How to choose glasses for a wide face
If glasses squeeze your temples, the frame front may be too narrow. Choosing a larger lens number alone may not solve it, because total frame width varies by design.
Measure the frame, not just the label
Compare the manufacturer's total front width in millimeters when available. The common three-number marking refers to lens width, bridge width, and temple length—not overall frame width.
Fit checks
- Temples should not press painfully into the sides of your head
- Frames should not slide excessively when you look down
- Lens placement and prescription requirements should be checked with an optician
Learn how to read glasses sizes before comparing frames. Head wider than most frames? See glasses for big heads, with frames over 150 mm wide.
Why a bigger lens number is not the answer
Lens width is the horizontal size of one lens opening, in millimetres. A frame marked 54 can still be narrow across the front if the rims are thin and the bridge is small, and a frame marked 52 can be wide if it has thick rims or hinges that stick out. When a face is wide at the temples, the number that matters is the total width across the front, from the outer edge of one hinge to the other. Stores that publish it usually call it "frame width" or "total width".
Find your target width
The easiest target is a pair that already fits. Lay it face-up, open the arms, and measure the front at its widest point with a millimetre ruler; our guide to measuring frame width at home has the steps. Frames within a few millimetres of that number are a good first filter. If every pair you own feels tight, look for frames a few millimetres wider than your tightest pair and try those first, rather than jumping to the largest size.
What else to check besides width
- Arm length: the third number in a marking such as 52-18-140 is the arm (temple) length in millimetres. Arms commonly run from about 135 to 150 mm; longer arms reach further behind a larger head, but they do not widen the front.
- Hinge position: the arms attach at the outer corners of the front. A front that sits wider than your temples lets the arms run straight back instead of angling inward.
- Bridge width: a wide frame with a bridge that is too wide for your nose can slide down. See the low-bridge guide if glasses slip.
- Adjustability: an optician can bend metal arms and adjust nose pads slightly, but cannot add width to a front that is too narrow.
Try frames on your face
Compare frames for free with FitMyFace. Virtual sizing is approximate; an optician should confirm prescription and final fit.
Comparing named frames across stores? Explore public retailer model listings and published lens-width numbers. Lens width is not total frame width and cannot verify face fit or local stock.
Glasses resting on your cheeks instead? Read what causes it and what helps.
Questions
How do I know if a frame is too narrow?
Signs include marks or pressure at the temples after an hour or two, arms that bend outward, and a front that sits inside the width of your face. Measure a comfortable pair and compare total frame width in millimetres.
Is a wide face the same as a big head?
Not exactly. A wide face can need a wider front, while a larger head may also need longer arms. Both are covered in glasses for big heads.
Can an optician stretch narrow frames?
An optician can adjust the arms and nose pads a little, but a front that is too narrow cannot be widened safely. Choose the right width first. FitMyFace is for adults 18 and over and is not available in Illinois.
Know your number? See the catalog's frames 145 to 149 mm wide and 150 mm and wider, or every width and shape.