The LC9 has a 3.12-inch (8 cm) barrel, and is 6 inches (15 cm) long and 4.5 inches (11 cm) tall. The LC9 is 0.9 inches (2 cm) wide, and weighs 17.1 ounces (485 g) with an empty magazine. It features a black polymer (glass-filled nylon) frame and blued alloy steel slide and barrel. The gun ships with one magazine, including two interchangeable base pads—one that fits flush with the frame, and the other (fitted to the magazine from the factory) that provides a grip extension of about 0.5 inches (1 cm).[1]The Ruger LC9 was chosen as the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence's Handgun of the Year in 2011.

In 2013, Ruger released a 9-round extended magazine for the LC9