Understanding Diamond Carat Size and Weight

Carat

Carat denotes the weight of a diamond, not the size. Two diamonds that have the same carat weight may actually have very different sizes in millimeters.

1min

Carat

1min

Recommendation

Typical range for Carat is between 1.0 and 2.0 carat.

Details

A Diamond’s Weight is measured in Carats. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams. The weight of smaller diamonds is often expressed as points instead of carats -- there are 100 points in a Carat. Another way to look at it is to say that each point equals 0.01, or One-Hundred, of a Carat. For example, 0.08 means eight One-Hundred, so a 0.08 Carat Diamond equals eight points.

NOTE: DON'T CONFUSE "CARAT WEIGHT" WITH "KARAT," WHICH IS THE METHOD OF DETERMINING THE PURITY OF GOLD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, cut quality and shape affect visual size. For example, an oval diamond may look larger than a round one of the same weight.

Larger carat diamonds have a higher price per carat due to rarity and demand, creating a non-linear price increase.

No, carat measures weight, not physical size. A diamond’s shape and cut quality also affect how large it appears.

One carat equals 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). It measures the diamond’s weight, not its size.

Use our Ct Size Comparison tool to see how diamonds of different carat weights appear across shapes like round, princess, and oval.