Wedding rings are special. Not only are they symbolic of the event itself—you slide them on once you’ve actually tied the knot—but you wear yours for life. It signals your love and commitment to your person: that you’re locked in to each other forever.
That’s why, for many couples, choosing their wedding rings isn’t a decision taken lightly. Your ring should reflect your style and personality, whether that’s unique and distinctive or classic and understated. But how much should you expect to spend on it?
There is an average amount that people spend, but costs can vary wildly depending on a bunch of things, from design to materials and more. We’ve broken it all down for you below.
Contents
What’s the average cost of a wedding ring in the UK?
How much is a gold wedding ring?
How much is a diamond wedding ring?
How much is a platinum wedding ring?
What influences the price of a wedding ring?
Wedding ring vs engagement ring prices
How much does it cost to get a wedding ring resized?
How much does it cost to get a wedding ring engraved?
How much should I spend on my wedding ring?
What’s the average cost of a wedding ring in the UK?
According to Hitched, the average cost of a wedding ring is about £1,400 in the UK. But other estimates are lower: jeweller Austen & Blake puts the figure at £300-950.
It really depends on what sort of ring you’re buying. For example, designer brands generally charge more, while ornate designs will come at a premium. But there is something out there for everyone, no matter your budget. Remember that it doesn’t really matter how much the ring costs: it’s about what it means and represents to you.
Here’s a rough idea of wedding ring price ranges:
Budget-friendly
You can find simple bands made without gemstones for a few hundred pounds. For instance, a thin, plain gold ring could be as little as £150. Here, you’ll likely be looking at high-street jewellers.
Another option is to find a pre-loved wedding ring. There’s brands that re-sell rings like that—just have a Google and they’ll pop up. Pre-loved rings are usually significantly cheaper than buying something new.
Mid-range
These rings might use more expensive materials and have some more unique design elements. They might even incorporate smaller stones. Typically, rings in this range would come from smaller, independent jewellers.
You might spend about £500 to get a platinum or higher-carat gold ring. Broadly, rings within this range might cost £800-3,000.
Premium
At the higher end of the market, you’re looking at rings made with expensive precious metals and stones (like diamonds), plus bespoke designs and craftwork, by luxury designers. The sky is really the limit here for how much you want to spend: we’ve seen some rings priced at £10,000 or higher.
For these sorts of rings, you would likely pay at least a few thousand pounds.
How much is a gold wedding ring?
As a rule of thumb, materials that are harder (and, therefore, more durable) are going to be more expensive. Per Bridebook, for a plain 9ct white gold wedding ring, you might pay between £150-400 (depending on the band size). Costs go up if you use more gold to make the ring and if the gold is purer (i.e. it has a higher carat).
How much is a diamond wedding ring?
As they say: diamonds are a girl’s best friend. It’s usually engagement rings that are more associated with diamonds, but plenty of people choose to have them on their wedding bands, too.
Here, costs hinge on the quality and size of the rock. For example, for a 1ct diamond ring, you might pay between £3,000-10,000, depending on the quality of the diamond. Though some jewellers provide options from around the £1,200 mark.
It can be cheaper to use a lab-grown diamond in your ring. As the name suggests, these are made in a lab rather than mined from the earth, but are no less gorgeous. They’re also kinder to the planet.
How much is a platinum wedding ring?
Of the precious metals, platinum is the most durable option that’s used in jewellery. That means it won’t easily scratch or show signs of wear. But that’s also why it comes with a higher price tag.
Again, costs will vary depending on the band size and metal purity. But you could get one from around £300-400, with prices increasing up to £2,000+.
What influences the price of a wedding ring?
There’s a few reasons why wedding ring prices vary so much.
Materials
Perhaps the most obvious is the material your wedding ring is made from. The most popular choices are precious metals, including gold, silver, and platinum. They’re rare and valuable, and their price reflects that.
Of the metals typically used in wedding bands, platinum is the most expensive. It’s denser (heavier) than gold and harder to get. It’s also resistant to damage and hypoallergenic.
Gold is probably the most popular choice. It’s more affordable than platinum but you may need to get your ring re-plated over the years to maintain its sheen (especially if it’s white gold).
And then there’s silver, which is generally a more wallet-friendly option. However, it’s a softer metal, which means that it’s more susceptible to damage.
You’ll generally pay more for a metal that’s purer in grade (with a higher carat).
Ring size
The bigger the ring—i.e., the thicker the band—the more material you use. That means you’ll pay more.
Design
Simpler designs tend to be cheaper than more ornate ones. If you have jewels set into the band, have engravings, filigree, or a uniquely-shaped band, it’s likely to cost more.
For example, wedding rings done in a vintage style are generally pricier (and they’re rising in popularity). These could nod towards Victorian designs (think colourful gemstones like ruby and sapphire) or the art deco era (bold, strong geometric designs).
But the rule of thumb is this: the more unique the design, and the more materials and gems used, the more you can expect to pay.
Brand
As with any type of product, cost is influenced by brand. If you get your wedding ring from a high-street jeweller, you’ll probably pay less than if you used an independent boutique designer.
That doesn’t mean that the more affordable options are “worse”: just that they cost less for that brand to make. This could be because they’re using cheaper metals, have lower overhead costs, or economies of scale: they may be able to bulk-buy materials and produce large quantities of standardised designs.
Whereas independent boutiques are more likely to offer unique designs (they can even create a bespoke design for you), work closely with a smaller number of artisans or offer more specialist technical skills.
Wedding ring vs engagement ring prices
So, which should be more expensive: your engagement or wedding ring?
There’s no set rules here, so how much you want to spend is really up to you and your partner. But generally speaking, engagement rings tend to be pricier because they traditionally include precious gemstones. And diamonds are one of the most popular options (which, as we know, come at a cost).
On average, it’s been reported that UK couples will spend around £1,500 on an engagement ring. But again, prices can vary wildly depending on materials, design, size, etc.
How much does it cost to get a wedding ring resized?
Need to get your wedding band resized? Costs vary depending on the material (more expensive materials cost more) and caratage (a higher carat costs more). And if there’s any sort of design element that needs to be moved or worked around, this can also come with a fee.
But to give you an idea: you might pay something like £40 to resize a simple silver ring, and up to £200 for gold or platinum.
How much does it cost to get a wedding ring engraved?
It depends on how complex the engraving is and the ring material (again, more valuable metals cost more to engrave).
You might pay as little as £25 for a short bit of text or closer to £100 for a bespoke design.
How much should I spend on my wedding ring?
Now for the burning question: how much should you actually spend?
It’s traditionally said that you should spend three month’s salary on your engagement ring (for the record: you don’t). But there’s no similar expectation around wedding rings.
So you should choose something within your budget but that still feels right. This is a super personal decision, but some things you might consider are:
- Durability. Hardier metals are more expensive, but you won’t have to get them re-plated or repaired as often. So, there can be a trade-off here
- Timelessness. Simpler designs are more affordable and they also won’t go out of style. Consider what sort of ring you could see yourself wearing for decades to come
- Your engagement ring. Will you wear both rings together? If so, it’s a good idea to have them be made of the same material. This way, they won’t scratch or damage each other (harder metals can damage softer ones). Plus, different metals can fade and discolour at different rates. If both rings are the same material, they won’t look mismatched
And for what it’s worth: there’s data suggesting that people are spending less on their wedding rings than they were a few years ago. The Standard reports that over the past five years, the average couple spent £1,363 on a wedding ring—down from £1,449 5-10 years ago.
Your wedding venue
Picture the moment: you’ve just said “I do” and your partner is sliding your beautiful wedding ring onto your finger. Now zoom out. What does your dream wedding venue look like?
The venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about the day. You want it to be a gorgeous backdrop for the day’s festivities, while making your guests feel welcome and cared for.
At Kindred, a West London wedding venue, we’re known for our unique interiors and warm, attentive service. Our building blends modern and heritage styles, with enough spaces to comfortably host any style of celebration: from intimate weddings to late night parties of up to 150 people.
You’ll enjoy a chef-crafted spread, made with care by our on-site Hammersmith restaurant, Cellar. Not to mention access to a well-stocked private bar—there’s one on each floor of our building.
Have a read of our wedding brochure to learn more about weddings at Kindred. To get a better sense of our space, take a virtual tour or simply come to visit us in person—we’d love to give you a personal tour. Get in touch with our team to arrange it.
