Sunglasses for a long face: the shapes that balance length

Short answer: The best sunglasses for a long face are deep and wide: frames with tall lenses that cover more of the face vertically, a front at least as wide as your face and a strong, straight brow line that cuts across the length. Square, chunky rectangular, wayfarer-style and aviator frames are easy wins, and moderately oversized frames work well too. Avoid small, narrow and shallow frames, which leave more of the face visible above and below the lens and make it look even longer. Among our frames, chunky rectangular Palazzo (145 mm), square Morello (144 mm) and Elia (142 mm) are the strongest matches.

How to tell if you have a long face

Pull your hair back, look straight into a mirror and look at the outline of your face. A long face – also called an oblong or rectangular face – usually shows these signs:

• The face is clearly longer than it is wide. Noticeably more than an oval face, which is only about one and a half times as long as it is wide.
• Forehead, cheekbones and jaw are about the same width. The sides of the face run fairly straight rather than curving out at the cheekbones.
• A high forehead, a long nose or a longer chin. Not everyone has all three, but one of them often adds to the length.

If the cheekbones are clearly the widest point and the jaw is softly rounded, your face is closer to oval – see our guide to sunglasses for an oval face. Most faces are a mix, so treat this as a starting point. Our guide to which sunglasses suit my face covers every face shape.

Why deep and wide frames work

With a long face, the goal is simple: add width and break up the length. Three details do most of the work:

• Lens depth. A tall lens covers more of the face from brow to cheek, so less length shows above and below the frame.
• Frame width. A front that is at least as wide as your face – or a touch wider – adds width where a long face is narrow.
• A strong horizontal line. A thick or straight top rim, a solid bridge and wider temples draw the eye across the face instead of up and down.

Best sunglasses for a long face: the easy wins

• Square frames: Deep, straight-sided lenses and a flat brow line are the classic match. See our square sunglasses.
• Chunky rectangular frames: Choose a rectangle with real height and thick rims – not a slim, narrow one. The bold front adds width and weight across the middle of the face.
• Wayfarer-style frames: The trapezoid shape with a heavy top rim adds a clear horizontal line. Browse our wayfarer sunglasses.
• Aviators: The deep teardrop lens covers a lot of the face, and the double bridge adds another horizontal line. See our aviator sunglasses.
• Moderately oversized frames: Bigger frames suit long faces better than most – just keep the width in line with your face. Our guide to oversized sunglasses explains how to size them.

Round and cat-eye frames can work too, as long as the lenses are deep and the frame is wide enough. A long oval face – soft curves with extra length – follows the same rules: depth and width first, shape second.

What to avoid with a long face

• Small, narrow frames. If the frame stops inside the face, the face looks narrower and therefore longer.
• Shallow lenses. Slim, low lenses leave a lot of face visible above and below them and stretch the look.
• Rimless or very thin frames. Without a visible top line, there is nothing to break up the length.
• Strongly upswept cat-eye frames. A sharp upward flick draws the eye up and can add height. A soft cat-eye with deep lenses is fine.
• A high-set bridge. A bridge that sits high on the nose shows more nose below the frame. A lower, solid bridge visually shortens a long nose.

The right size: width and depth in real millimetres

1. Measure a pair that fits. Measure the front from outer edge to outer edge, or read the temple stamp: lens width □ bridge – temple length. For a long face, pick a frame that matches the width of your face or is a few millimetres wider. Many long faces are slim, so a frame around 137–142 mm often works; a broader long face can go to 144–145 mm.
2. Check the depth. In the mirror, the lens should cover most of the space between your brows and the top of your cheeks. If a lot of face shows below the lens, choose a deeper frame.
3. Check the top rim. It should sit along your eyebrows – the more horizontal the brow line, the better.
4. Check the eyes and bridge. Your pupils should sit near the centre of each lens, and the bridge should rest on your nose without sliding or pinching.

ECO SHADES sunglasses for a long face

The plastic frames below are made from 100% recycled plastics, Dyhr is made from recycled metal, and all have UV400 lenses in recycled PMMA. The plastic frames have 5-barrel optical hinges and friction-lock screws.

• Palazzo Olive: a chunky rectangular front with thick rims and a solid bridge – the featured pair and our top pick for a long face. 54□24-150, frame width 145 mm, Medium/Large, Category 3.
• Morello Grey: a classic square cut in a larger scale with a strong brow line. 55□21-147, frame width 144 mm, Medium/Large, Category 3.
• Elia Blue: a generous square with deep lenses that adds width without overpowering. 52□19-145, frame width 142 mm, Category 3.
• Venturi Blue: our wayfarer, with a heavy top rim for a slimmer long face. 51□19-143, frame width 137 mm, Medium, Category 3.
• Lai Green: our aviator with deep teardrop lenses and a double bridge. 57□17-145, frame width 137 mm, Medium, Category 3.
• Dyhr Gold Grey: a rectangular frame in recycled metal with wide lenses, if you prefer a lighter look. 56□17-138, frame width 140 mm, Medium/Large, Category 3.

Our lenses are not polarised. Questions about our materials or UV protection? Just contact us.

Quick FAQ

What shape sunglasses suit a long face?

Deep, wide shapes with a strong brow line: square, chunky rectangular, wayfarer-style and aviator frames, plus moderately oversized pairs.

What are the best sunglasses for a long, oval face?

The same rules apply: choose deep lenses and a frame about as wide as your cheekbones. Square and wayfarer-style frames are safe choices.

Which sunglasses suit a long face for men?

The rules are the same for men and women. Palazzo and Morello add the most width; Lai and Venturi suit a slimmer long face.

Should I avoid small sunglasses with a long face?

Yes. Small, narrow or shallow frames make a long face look longer. Go for depth and width instead.

Every ECO SHADES pair comes with UV400 lenses and a 2-year warranty, and our sunglasses are CE, UKCA and FDA approved. We have 30 years of optical experience and 20,000+ happy customers behind our designs. With a long face, think deep and wide – and pick the shape you love.