What to buy, at a glance
| Best for | What to look for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Most common length | 14g titanium industrial barbell, 38 mmOne body jewelry retailer calls 38 mm the standard wearable length. Titanium is lighter than steel on a long bar.
| Check price |
| Shorter bar | 14g titanium industrial barbell, 32 mmOur industrial page gives 32 to 38 mm. Measure the bar you are wearing before you choose.
| Check price |
| Healed: decorative | 14g decorative industrial barbellBars with shapes in the middle are for healed piercings only. Check the metal and the wearable length.
| Check price |
Each button opens an Amazon search, not one product we have tested. Check that the listing states the gauge, size and material, such as ASTM F136 titanium. Amazon shows the current price. As an Amazon Associate, Best Piercing earns from qualifying purchases.
An industrial uses one straight barbell through two holes in the upper ear, usually 14 gauge and 32 to 38 mm long. Length is what matters most when you buy, because a bar that does not suit the distance between the holes puts pressure on both.
We found no medical or APP page written about industrial jewelry in particular. The general rules below come from the Association of Professional Piercers (APP), the sizes come from our own industrial page and retailer BodyCandy, and we say which is which. Details are as read in November 2026.
Size
| Measurement | Usual size | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge | 14g (1.6 mm) | Our industrial page, BodyCandy |
| Length | 32 to 38 mm | Our industrial page |
| “Standard” length | 38 mm (1 1/2 inches) | BodyCandy, a retailer |
Industrials are pierced at 14 gauge rather than 16 because a longer bar needs the rigidity. BodyCandy says to measure the post between the balls, not including them, so check that a listing means the same thing. The APP says jewelry must suit your anatomy, so your piercer’s measurement beats any standard size.
On Amazon14g titanium industrial barbellsCheck the listing states the gauge, size and material.
Check priceMaterial
For a new piercing, the APP looks for implant-certified titanium that is ASTM F-136 compliant, and steel that meets specific standards. BodyCandy sells both 316L surgical steel and implant-grade titanium, along with anodized titanium in colored finishes and some acrylic designs. The materials guide explains what those labels guarantee.
Our industrial page’s point is about weight: a long steel bar is noticeably heavier than the same bar in titanium, and it sits on two channels all day.
Decorative bars
BodyCandy sells arrows, swords, glow-in-the-dark bars, opals and dangles. All of these are for healed piercings. A shape in the middle of the bar adds weight and something to catch on hair. The APP says some plastic and other alternative materials may not be safe for sports or sleep, so check what a novelty bar is made of.
On Amazon14g decorative industrial barbellsCheck the listing states the gauge, size and material.
Check priceWhen you can change it
BodyCandy says to wait until both piercings have fully healed and your piercer gives the all-clear. Our page gives 9 to 12 months, and industrial piercing healing time compares sources. BodyCandy’s own figure is 3 to 9 months or more per piercing, which is shorter, so go by how your ear looks and what your piercer says.
Two holes, one bar
Both holes share one piece of jewelry. BodyCandy says the connected bar can transfer pressure between them, so a knock or a bar that is too short affects both. It also says not everyone’s ear can take a straight bar, and that some piercers heal two separate studs and connect the bar later.
If one hole is sore while the other is fine, leave it in and see your piercer. Our infected cartilage piercing guide explains when to see a doctor instead.
Frequently asked questions
What size is an industrial barbell?
Usually 14 gauge (1.6 mm). Our industrial page gives 32 to 38 mm for the length, and retailer BodyCandy calls 38 mm (1 1/2 inches) the standard wearable length. Ears differ, so measure your own bar or ask your piercer.
How do you measure an industrial barbell?
Measure the post between the balls, not including them. That wearable length is what listings should state. Have a piercer do it if you cannot measure it with the bar in your ear.
Can I change my industrial barbell myself?
Only once both holes have fully healed and your piercer has agreed. BodyCandy says the same. Our page puts healing at 9 to 12 months, and the connected bar can pass pressure from one hole to the other.
What material is best for an industrial?
Implant-grade titanium meeting ASTM F-136 is what the APP looks for in a new piercing. On a bar this long, our industrial page also notes that titanium is noticeably lighter than steel.
Can an industrial be pierced as two separate studs?
BodyCandy says some piercers heal the two holes as separate studs and connect the bar later. Ask your piercer, since not everyone's ear suits a straight bar.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for healed piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-healed-piercings/
- BodyCandy - Industrial piercing jewelryhttps://www.bodycandy.com/collections/industrial-piercing
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.