A flat back stud is an earring whose post ends in a flat disc behind the ear, instead of a pointed post held by a butterfly back. The decorative top attaches from the front, either by screwing into the post or by pressing in on a pin. Piercers use flat back studs widely, especially for cartilage piercings, because they sit flat against the head. For a child's healed lobe, they have real strengths and a few drawbacks worth knowing before you choose. Our safety FAQ explains how our own earrings are made.
How a flat back stud is built
The post and disc are one piece. A flat disc sits behind the ear, and a straight post runs from it through the piercing.
The top attaches from the front. On an internally threaded stud, the top screws into the post. On a threadless stud, the top has a thin pin that's bent slightly and pushed into the post, where tension holds it.
The post has a fixed length. It's chosen to suit the thickness of the lobe. There's no sliding a back closer or further away.
The post is often thicker. Standard earring posts are commonly around 20 gauge. Flat back studs from piercers are often 18 or 16 gauge, which is thicker, so they don't always fit a lobe pierced for standard earrings.
Where flat backs work well
Sleeping and phones. Nothing points into the side of her head, which is why they're comfortable against a pillow.
Cartilage and fresh piercings. Professional piercers choose them because the length can be set with room for swelling and changed later. That's the piercer's department, and they're right to use them there.
Security, when they're fitted properly. A well-threaded top doesn't slide off the way a loose back can.
Where they're awkward for children
Small fingers and small parts. A threadless top or a tiny threaded top is finicky to take out and put back. For a child who removes her earrings for swimming or sport, it becomes a job for an adult every time.
A fixed length on a changing ear. If her lobe swells from irritation, or the post is simply too short, the disc presses into the back of the lobe. Parents describe flat backs sinking into the skin in exactly that situation. If a back has disappeared into her lobe, don't try to work it out yourself. Take her to her pediatrician.
Moisture behind the disc. Some flat back designs hold a small space behind the lobe where sweat and water sit. Skin held damp for long periods is more easily irritated and holds more build-up, so the back needs cleaning and drying like any other.
Mismatched post gauges. A thicker post in a hole pierced for standard earrings can be uncomfortable and stretch the hole.
Flat back or butterfly back
| Flat back stud | Butterfly back stud | |
|---|---|---|
| What sits behind the ear | Flat disc, fixed to the post | Butterfly clutch on the post |
| How it adjusts | The post length is fixed | Slides to fit the lobe |
| Taking it out | Unscrew or pull off the top from the front | Pull the back off the post |
| Easiest for | Adults, piercers, cartilage, sleeping | Children, everyday lobe wear |
| Watch for | Too short a post, lost tiny tops | Backs set too tight or too loose |
Neither design is safe or unsafe by itself. The material of every part, and how well the back fits, matter more than which style it is.
Questions to ask about any flat back stud
- What is the post and disc made of, and is the top the same material?
- What gauge is the post, and does it match her piercing?
- What length is the post, and is there room if her lobe swells a little?
- Threaded or threadless, and can she manage it herself?
What we do
We make butterfly-back studs only. Sometimes you can't reinvent the wheel, and for a child's healed lobe the original design still does the job best. Every pair uses a double-notch post, so the butterfly sits on the lobe at the right tension, not too tight and not too loose. It's easy for her to put on, secure once it's on, and easy to take off.
I've also heard enough accounts from parents of flat backs sinking into ears to be cautious about them for young children. That's not a verdict on flat backs for adults or piercers. It's a judgement about small hands and growing ears.
The butterfly back is held to the same standard as the front. The S316L Surgical Steel core runs through the setting, the post and the back, and on our gold range the whole earring is then finished in pure 24 karat gold with Aunix™ 24K, our engineered gold finish, a gold-plating process. Independently tested by SGS, with the post and the back tested as well as the front, and nickel release not detected under EN 1811.
If the backs are what keeps going missing, the Butterfly Backs in 24K Pure Gold are sold in packs of five. The earrings themselves are on the 24K Pure Gold collection.
Questions parents ask next
What is a flat back earring called? Often a labret stud, a name taken from lip piercings, where the design is common. You'll also see flat back stud or flatback.
Are flat back earrings better for sleeping? Usually, yes. With nothing pointing into her head they're more comfortable against a pillow, as long as the post length is right.
Can I put a flat back stud in a standard ear piercing? Sometimes. Check the gauge first, because many flat back studs are thicker than standard earring posts.
Why does the top of her flat back stud keep falling out? A threadless pin has lost its bend, or a threaded top has loosened. Either way, it's worth having it checked rather than pushing it back in.
Are butterfly backs a good choice for kids? They're the most common back on children's earrings. Made of a named metal and fitted at the right tension, they suit everyday wear, and we've written about the common worries in our butterfly back article.
Related reading
- Are butterfly back earrings bad?
- What do I do if an earring back is stuck in her ear?
- Why do her earrings keep falling out?
- Why do earrings hurt when she sleeps in them?
About the author. Matt Westmore is the founder of purepixxi. He came to children's jewelry from manufacturing and sourcing rather than marketing, which means he has walked the factory floors and knows what is actually inside a product rather than what a label says about it. purepixxi uses two materials only, names them exactly, and has them independently tested.
