What size digital watch should I get?

The median digital watch in our catalog is 43.2 mm across with a 48.5 mm lug-to-lug and 13.4 mm thick. Lug-to-lug matters more than case size: for an ideal fit, keep it under 47.2 mm on a 6.5" wrist or 55.1 mm on a 7.5" wrist.

How much does a good digital watch cost?

The 28 current digital watches in our catalog run from $30 to $880 list, with a median of $100. The cheapest is the Casio F-91W F-91W-1.

What is the smallest-wearing digital watch?

By lug-to-lug, the Casio LA670W LA670WA-1 at 30.3 mm, followed by the Casio LA680W LA680WA-1 at 33.5 mm.

Are most digital watches automatic?

0% of the digital watches in our catalog with a known movement are mechanical (automatic or hand-wound); the rest are quartz or solar.

How long does a digital watch battery last?

Usually 3 to 7 years, depending on how often you use the backlight and alarm. Solar models like many G-Shocks never need a battery change in normal use.

Digital watches

A digital watch shows the time as numbers on a display instead of with hands. Almost all use an LCD driven by a quartz crystal, which makes them cheap, accurate and full of extra functions: alarms, stopwatches, world time, and on the higher end, solar charging and radio time-sync.

Current models

Median case

43.2 mm

Median lug-to-lug

48.5 mm

Median list price

$100

What makes a digital watch

An LCD, sometimes with analog hands as well (ana-digi)
A quartz movement that's usually more accurate than any mechanical watch
Alarm, stopwatch, timer and backlight as standard
Light resin cases, and on G-Shocks a shock-resistant structure

The Hamilton Pulsar of 1972 was the first digital watch, with a red LED display you lit with a button. Seiko's 1973 06LC brought the always-on LCD. Casio's F-91W, launched in 1989, is still in production and still costs about $20.

Case sizes

24–26 mm1
26–28 mm0
28–30 mm1
30–32 mm0
32–34 mm1
34–36 mm2
36–38 mm2
38–40 mm1
40–42 mm0
42–44 mm7
44–46 mm3
46–48 mm3
48–50 mm1
50–52 mm2
52–54 mm4

Case width of the 28 current digital watches in our catalog, from 3 brands. Of those with a known movement, 0% are mechanical.

Casio G-Shock GW-5000U GW-5000U-1 — Live eBay listings for picks below. Photos from eBay.

Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size T5E901 — Live eBay listings for picks below. Photos from eBay.

Best digital watches under $500

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Casio G-Shock GW-5000UGW-5000U-1	42.8 mm	48.9 mm	13.5 mm	200 m	Solar	$330	$290
Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-SizeT5E901	38 mm	—	—	100 m	—	$87	$30

Best digital watches from $500 to $1,500

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMW-B5000DGMW-B5000D-1	43.2 mm	49.3 mm	13 mm	200 m	Solar	$600	$440

One watch per brand in each price range, ordered by how many are listed on eBay right now, a rough measure of what people buy. List prices are manufacturer prices in US dollars.

Shortest lug-to-lug

Casio LA670W30.3 mm
Casio LA680W33.5 mm
Casio A158W36.8 mm
Casio A700W37.4 mm
Casio F-91W38.2 mm

Thinnest

Digital watches by wrist size

Questions

What size digital watch should I get?: The median digital watch in our catalog is 43.2 mm across with a 48.5 mm lug-to-lug and 13.4 mm thick. Lug-to-lug matters more than case size: for an ideal fit, keep it under 47.2 mm on a 6.5" wrist or 55.1 mm on a 7.5" wrist.
How much does a good digital watch cost?: The 28 current digital watches in our catalog run from $30 to $880 list, with a median of $100. The cheapest is the Casio F-91W F-91W-1.
What is the smallest-wearing digital watch?: By lug-to-lug, the Casio LA670W LA670WA-1 at 30.3 mm, followed by the Casio LA680W LA680WA-1 at 33.5 mm.
Are most digital watches automatic?: 0% of the digital watches in our catalog with a known movement are mechanical (automatic or hand-wound); the rest are quartz or solar.
How long does a digital watch battery last?: Usually 3 to 7 years, depending on how often you use the backlight and alarm. Solar models like many G-Shocks never need a battery change in normal use.