 mean on sunglasses?
Lens width — bridge — temple length, in millimetres. It does not tell you the front width (hinge to hinge), which is the number that actually decides whether a frame will fit a wide face. Ask the seller for hinge-to-hinge directly.
Are oversized sunglasses the same as wide-face sunglasses?
No. "Oversized" usually means a larger lens on a standard 140 mm front. Wide-face sunglasses scale the front width itself to 155 mm or more. See our 2026 oversized sunglasses guide for the difference in detail.
Where do I buy sunglasses that actually fit a wide face?
Specialist brands. Woolet 007 and 009 are 158 mm Italian-acetate sunglasses with bespoke from 145–172 mm. Sunglasses for big heads (158 mm) has the full collection.
Want one pair for indoors and outdoors? See glasses that turn into sunglasses - how photochromic lenses work on a wide face, and where they fall short.
Sunglasses for big heads — full collection | Oversized sunglasses for men | Woolet 007 (round) | Woolet 009 (square)