
At a glance
- Term
- Nose width ratio
- Area
- Face geometry
- Measurable from a selfie
- Yes: nostril width divided by the inner-corner distance
- Evidence
- Mixed evidence
- Related
- Eye spacing, Nasolabial angle, Facial harmony
What the ratio compares
This nostril-width ratio uses the distance across your nostrils and the gap between your inner eye corners. It doesn't compare your nose with the full width of your face.
The reference distance matters. A ratio using another part of your face answers a different question, even if its label sounds similar. See eye spacing for the related term, or browse the glossary to compare definitions.
How to read a selfie measurement
Divide nostril width by the distance between the inner eye corners, using the same image for both measurements. Check that the marked points match those named in the definition. Otherwise, you're calculating a different proportion.
The free face-symmetry scan reads landmark distances from one selfie and reports left-right differences and basic ratios. It names what it measured.
Why the classic rule has limits
The classic rule treats nostril width and inner-corner distance as matching widths. Most faces are a little wider or narrower, so a mismatch alone isn't a reason to change your nose.
The evidence status is mixed evidence. Being able to calculate a nose-to-eye-spacing ratio doesn't establish an ideal result. Don't use this proportion as a substitute for judging facial harmony across your whole face.
What to do with your result
Use the result to describe the relationship between the measured widths. If you're comparing readings, check that each uses the same definition before deciding your nose looks wider or narrower.
The common mistake is treating one number from one photo as a fixed fact about your face. Keep the image and its marked points alongside the result. A ratio without that context gives you less information than it appears to.
Questions people ask
- Does nose width need to match the gap between my eyes?
- That's the classic rule, but most faces are a little wider or narrower. It isn't a requirement your face needs to meet.
- Does this ratio tell me my nose width in centimetres?
- No. It compares widths rather than giving an absolute measurement in centimetres. It also doesn't tell you an average nose width.
- Does a wider ratio mean my nose is too wide?
- It means nostril width is greater relative to the inner-corner distance in that measurement. It doesn't establish that your nose needs changing.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.
Related pages
The closest pages in this section, picked by topic rather than by date.
- Facial harmony meaning and how to read your proportionsFacial harmony meaning explained through eye spacing, nose width and facial thirds. Learn which proportions a selfie can measure and where a
- eye spacing meaning: How to measure the gapLearn eye spacing meaning, how to measure the gap between your eyes from a selfie, and why an average proportion is not a target.
- Nasolabial angle meaning: Reading your profileNasolabial angle meaning explained: where this profile angle sits, why a front selfie can't measure it, and what the surgical range means.
- Facial thirds meaning: what the distances tell youLearn facial thirds meaning, which distances a selfie can measure, and why equal thirds don't give you a reliable verdict on your looks.
- fwhr meaning: What facial width-to-height ratio measuresThe fwhr meaning is cheekbone width divided by upper-lip-to-brow height. Learn how a selfie measures it and why aggression claims need cauti
- golden ratio face meaning: What the number tells youLearn the golden ratio face meaning, which proportions a selfie can measure, and why mixed evidence doesn't support a universal beauty targe
- A guide to sexual dimorphism meaning in facesLearn sexual dimorphism meaning in faces, which features a selfie can compare, and why masculine or feminine traits aren't an attractiveness
- Bigonial width meaning and how to measure itUnderstand bigonial width meaning, how a selfie measures the distance across your jaw corners, and what comparing it with cheekbone width te
