How much money should you spend on a wedding ring, exactly? We’ll tell you how much a wedding ring really costs. We’ll cover how much a woman’s wedding ring cost vs a man’s wedding ring cost and explain how to save money on both. Read on for more and subscribe for the latest!
If you’re wondering how money much to spend on a wedding ring, you’ve come to the right place!
• Don’t overpay or you’ll waste money on something that could cost less
• Don’t underpay or you’ll risk getting poor quality on an item that should last forever
It can be tricky to know the happy middle: exactly how much money to pay for a wedding ring. That’s where we come in!
In this blog post, we’ll show you exactly how much money to spend on a wedding ring so you don’t make a mistake.
Let’s get started: you have some ring shopping to do!
*NOTE: In this article, we’re focusing on how much money to spend on a wedding ring, not an engagement ring, which we tackle here. This solely relates to wedding bands.
How Much Money Should You Spend on a Wedding Ring?
This question came to us from Mila who is planning her wedding and is tackling the topic of wedding day jewelry. She wants to know how much to spend on a wedding ring so she doesn’t overspend or underspend on The Ring that will be worn (with her engagement ring) forever. She writes,
“Dear Emmaline Bride, I’m shopping for my wedding ring but I’m so lost. There are many different price points and I’m curious, how much should you spend on a wedding ring exactly? I know the engagement ring costs more and I’m looking for just a simple wedding ring that has small diamonds or maybe no diamonds at all. I also have no idea how much money to spend on a wedding ring for my groom. He just wants a simple band. Please let me know how much wedding rings cost so I have some idea what the price point should be for my wedding ring and my groom’s ring. Thank you!”
Hi Mila, thanks so much for writing! What a great question.
How much should money you spend on a wedding ring really, in short, is up to you!
You’re right: there’s a massive difference in the cost of wedding ring vs. engagement ring, yet some people think they need to spend a lot of money on a wedding ring just for the sake of getting superior quality.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect to spend anywhere from $150 to $4,000+ on a wedding band. However, most couples spend approximately $300 to $2000 on wedding rings. That is a HUGE range of prices, am I right? That’s because when it comes down to it, how much you should spend on a wedding ring depends largely on these three factors.
If you really want just a band — no gold, no frills, no nothing — you can spend as low as $20, like this. It’s that simple.
1. Budget
Ah yes, that sneaky B word that keeps popping up while planning your wedding: budget. Your own individual budget and how much you’re comfortable spending on wedding rings will determine how much you have allocated to spend.
2. Metal, Width, and Materials
If you are looking for a fancy wedding ring, you can expect to pay more. This means a specialized wedding ring with pave stones, diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, etc. will cost more than a simple band, period.
The width of the band will also determine the price of your wedding ring since more material is used to make a thicker wedding ring.
Finally, any extras such as engraving, a unique metal, or a curved wedding band to fit with an engagement ring stone will likely add to the overall cost of your wedding ring.
3. Brand
If you are particular about the brand you buy, you may pay more based on their typical costs. A well-known jeweler may price their wedding rings higher simply because they can, whereas you may get a deal from a lesser-known designer on Etsy with superb quality, as marketing costs are less and they pass on the discounts to their customers.
PRO TIP: Sometimes you can get a better deal if you buy wedding ring sets for you as a couple vs. buying them individually. Here’s a beautiful set from Capucinne as one example. The price of the wedding ring set shown here is $2120 but it is made with real gold and the women’s ring has diamonds.
The Best Advice Before You Spend Money on Wedding Rings
What is the best advice? Read reviews. If a wedding ring costs less than you may think and you’re getting too good of a deal, it’s probably not the best quality. Read reviews online first and then make an informed decision. This is very important if you’re going to spend money on a wedding ring online, as you’re choosing one seller from thousands of sellers on the web. You want to make sure your wedding ring is made to last, whether you’re spending a small fortune or buying an affordable wedding band. It’s still your wedding ring and it should last for an eternity. :)
The cost of wedding rings differs greatly, thanks in part to the massive competition online. With the ability to shop by price on a multitude of websites, couples are able to spend an amount that is comfortable with their budget and find exactly what they want, whether that means a set of expensive wedding rings or an affordable wedding ring set.
How Much DO Wedding Rings Cost?
On average, simple gold wedding rings for women cost anywhere from $200 and upwards, whereas a micro pave wedding band may cost around $600 and up.
The cost of a woman’s wedding ring really depends on what you’re looking for: diamonds? Moissanite? Lab-grown diamonds? Gemstones? A plain band? The amount of money you can expect to spend on a wedding ring varies on those extras, as well as the width of the ring. Is it a thick wedding band or skinny fit? This will impact the total cost.
Here’s an example of a gorgeous pave wedding band with a pricetag of $639 (currently on sale from $799) by DiaFineJewelry.
If you want a cheap wedding ring, the best choice is a simple gold band. I do think you should go for real gold, rather than sterling silver or alternatives because you want the ring to last (and not tarnish so quickly).
I love this example of a simple real gold wedding band for her. It’s by one of my favorite Etsy sellers, MeltemJewelry. Her work is incredible and the prices of her wedding rings are affordable based on the amazing quality. This ring costs $140.
This next gold ring costs $245 but it is thicker and has a hammered effect. Also by MeltemJewelry.
Want to spend money on a wedding ring with diamonds? Sure thing: this gorgeous band costs only $280 for amazing quality. By MeltemJewelry.
On the other hand, you can choose a cheaper wedding ring and opt for plated for as low as under $30. This is an example from ArtfulRings. If your budget is on the more affordable side, there is an option! To some, how much money to spend on a wedding ring is very affordable, and that’s OK, too. It is a symbol of your love, now how much money you have.
The overall price of wedding rings will differ even depending on shop to shop, as you’ll see in the examples below. It’s all about what you imagine wanting to wear every day and which style of wedding ring suits YOU best.
Wedding Ring Cost and Examples
We rounded up some examples of wedding rings and their prices to show you real examples. Let’s begin with this stunning one for him from a shop on Etsy we adore.
This is a 14k gold wedding band for him and it costs $350+. It is a stunning piece that is handmade by Capucinne.
Here’s another by the same brand — Capucinne — with a nice thick band that costs $823. I love this rose gold look.
As you can imagine, for men’s rings, we’re finding the general range varies greatly. If you choose real gold, it costs more; moreover, if you opt for an alternative to gold, it simply costs less.
For instance, we spotted this beautiful brushed silver men’s wedding ring at BellyssaJewelry and it is on sale at 70% off at time of post ($56 but normally $189).
This unique tungsten and whiskey barrel wedding ring will only cost around $35 thanks to another awesome sale, but otherwise has a great price itself at $70 from TylianStudio.
For real 14k gold and gorgeous polished titanium, plus special features like this engraved mountain (how cool!) will cost more money, but is a very nice choice. It is currently priced at $350+ and is made by RuggedRingwear.
Personally, I think it is better to pay more money for quality real gold since it will last longer. However, if it’s not your style, or you want to spend less, that’s completely up to you.
How Much Should a Woman’s Wedding Ring Cost?
You can expect to pay $100-$1000+ on a wedding ring for women. What is reasonable to spend on a ring? I’d say anything in the $100 to $400 range, but that’s personal preference. If I wanted to add diamonds, I’d estimate a reasonable price to pay for a wedding ring is $1000.
This will vary greatly but depends largely on the materials you use to create it.
High-quality wedding rings made of real gold will cost more, as adding any gemstones or diamonds to them will increase the amount of money you spend, too. However, that’s not a deterrent: it’s your ring, so you should choose the kind of ring that makes you happy and is the one you want to wear every day.
If you want a truly unique, high-quality wedding ring made of real gold, here’s an example of exactly how much it costs. You can get a handmade 18k gold custom wedding ring for $1100+ from ZadokGold and it looks like this:
If you’d like a thin wedding band made with high-quality materials and a gemstone — i.e., jade — check out this gorgeous ring by Capucinne which costs roughly $650.
If you’d like to add diamonds, it costs more but I think it is aligned closely with the amazing quality. This is another style by Capucinne and is a vintage-style wedding ring starting at $750+.
The bottom line is this: you can easily spend anywhere from $150 to $2000+ on a wedding ring. If you shop local, handmade artists, you can expect to perhaps spend more than a big box store, simply because they do not overprice them because they are for a wedding. To top it off, you can support a local business and pay them directly, while getting a one-of-a-kind ring that is made for you.
Moreover, being a part of the handmade process is fun as you get to work with the artist one-on-one.
You should always look to the style and material you want first, then work your way around budget. Sometimes, how much money you spend on a wedding ring really correlates to how much is in your budget and frankly, you are able to shop on ANY budget nowaways thanks to the internet.
I know the answer is all over the place but, in my opinion, pay a little more if you’re able to for quality. That’s what is most important, as you want the ring to last.
How Much is Too Much for a Wedding Ring?
That’s between you and your soon-to-be spouse to decide. Personally, I wouldn’t want to spend too much money on a ring I’m wearing on my hand that could easily get lost, stolen, or broken. Pick a nice style you like, one you want to wear, and go from there!
What is the Cheapest Wedding Ring on the Market?
If you want to spend as little money as possible, and you’re not a metal-wearing kind of person, go with silicone. While they’re nothing fancy, some couples swear by wearing these wedding rings that cost as low as $7.99. Really.
See? How much your wedding ring costs is totally up to you. :)
I hope it helps!
xo
Emma
