13x4 vs 13x6 Lace Front: Which One Should You Buy?
The short answer
Buy a 13x4 unless you specifically want deep side parts, curtain bangs, or a ponytail that sweeps back. Buy a 13x6 if you part deep, and buy a 4x4 if you want the lowest price and don't need to move your part.
Here's the reasoning, with the numbers.
What the numbers actually mean
When you see 13x4 or 13x6, the first number is the width of the lace front in inches (how far it wraps around your head from ear to ear) and the second is the parting depth (how far back the lace extends from your forehead).
So:
| Lace size | Width | Parting depth | What that buys you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x4 | 4 in | 4 in | A defined part. Little or no room to change it. |
| 5x5 | 5 in | 5 in | Slightly more parting room than a 4x4, mid price. |
| 13x4 | 13 in | 4 in | Real side parts and middle parts, hair swept across the forehead. |
| 13x6 | 13 in | 6 in | Deep side parts, curtain bangs, hair pulled back without exposing lace. |
| Full lace | Whole cap | Whole cap | Part anywhere, high ponytails, 360° styling. |
13x4 vs 13x6, side by side
| 13x4 | 13x6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Parting depth | 4 inches | 6 inches |
| Side part | Shallow to medium | Shallow to deep |
| Middle part | Yes, clean | Yes, cleaner |
| Curtain bangs | Workable | Natural-looking |
| Swept back off the face | Leaves a visible lace line at the temples | Full coverage |
| Ponytail | Back of head only | Back of head only |
| Relative price | Lower | About 20–30% higher |
| Install time | Same | Same |
How to decide in one question
Ask yourself: do I want to wear my part in the same place every day?
- Yes → 4x4 closure. The cheapest correct answer. A 4x4 closure has a small lace square at the front; the rest of the cap is wefted hair. You get a clean, defined part, you get a lower price, and you spend the difference on better hair instead of cap construction.
- No, I want to change it up → 13x4. This is the size we recommend to about 80% of people, and it's the size our own factory sells most of. Four inches of parting depth covers almost every style people actually wear: side part, middle part, swept across the forehead, tucked behind the ears.
- I specifically want deep side parts, curtain bangs, or hair pulled fully back → 13x6. The extra two inches of depth is the difference between "the lace shows at the temple" and "it doesn't." This matters most for anyone with a high hairline or a very defined hairline edge.
- I want a ponytail → full lace. Neither a 13x4 nor a 13x6 front will do this; the hair is wefted around the back. If you want to pull it up into a ponytail, you need full lace or a half-lace construction.
Where it gets confusing: HD lace
HD lace is a thickness, not a size. HD lace is roughly 0.8 mm thick versus about 1.5 mm for standard Swiss lace. It's thinner, so it's less visible — especially with a middle part or under a camera.
HD lace and 13x4 are not competitors. They're different axes: size decides how much you can style, lace type decides how invisible it is. You can have a 13x4 in HD lace (which is what we make), and that's the version most people want.
See our HD lace wigs for how we finish them.
What about density?
Independent of lace size, and it changes the look more than most people expect:
- 180% — matches a natural hairline. The safe choice for most people, and what we recommend for a first wig.
- 210% — noticeably fuller. Good on 3C textures and for anyone who wants more visual volume.
- 250% — built for 4C textures. On 4C, 250% is the density that actually matches a natural head. On 3C it will look very full.
The 60-second decision tree
- Ponytail or high updo? → Full lace (our full lace braided styles)
- Deep side part or curtain bangs? → 13x6
- Change your part, want a middle part? → 13x4
- Same part every day, want the best price? → 4x4 closure
- First wig ever? → 13x4 in 180% density, worn glueless