Sizing
Bangle and cuff sizing: the measurement nobody tells you to take
A bangle that fits your wrist perfectly is useless if it will not go over your hand. That is the whole problem.
Zayr Studio3 min read
Updated
Bracelets are sized by the wrist. Bangles are not — they have no clasp, so the only measurement that matters is whether they clear the widest part of your hand. Those two numbers are different by two to four centimetres on most people, which is exactly why so many bangles arrive and never get past the knuckles.
Measuring for a bangle
- Bring your thumb across to touch your little finger, as if you were about to slide a bangle on. This is the position that matters, not a flat hand.
- Wrap a tape or a strip of paper around the widest part of the hand in that position — usually across the knuckles and the base of the thumb.
- Mark the overlap, lay it flat, and read the length in millimetres. That is your hand circumference.
- Divide by 3.14 to get the diameter you need. Or use the chart below, which does it for you.
- Add 2–3 mm to the result for comfort. A bangle that only just clears is a bangle you will struggle with every time.
| Hand circumference | Diameter needed | Indian/Pakistani size | Usually described as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150–160 mm | 50–52 mm | 2.2 | Small |
| 160–172 mm | 52–55 mm | 2.4 | Small to medium |
| 172–184 mm | 55–58 mm | 2.6 | Medium — the most ordered |
| 184–196 mm | 58–62 mm | 2.8 | Medium to large |
| 196–208 mm | 62–65 mm | 2.10 | Large |
| 208 mm+ | 65 mm+ | 2.12 | Extra large |
Cuffs are a different measurement entirely
A cuff is an open bangle. It goes on from the side rather than over the hand, which means hand size is irrelevant and two other numbers matter instead: the inner circumference, and the gap.
- Measure your wrist where the cuff will sit, just below the wrist bone.
- Add 1 cm. That is the inner circumference you want — cuffs sit closer than bracelets because they do not hang.
- Check the gap. A 2.5–3 cm opening is standard and lets the cuff pass over the side of the wrist comfortably.
- A gap under 2 cm means you will be flexing the cuff to get it on, and flexing metal repeatedly is how cuffs eventually crack.
Adjusting a cuff, carefully
A cuff can be adjusted a few millimetres by hand and this is normal and expected. The rules: use both hands, apply pressure gradually along the whole arc rather than at the ends, and never open and close the same cuff repeatedly.
Steel tolerates this better than silver, which work-hardens and eventually snaps at the point of most flex. If you find yourself adjusting a cuff every time you wear it, the size is wrong rather than the cuff.
Which suits which wrist
| Bangle | Cuff | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing difficulty | Harder — depends on hand, not wrist | Easier — wrist only |
| Stacking | Excellent, and it is the point | One at a time, usually |
| Slim wrists | Slides around a lot | Sits still. The better choice |
| Broad wrists | Comfortable | Check the gap is generous |
| Daily wear | Noisy on a desk | Quieter and stays put |
| Exchange risk | High — get the hand measurement right | Low |
For a gift where you cannot measure the person, buy the cuff. Wrist size is far easier to estimate than hand circumference, and a cuff has a few millimetres of tolerance built in that a bangle simply does not. The wider gifting question is its own guide.
Every bangle that does not fit was bought on a wrist measurement. There is no exception to this and there never has been.
Common questions
How do I measure my bangle size at home?
Bring your thumb across to touch your little finger, then wrap a strip of paper around the widest part of your hand in that position. Measure the length, divide by 3.14 for the diameter you need, and add 2–3 mm for comfort. Your wrist measurement is not used at any point.
What does bangle size 2.4 or 2.6 mean?
They are inches written in eighths. 2.4 means two and four-eighths of an inch — 63 mm of circumference, about 52–55 mm across. It is why 2.10 is larger than 2.8 rather than smaller. 2.6 is the most commonly ordered size for adult women.
What size cuff bracelet should I buy?
Measure your wrist just below the wrist bone and add 1 cm — cuffs sit closer than bracelets because they do not hang. Also check the opening: 2.5–3 cm is standard and lets the cuff pass over the side of your wrist without being flexed each time.
Can I adjust a cuff bracelet to fit?
By a few millimetres, yes. Use both hands and press gradually along the whole arc rather than pulling at the ends. Steel handles this better than silver, which work-hardens and eventually cracks. If you are adjusting it every time you wear it, the size is wrong.
Ready when you are
Cash on delivery nationwide, exchanges on sizing.