How to Find Your Sunglass Model Number and Lens Size
Every replacement lens order starts with the same question: what exactly are my frames? The answer is printed right on them. This guide explains how to find sunglass model number markings, how to read the size numbers stamped next to them, and what to do when those markings have worn off. To find your sunglass model number, open the sunglasses and look at the inside of either temple arm, the long arm that rests over your ear. Most brands stamp the model name or code there, next to the lens size. That size usually appears as three numbers: lens width, bridge width, and temple length, all in millimeters. With the model name and the first number, the lens width, you can order replacement lenses cut to fit your exact frames. The whole thing takes about a minute once you know where to look.
How to Find Your Sunglass Model Number: Step by Step
Before you start hunting through search results, check the frame itself. The markings you need are almost always in one of three places, and the search takes seconds.
- Open the sunglasses and flip them over. Hold them so you can see the inside of the temple arms. You may need to hold them under a lamp or near a window, since the printing is often small and light.
- Read the inside of each temple arm. One arm usually carries the brand name and model code. The other carries the size sequence, something like 52-18-145, plus markings like UV400 and CE.
- Write down the model name and the first size number. The model name tells the lab which frame shape to cut for. The first number is the lens width in millimeters, and it confirms which size variant of that model you own.
- Match both on the order page. When you order from a replacement lens maker, pick your brand, then the model, then the size. For example, on the Ray-Ban collection page you would select your model and its lens width before choosing a lens color.
Where Brands Stamp the Model Number
Sunglass makers have never agreed on one standard location, but nearly every pair keeps the information in one of these three spots. Check them in this order.
1. Inside the temple arms (most common)
The inside of the left or right temple arm is where Ray-Ban, Oakley, Costa Del Mar, Maui Jim, and most other brands print the model code. Ray-Ban prints codes like RB2140 (Wayfarer) or RB3025 (Aviator) here. Oakley prints the model name, such as Holbrook or Flak 2.0, along with an internal SKU. This is the first place to look because it holds both the model identification and the size sequence in the same small area.
2. Inside the bridge or nose area
Some frames, especially smaller or rimless designs, stamp the model code on the inside of the bridge between the lenses. You may need to tilt the frame to catch the light. The text is tiny, so a phone camera zoomed in can help you read it.
3. On the lens itself
A few brands etch a small code into the corner of the lens. This etching wears off faster than temple printing because it sits on the part of the sunglasses that gets cleaned and handled the most. If your lenses are the originals, the etching may still be readable.
How to Read Sunglass Size Numbers
The size sequence next to the model number is the key to getting lenses that fit. It follows the same format across nearly every brand, measured in millimeters:
| Number | What it measures | Example: 52-18-145 |
|---|---|---|
| First number | Lens width: the horizontal width of one lens at its widest point | 52 mm |
| Second number | Bridge width: the distance between the two lenses | 18 mm |
| Third number | Temple length: the length of the arm from hinge to tip | 145 mm |
Some brands separate the numbers with a small square symbol instead of dashes, so you may see 52□18 145. It means the same thing. The number that matters most for ordering replacement lenses is the first one, the lens width. Two pairs that share a model name but carry different lens widths need different lenses.
Model number vs. SKU vs. size
It helps to keep three different identifiers straight, because they often appear side by side on the temple arm:
- Model name or code identifies the frame shape, such as Wayfarer, RB2140, or Holbrook. This is what you search for when ordering lenses.
- SKU is the brand's internal stock code for a specific color and configuration. It sometimes appears but is rarely needed for replacement lenses.
- Lens size is the three-number sequence. It picks out your size variant of the model.
If you can only read one thing clearly, make it the model name plus the lens width. A lens lab can usually work from that pair. The Oakley collection pages, for example, list models by name and size, so a Holbrook at 55 mm is a different selection from a Holbrook at 57 mm.
What to Do When the Markings Are Worn Off
Temple printing rubs off with years of wear, sunscreen, and cleaning. If the numbers are gone or unreadable, work through this checklist before giving up on identifying the frames.
- Try the other temple arm. Printing wears unevenly. One arm often stays readable long after the other has faded.
- Check the original box, case, or paperwork. The model name and size are printed on the box label and on any warranty card that came with the sunglasses.
- Look at your order history. If you bought the sunglasses online, the retailer confirmation email usually lists the exact model and size.
- Compare against brand collection pages. Browse the Replacement Lenses collection by brand and match your frame shape by eye. Model pages list each available size, which narrows it down.
- Measure the lens yourself. A ruler and thirty seconds give you the lens width directly. See the next section.
- Contact the lens maker. A photo of your frames sent to the shop is often enough. Apex Lenses cuts lenses for hundreds of models, and the support team identifies frames from photos every day.
Measure the Lens Yourself in 30 Seconds
If the printed size is gone, you can recover the most important number yourself. The lens width is measured in millimeters across the widest horizontal point of one lens, frame included if the lens is still seated in the frame. Lay the sunglasses face up on a table, hold a small ruler or a phone measuring app across one lens, and read the width in millimeters.
Write the number down next to the model name you identified. Most models come in only two or three lens widths, so a measurement within a millimeter or two of a listed size confirms which variant you own. There is no need for calipers or special tools, a standard ruler is plenty accurate for this.
Ordering Replacement Lenses With Your Model Number
Once you have the model name and lens width, the rest is straightforward. Find your brand in the Replacement Lenses collection, select your model and size, then pick your lens. Apex Lenses offers 50+ lens colors, including polarized and the high-contrast custom replacement lenses in ULTRA™, the color-enhancing tier. Every pair is precision-cut in the Scottsdale, AZ lab, and covered by a lifetime warranty plus the 60-Day TruFit Guarantee: if the fit is not right, it gets made right.
If your frames are scratched up too, read when to replace the lenses instead of the sunglasses first. In most cases, new lenses make the pair feel brand new for a fraction of the cost of a new pair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the model number on Ray-Ban sunglasses?
On the inside of the left temple arm. Ray-Ban prints the model code, such as RB2140, along with the size sequence and UV markings. The right temple arm usually carries the Ray-Ban logo and additional codes.
What do the numbers 52-18-145 mean on sunglasses?
They are the frame measurements in millimeters: 52 mm lens width, 18 mm bridge width, and 145 mm temple length. For ordering replacement lenses, the 52, the lens width, is the number that matters.
What if my sunglasses have no model number at all?
Some very old or unbranded frames were never stamped. In that case, identify the frame by shape and brand markings, measure the lens width with a ruler, and send photos to the lens maker. A shop that cuts for hundreds of models can usually match the frame from a clear photo.
Do I need the exact model number to order replacement lenses?
You need the model name and the lens width. The SKU and color codes are helpful but not required. The lab cuts lenses to the frame shape and size, so those two pieces of information are what the cutting pattern is built from.
Can the size on the frame differ from the lens I need?
The printed size is the size the frame was made in, so the lens matches it by definition. The only exception is a frame that was re-lensed before with the wrong size, which is rare. If the measurement you take matches the printed lens width, order that size with confidence.
The Bottom Line
Finding your sunglass model number and lens size is a one-minute job: check the inside of the temple arms, read the model code and the three-number size sequence, and note the lens width. When the printing has worn off, the box, your order history, or a quick ruler measurement fills the gap. With the model name and lens size in hand, ordering an exact-fit pair of replacement lenses takes a few clicks, and your favorite frames get a second life instead of a spot in a drawer.