Types of Ear Shapes
Normal ears “Normal” ears are what most people have. They’re “free,” meaning the lobe isn’t attached to the jaw, as well as oval-shaped, with a rounded arc at the top and a tighter curve at the bottom lobe, and about 40% of people have them. They also don’t stick out very far from the head. Of course, “normal” is relative, and every ear is different! Personality: Balanced, reliable, practical Best earrings: Most earring types work well on normal ears, especially studs. Check out our handy guide on deciding which piercing is best for you.
Attached ears “Attached ears” are ears where the lobe is attached to the head, rather than forming a loop or curve. The skin transitions smoothly down toward the jaw. Attached earlobes are very common, and about 50% of people have them. Personality: Grounded, trustworthy, intuitive Best earrings: Low-key, elegant earrings work best to match the elegance of an attached lobe. Go for thin, hanging earrings or delicate hoops.
Protruding ears Protruding ears are ears that stick out farther from the head than most other ears. They’re not harmful, and don’t affect hearing. They usually happen when a baby is developing, though doctors aren’t entirely sure of the cause. Generally, they’re passed down from one or both parents. Personality: Outgoing, curious, intelligent Best earrings: Small or lightweight earrings that don’t pull down on the ear or cause discomfort are best.
Elf ears Elf ears are pointed near the upper curve, the way elf ears are in many fantasy works. Often, elf ears may be triangular, meaning they’re narrow near the lobe and wide near the top. Elf ears can be caused by unusual cartilage development, or a birth defect known as “Stahl’s Ear” that causes an extra fold of cartilage in the ear. Personality: Perceptive, sensitive, introverted Best earrings: Large earrings like hoops look great, since they balance the shape of the ear.
Folded ears Folded ears often have a top part that’s “folded” over the rest, or that there’s extra cartilage in the upper curve of the ear. They’re most often a birth condition caused by the ear cartilage forming unusually during development. They don’t usually affect hearing, and they don’t usually need treatment. Personality: Unique, open-minded, easygoing Best earrings: Larger earrings balance the lower ear visually, and conch piercings add interest to the middle ear.
Big ears The average human ear is about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, with an earlobe that’s about 0.77 in (2.0 cm) wide. Of course, everyone’s ears are different, but ears that are much larger than this are known as “big ears.” There’s no advantage or disadvantage to having big ears, they’re just big, and that’s normal! Personality: Warm, friendly, attentive Best earrings: Large earrings, like hoops or dangly earrings, balance the ears’ size proportional to the head.
Small ears On average, the human ear is about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, with an earlobe that’s about 0.77 in (2.0 cm) wide. Ears that are much larger than this are known as “small ears.” Small ears are perfectly normal, and don’t affect hearing. Personality: Thoughtful, self-confident, observant Best earrings: Small earrings like studs help to balance the ears’ size proportional to the head.
Hard & soft ears “Hard ears” are when the cartilage in the ear solidifies or stiffens, usually as a result of trauma, like frostbite or injury. They’re pretty rare, and not many people have them. “Soft ears” usually refers to infant ears, which are still soft until they’re about 1 month old, when the cartilage naturally stiffens into shape. Personality: Old soul, experienced, trustworthy Best earrings: Piercings aren’t recommended for these ears, but you might use faux earrings instead.
How does ear shape affect hearing and health?
The shape of your ear doesn’t usually affect your hearing. Ears are specially designed to funnel noise into your inner ear, but even most ear deformities don’t affect a person’s ability to hear. Experts think that regardless of your ear shape, what matters is how your brain learns to work with the shape of your ear to interpret noise, which is a process that happens as a baby. What’s more important is your inner ear health. If something is blocking your ear canal, it’s much more likely to impact your hearing than the shape of your outer ear. In some studies, people who were given fake ears of a different shape than their own had trouble interpreting sounds, suggesting that your brain adapts to your ear shape. Studies show that bigger ears do detect more sound, but not enough to make a difference in your hearing.
Ear Anatomy and Function
Outer ear The outer ear is the part of your ear that’s outside your head. It’s made of the pinna, which is the cup that leads into your ear canal, or the hole. The helix is the top arc of your ear, and the antihelix is the inner arc. The concha is the little bridge of cartilage just above the pinna, and the lobe is the flap of skin at the bottom. All these folds, creases, and ridges work to funnel sound into your middle and inner ear.
Middle ear The middle ear is the tube that leads further into your head. At the end of the tube is the eardrum, and after that is the proper middle ear. It holds 3 small bones, known as “ossicles.” These include the malleus, incus, and stapes, which work together to amplify sound before it reaches the inner ear. Noises make the eardrum vibrate, which moves the 3 tiny bones, which send those vibrations to the inner ear.
Inner ear The inner ear is a maze of twists and turns that convert sound into data for your brain. It contains the cochlea, which has nerves related to hearing; the vestibule, which has receptors that influence your sense of balance, and canals, which also affect balance. Vibrations from the middle ear make fluids in the cochlea ripple, and hair cells inside your inner ear translate and decode these ripples in order to open up stereocilia, which are tiny openings that release chemicals, which convert into electrical signals that your brain processes for you.
Common Ear Deformities
Cauliflower ear Cauliflower is common in boxers or other sport fighters. It causes the ear to look bulbous and bumpy, like a cauliflower, and is caused by repeated trauma to the outer ear. Trauma cuts off the cartilage in the ear from its nutrients, and it deforms as a result. Unless the bulbs form over the pinna or ear canal, it doesn’t affect hearing.
Constricted ears Constricted ears are a birth defect where the outer ear is flat, folded, or wrinkled in an unusual way. It’s caused by improper cartilage formation during development, but doctors are still researching what causes this. It doesn’t usually affect hearing.
Stahl's ear Stahl’s ear is when there’s an added fold of cartilage in the upper or middle portion of the outer ear, making it look pointed like an elf’s. It’s caused by improper cartilage formation during development, but it doesn’t usually affect someone’s hearing.
Microtia Microtia is a birth defect where the outer ear is unusually small or not completely developed. It’s usually a part of hemifacial microsomia, which is a condition that affects other facial features, as well. Patients with microtia often have diminished hearing and need hearing aids.
Cryptotia Cryptotia is a birth defect where part of the ear sits under the skin. It usually affects the top part of the ear, causing it to look like it’s “fused” with the head. Doctors aren’t quite sure what causes it yet, but it doesn’t usually affect hearing.
Anotia Anotia is a birth defect where the outer ear doesn’t develop normally, and in many cases, is completely absent from the head. It’s usually caused by mutations during development, and patients with anotia often need surgery to correct their hearing.
Ear tags Ear tags are growths that happen near or on the ears. They’re made of fat, skin, and cartilage, and are often a birth defect. They’re totally harmless and don’t affect hearing, though some patients get surgery to remove them.
What determines the shape of your ears?
Your ear shape is determined by your genetics. Every living thing has genes, which are like computer code that tells your body how to develop and function. You get your genes from your parents. So if your parents have a certain trait, in this case ear shape, you’re more likely to have that trait, too. You can predict it to some degree, but there’s also some randomness to it.
What’s the wrong ear shape for industrial piercings?
Industrial piercings aren’t great for people with a thin helix. Body piercing specialist Karissa Sanford tells us that “the size of your ear is not really what determines whether you can get an industrial piercing or not, it's the shape of your ear.” The important thing is the helix, which is the upper arc of the ear. An industrial piercing goes from the top of this arc to about the middle of the ear. But people with thin or narrow helices that don’t have thick folds or flaps around their helix probably shouldn’t get industrial piercings, since there’s not much to pierce. Instead, consider a helix or flat piercing, which is a single hole through the helix that’s great for studs, and which still stands out.
What is the rarest ear shape?
The rarest ear shape is anotia, which is when the ear is missing. Anotia is when there’s no visible outer ear at all, making it look like the ear is missing, though the inner ear might still be under the skin. Experts think that anotia affects every 1 in 3,800 babies, making it the rarest ear type. Folded ears and elf ears are also pretty rare, but are much more common than anotia.
What ear shape is dominant?
Normal ears with free lobes are the most common. But just barely! According to some studies, a little more than 50% of the population has a normal, oval-shaped ear with a defined ear lobe. That said, attached lobes are also super common, and may even be more common than free lobes in some populations. Remember that every ear is different, and there aren’t any ear types that are better or worse than others.
Do ears keep growing as you age?
Yes, ears do keep growing as you age. That said, it’s not much! Researchers found that women’s ears grow by about 0.51 mm (0.020 in) each year. So you probably won’t ever actually notice it, unless you hold up a baby photo right next to a photo of yourself years and years later. This probably happens because as you age, the collagen in your ears changes, and so does your skin. Your collagen might shift, while your skin gets looser.
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