Shopping for new glasses should feel fun, and it gets a lot easier once you know which shapes work with your features. When we help you choose new eyewear, face shape is one of the first things we look at alongside your prescription.
Round faces have soft curves and a similar width and length, so the pairs in our frames and lenses collection that add a bit of structure tend to look balanced. For a round face, frames with straight lines and angles usually work well, including square, rectangle, cat-eye, browline, and geometric styles that sit slightly wider than they are tall.
How to Tell If You Have a Round Face
Start with your face proportions. A round face measures close to the same width and length, with fuller cheeks and a softly curved chin. Your forehead may look a little wide, and your jawline usually stays gentle.
Pull your hair back and stand in front of a mirror. Find the widest part of your face, then look at the distance from your hairline to your chin. If those 2 measurements look about the same, you probably have a round face.
Face shapes overlap more than most charts suggest. Plenty of people fall somewhere between round and oval, which gives you even more styles to try.
Frame Shapes That Suit a Round Face
Angular frames can add definition to soft features, and each style below does it differently. Try on a few from each group to see what feels like you.
Square and Rectangle Frames
Look for clean corners and a straight top line. These details contrast with soft curves and can add definition to your features.
A frame that’s a touch wider than your face draws the eye from side to side, which can make your face look longer. If you’re not sure where to begin, grab a rectangle pair first.
Cat-Eye and Browline Frames
Cat-eye frames sweep up at the outer corners, which can pull attention up and away from fuller cheeks. They come in subtle versions with a slight lift and dramatic ones with sharp points, so you can pick how bold you want to go.
Browline styles have a thick upper rim that keeps the focus near your brows. The thinner lower half keeps the frame light on your face.
Geometric Frames
Hexagons and octagons add extra angles, creating contrast from several directions at once. Choose a pair if you like glasses people notice and comment on.
Thin metal geometric frames can look softer, so they’re a nice option for everyday wear at the office or in class.
Frame Details and Colors for a Round Face
Small details can change how a frame sits on your face. Watch for a few of these when you try on glasses:
- Frames that are wider than they are tall, which can draw the eye across your face.
- Temple arms that attach high on the frame front, which can lift the line of your glasses.
- Bold or decorated temple arms, which add interest at the sides of your face.
- Full rims in colorful acetate, which can create contrast against your skin.
- A bridge that sits a little higher on your nose, which can make your face look longer.
Color matters as much as shape. Dark and saturated colors can outline your features, and tortoiseshell or deep burgundy are easy places to start if black feels too strong.
Clear and lightly tinted acetate looks clean and goes with almost any outfit. Since clear frames offer less contrast, choose one with a strong, angular shape.
Glasses Styles That Can Be Tricky on a Round Face
Some shapes repeat the curves you already have. These styles can be harder to pull off with a round face:
- Fully round frames, which echo the soft lines of your face.
- Oval frames, which can blend in with your cheeks.
- Very small frames, which can look lost next to fuller cheeks.
- Skin-toned frames, which can soften your features.
You can still wear any of these if you love them. Go for a bolder color or a thicker rim to help them stand out.
Oversized angular frames can look great on a round face, as long as they fit well. Fit matters more than size, so if a pair slides down your nose or presses on your temples, try a different size.
How the Team Helps You Pick the Right Fit
Our opticians measure your temple width and check how the bridge sits on your nose. Then we narrow the selection to frames that fit your face and your prescription.
Try on as many pairs as you like. Snap a few photos and change your mind as often as you need (we won’t rush you).
Your prescription can affect which frames make sense. With a strong prescription, large lenses can end up thicker at the edges, and a slightly smaller frame paired with high-index lenses can help keep your glasses thinner and lighter. Book an eye exam before you shop so you can choose frames around your current prescription.
Kids and adults each get frames sized for them, so the whole family can shop in 1 visit.
Start with an Eye Exam
Bring a screenshot of a style you like, or just come in curious. We’ll help you find frames that work with your features and feel comfortable from morning to night.
Moses Eyecare Center has 12 locations, so there’s a good chance one sits close to home! Book an appointment for your eye exam and frame fitting, and bring the family along.
