Nail shapes chart: every shape explained for press-ons
This nail shapes chart covers the seven shapes you will see on press-on nails: round, oval, squoval, square, almond, coffin and stiletto. For each one you get what it looks like, the length it is usually worn at, and the nail beds and days it suits.
Shape is mostly taste, but it changes how a set feels to live in. The tip is the part that taps keyboards, catches on jumpers and takes the knock when you open a can. This is a guide to nail shapes in general, not a list of what we have in stock.
The nail shapes chart
| Shape | What it looks like | Usual length | Suits | Think twice if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Edge follows the curve of the fingertip | Short | Short and small nail beds, hands-on work | You want a dramatic look |
| Oval | Sides filed in slightly, tip rounded like an egg | Short to medium | Short and wide nail beds, a first set | You want a sharp, modern line |
| Squoval | A square with soft corners | Short to medium | Everyday wear, bold colour | Your nail beds are very wide |
| Square | Straight sides, flat tip, sharp corners | Short to medium | Narrow nail beds, French tips, solid colour | Your nail beds are wide, or corners catch |
| Almond | Slim sides tapering to a soft point | Short to long | Short and wide nail beds, evenings, French tips | You type all day at a long length |
| Coffin (ballerina) | Tapered sides, flat tip | Medium to long | Statement sets, ombré and chrome | You want short, practical nails |
| Stiletto | Tapered sides ending in a sharp point | Medium to long | Parties, one-night looks | You work with your hands |
Read the “Suits” column as a starting point, not a rule. If you love a shape, try it.
Nail shapes and names, one by one
Round
A round nail has an edge that follows the curve of your fingertip. A short round set looks much like your own nails, only tidier. With no corners to catch, it suits small nail beds and anyone who works with their hands.
Oval
An oval is filed in slightly at the sides, with the tip rounded into a soft egg shape. It looks a little longer and slimmer than round. Oval makes an easy first set: neat at a short length, graceful at medium, and it suits almost any finish.
Squoval
Squoval is a square with the corners softened. You keep the clean, flat tip but lose the sharp points that catch on knitwear. At a short length it is easy to live with, and the flat tip shows off a solid colour.
Square
A square nail has straight sides and a flat tip with crisp corners. It is a classic choice for French tips and bold colour. Because the tip keeps the full width of the nail right to the end, a long square tends to make a wide nail look wider. On a narrow nail bed it looks sharp and tidy.
Almond
Almond nails have slim sides that taper to a soft, rounded point, like the nut. The narrow tip can make fingers look longer, so almond is worth trying on short or wide nail beds. Almond press-on nails suit evenings out, metallics and French tips, and a short almond still works for every day.
Coffin (ballerina)
Coffin, often called ballerina, tapers along the sides like almond but ends in a flat, straight tip, like the toe of a ballet shoe. The flat end needs some length to show, so it is usually worn medium or longer. It is a statement shape, often worn with ombré, chrome or gem details.
Stiletto
A stiletto tapers to a sharp point. It is the most pointed shape on the chart and is usually worn medium or long. It looks striking for a night out, but the point takes every knock, so keep it for occasions rather than a working week.
Nail shapes for short nails
Short nails need a shape that looks finished without length. Round, oval and squoval all hold their shape at a short length.
- Start with oval or round. Both follow the fingertip, so a short set looks like your own nails, only tidier.
- Try a short almond for a slimmer look. A narrow tip draws the eye along the nail, which can make a short nail bed look a little longer.
- Choose squoval for a clean line. It gives the look of square without corners that catch.
- Leave coffin and stiletto for longer lengths. At a very short length there is little room for the taper and the tip to show.
If your nail beds are short, wide, flat or small, our guide to press-on nails for short or wide nail beds goes through each one, including where to place the press-on.
Match the shape to your day
| Your day | Shapes to try | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Typing, cooking, hands in water | Round, oval, squoval | Short |
| Office and evenings | Oval, almond, squoval | Short to medium |
| Weekend away, a few days off | Almond, oval, square | Medium |
| Party, wedding, a night out | Almond, coffin, stiletto | Medium to long |
Not sure about a new shape or length? Try it with adhesive tabs first. Tabs usually hold two to five days, so you find out how a shape feels before you commit to glue, which usually holds one to two weeks. Our guide to nail glue vs adhesive tabs compares the two.
Shape and fit
Shape is your choice. Fit is not, and it decides how long a set stays on.
- Measure for width, not shape. Size is about the width of your nail across its widest part, usually just above the cuticle. Measure the same way whatever shape you choose.
- Choose the closest of our three sizes. We make three ready-made sizes, S, M and L. Use the sizing guide to choose, and pick the smaller one if you are between two.
- Check each nail before you open the adhesive. Hold every press-on against its finger. If an edge rests on the skin at the sides, file the sides a few strokes at a time.
- File the tip with care. You can soften a square corner or shorten a long tip, but check the design first. A French tip or edge detail sits right where you would file.
On a wide nail, a tapered shape such as almond or oval balances the width. A long tip of any shape has more leverage to lift the press-on when it is knocked, so if a set comes off early, try a shorter length next time. Our guide on why press-on nails lift shows how to read where it lifts.
Wear and safety
When you want the set off, soak it rather than pull it. Pulling press-ons off dry is what damages nails, and our guide on how to remove press-on nails walks through the soak. Keep glue away from eyes and out of reach of children, and stop wearing the set if your skin gets sore or irritated.
Read next: the sizing guide to choose your size, then how to apply press-on nails. More in all our guides.
Questions we get asked
- What are the main nail shapes called?
- The seven you will see most are round, oval, squoval, square, almond, coffin (often called ballerina) and stiletto. Most other names describe a length or a small variation of one of these.
- Which nail shape suits short nails?
- Round, oval and squoval are the easiest at a short length. A short almond suits short nails too, and its narrow tip can make a short nail bed look a little longer.
- What is the difference between almond and coffin nails?
- Both taper along the sides. Almond narrows to a soft, rounded point. Coffin ends in a flat, straight tip instead, like the toe of a ballet shoe.
- Which nail shape is easiest for everyday wear?
- A short round, oval or squoval shape. There are no sharp corners or points to catch on clothes or keyboards, and no long tip to lever the press-on off.
- Can I change the shape of a press-on nail with a file?
- A little. You can soften the corners of a square tip towards squoval, or shorten a long tip. You cannot add material back, so a pointed shape cannot become square. File before you apply, and check the design first, because a French tip or edge detail sits right where you would file.
- Does the shape change which size I need?
- Size is about the width of your nail across its widest part, usually just above the cuticle, so measure the same way whatever the shape. Choose the closest of our three sizes using the sizing guide and file the sides to fit.