Rectangle and rectangular frames

What is a rectangular frame?

A rectangular frame has lenses that are clearly wider than they are tall, with straight top and bottom edges and gently squared corners.

Think of it as a square frame stretched sideways and flattened. That lower lens depth gives the shape its character: it sits close to the brow, covers less of the cheek and takes up less visual space than almost any other full-rim frame. For a lot of people that is exactly what they want from a pair of screen glasses: a lens that filters blue light from screens and cuts glare, without a fashion statement attached. It is also one of the easiest shapes to wear with a suit, a uniform or a hoodie.

Who do rectangular glasses suit?

Rectangular glasses suit round and oval faces best. The strong horizontal line gives a round face definition, and oval faces carry the shape comfortably.

On a round face, the straight top bar and flat lower edge introduce lines the face does not have, which makes it look more structured and slightly narrower. Oval faces suit rectangles for the usual reason that balanced proportions suit most frames. Heart-shaped faces can wear them too, especially with a lighter or rimless lower edge. The shape is least successful on long or narrow faces, where a shallow lens can make the face look longer still. If your face is on the longer side, a deeper square frame is usually the better version of the same idea.

• Round faces: adds definition and a horizontal line
• Oval faces: a comfortable, balanced fit
• Heart-shaped faces: pick a lighter lower rim
• Long faces: choose a deeper lens or a square
• Narrow faces: keep the frame compact

How do you stop rectangular glasses looking dated?

Choose a rectangle with a bit more lens depth, a flatter top bar and less curve across the front. Very shallow, wraparound rectangles are what make the shape look like the early 2000s.

The office frame of that era was thin, shallow and curved around the face, and it now reads firmly of its time. Current rectangles are deeper, sit flatter and often have a slightly thicker top edge that echoes the brow. If a rectangle looks dated on you, the fix is usually more depth rather than a different shape altogether. Colour helps too: gunmetal, navy and dark tortoiseshell look fresher than shiny silver.

• Choose more lens depth, not less
• Look for a flat front rather than a wraparound curve
• A slightly thicker top bar reads current
• Gunmetal, navy and tortoiseshell over bright silver

How should a rectangular frame fit?

The frame should be about as wide as your face at the temples, with the top edge close to your brow line and your eyes near the vertical centre of each lens.

Because rectangles are shallow, placement matters more than with deeper shapes. If the frame sits too low on your nose, you will find yourself looking over the top edge rather than through the lens. If it sits too high, the bottom edge cuts across your eyes. The bridge should hold the frame steady so it does not slide as you look down at a keyboard or phone. On smaller faces, compact rectangles work well; our guide for small and narrow faces explains how to read the size numbers on the arm.

Metal, acetate or half-rim rectangles?

Thin metal rectangles are the lightest and most classic; acetate rectangles have more presence and colour; half-rim versions leave the lower edge open for a lighter look.

Metal rectangles are the traditional professional frame and suit people who want glasses to recede. The Boardroom Blue Light Reading Glasses are a gunmetal example at £14.99. Acetate rectangles are bolder and hold richer colours, such as the slim black front of the Red Lens Pro, which pairs the shape with a deep red lens. Half-rim frames, like the Half-Rim Readers Four Pack, drop the lower rim for a lighter, more open feel that many desk workers prefer.

Are rectangular glasses a good choice for work?

Yes. Rectangles are one of the most practical shapes for a desk day, because they are low profile, easy to forget you are wearing and neutral in almost any workplace.

They sit well on camera, where a dark top bar reads clearly without dominating the face. Their shallower lens also suits people who glance between a screen and papers on the desk, because there is less frame in the way. Some of our rectangles are reading glasses that also magnify the page, so check the strength options on each product page if you only want a blue light filter. If you mostly want something for long screen sessions, the full rectangle collection and the computer screen glasses range are the places to start.

Rectangle or square: which should you pick?

Pick a rectangle if you want the lowest-profile, most conservative look; pick a square if you want more presence or have a longer face.

Both add structure to a round face. The rectangle does it quietly, with a slim horizontal band; the square does it more boldly. For oval faces, it is a question of taste. For square jaws, neither is the most flattering choice, and softer oval frames or rounds usually balance the face better. If you are unsure, compare them in person rather than on screen, because depth is much easier to judge on your own face.

It also helps to think about how you will use the glasses day to day. A slim metal rectangle is ideal if you take your glasses on and off constantly, because it folds small and slips into a thin case. An acetate rectangle suits someone who keeps one pair on all day and wants a bit more colour. If you share a desk with a partner or colleague, a twin pack of simple rectangles means there is always a spare pair within reach. Whichever you choose, orders over £20 ship free across the UK, and our 30-day money-back guarantee with free returns covers you if the shape is not quite right.

Frequently asked