Wedding budgets tend to fixate on the venue and the dress. The groom's ring can end up as an afterthought, bought with whatever money is left. That habit can cost more than it saves.
The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study, which surveyed 10,474 US couples married in 2025, puts the average wedding at $34,200 and the average engagement ring at $4,600. The same study lists an average of $3,000 for wedding rings, though it does not say whether that figure covers one band or both. Zola's planning guide estimates that men's bands average about $600 and generally run between $400 and $1,000. The guide does not cite a data source.
Prices are moving, too. Consumer prices for jewelry and watches rose 10.8% in the 12 months through September 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the narrower jewelry index climbed 11.8%. BLS did not publish an October figure because October 2025 prices were never collected during the federal funding lapse.
Gold prices are one likely factor. World Gold Council data show the annual average gold price reached $3,431 an ounce in 2025, up 44% from the year before, with 53 new all-time highs. Kitco News reported prices above $5,500 an ounce in late January 2026.
A new survey of 379 US men who are engaged or married within the last five years suggests many grooms underplan. The survey was conducted by FoundryCut, a US direct-to-consumer jewelry brand selling men's rings for all occasions. Among respondents, 29.6% set a budget and went over it. Another 20.3% set no budget at all, while 42.2% stayed within the number they chose.
The costs keep coming after the wedding. Among married respondents, 28.0% said their band had needed resizing and 16.9% had needed a repair or replacement. Another 14.0% had lost a band. More than a third of married respondents (34.6%) take the ring off to shower or wash their hands, which creates plenty of chances to misplace it.
1. Set a number before browsing
About half of the men surveyed either blew past a budget or never set one. Pick a ceiling for the band itself and a separate amount for extras such as sizing and insurance.
2. Ask about sizing and resizing policies up front
Get sized close to the purchase date and ask how many free resizes come with the ring, and for how long. My Jewelry Repair, a ring repair service, says most rings can be resized up or down about two sizes. With 28.0% of married respondents needing a resize, the policy can matter as much as the price tag.
3. Know what each metal trades off
Gold led the survey at 42.5%, with platinum at 16.6%. Silver came in at 11.3%, titanium at 8.2%, tungsten at 6.6% and stainless steel at 5.8%. The price of a gold band is tied partly to the metal, and gold has swung widely since 2025. Alternative metals often cost less up front, but there is a catch. My Jewelry Repair lists titanium and tungsten among metals that "cannot be resized using traditional methods." SGS Polymer Solutions, a materials testing lab, explains that tungsten carbide is too brittle to bend and that its structure will not bond with added metal. If the fit changes, the usual fix is a new ring, so check whether the seller offers size exchanges and on what terms.
4. Shop one to three months ahead
A third of respondents (33.3%) bought their band one to three months before the wedding. Only 8.7% waited until less than two weeks out. A late purchase leaves little time to compare prices or fix a fit that is slightly off.
5. Insure the ring and know where it is
Loss tends to happen away from home. In a 2024 engagement ring study by insurer Jewelers Mutual, 92% of people who had lost a ring said it happened while on the go. Water was a common culprit, with 27% of losses in a pool and 25% in an ocean or lake. In the insurer's 2025 travel study, 50% of respondents said they wear their wedding ring when traveling. Ask whether an existing homeowners or renters policy covers the band, or price a separate jewelry policy. Keep the receipt and photos on file.
6. Compare chain, independent and online sellers
Chain stores were the most common place to buy, chosen by 40.1% of respondents. Local independent jewelers accounted for 28.8%, and online brands or independent makers for 19.8%. Each channel prices differently, and no current, credible public data on typical jewelry markups turned up in reporting for this story. Compare like with like by matching metal and width across quotes, then ask what is included, such as free resizing or a warranty.
Looking back, 65.0% of married respondents would spend the same amount again. Roughly one in five (20.6%) would spend more, compared with 8.6% who would spend less. For something worn every day, a little planning goes a long way.
Methodology
The survey was fielded through Pollfish from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5, 2026, among 379 US men aged 18 to 54 who were engaged or had married within the previous five years. Results carry a margin of error of about plus or minus 5 percentage points.
This story was produced by FoundryCut and may be republished free with this credit and a link to www.FoundryCut.com/pages/mens-wedding-band-survey-2026.
