Bangle Size Chart: Inside Diameter, Indian Sizes and How to Measure
For anyone buying a solid bangle, a kada or a hinged bangle. A bangle has to pass over the hand, so it is sized by the hand, not the wrist.
Bangles are sized by inside diameter. In the Indian system the number after the 2 counts sixteenths of an inch: 2.4 = 2 4/16 in (57.2 mm), 2.6 = 2 6/16 in (60.3 mm) and 2.8 = 2 8/16 in (63.5 mm). To find yours, measure around your hand with the thumb tucked in and divide by 3.14.
- Size 2.4
- 57.2 mm (2.25 in)
- Size 2.6
- 60.3 mm (2.375 in)
- Size 2.8
- 63.5 mm (2.5 in)
- One size step
- 3.2 mm diameter
On this page
Bangle size chart (inside diameter)
Indian jewelers write bangle sizes as two numbers: whole inches, then sixteenths of an inch. Sizes rise in steps of 2/16 in (1/8 in, or 3.2 mm of diameter), which adds about 10 mm to the inside circumference.
| Size | Diameter (in) | Diameter (mm) | Inside circumference | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.12 | 1 12/16 = 1.75 | 44.5 | 140 mm (5.50 in) | Young children |
| 1.14 | 1 14/16 = 1.875 | 47.6 | 150 mm (5.89 in) | Children |
| 2.0 | 2.0 | 50.8 | 160 mm (6.28 in) | Older children, very small adult hands |
| 2.2 | 2 2/16 = 2.125 | 54.0 | 170 mm (6.68 in) | Small |
| 2.4 | 2 4/16 = 2.25 | 57.2 | 180 mm (7.07 in) | Small to medium |
| 2.6 | 2 6/16 = 2.375 | 60.3 | 189 mm (7.46 in) | Medium |
| 2.8 | 2 8/16 = 2.5 | 63.5 | 200 mm (7.85 in) | Medium to large |
| 2.10 | 2 10/16 = 2.625 | 66.7 | 209 mm (8.25 in) | Large |
| 2.12 | 2 12/16 = 2.75 | 69.9 | 219 mm (8.64 in) | Extra large, many men's kadas |
| 2.14 | 2 14/16 = 2.875 | 73.0 | 229 mm (9.03 in) | Men's kadas |
The same sizes are often written with a hyphen (2-6) and spoken as "two six". A few older listings use "anna" units, a traditional measure; ask the seller for millimeters if you see one. Retailers' millimeter figures for the same size occasionally differ by one step, so when a product page lists the inside diameter in mm, go by that.
How to measure your hand for a bangle
A bangle must slide over the widest part of the hand, across the knuckles, with the hand squeezed narrow. The wrist measurement does not matter for a solid round bangle.
- Make the hand narrow. Bring the fingers together and fold the thumb across the palm so its tip touches the base of the little finger, as if putting on a bangle.
- Measure around the widest part. Wrap a soft tape or a strip of paper around the knuckles, over the folded thumb. Pull it snug but do not crush the hand.
- Divide by 3.14. The result is the smallest inside diameter that will pass. A 190 mm reading gives 60.5 mm, so choose 2.6 (60.3 mm) only if the bangle can be eased on; otherwise choose 2.8.
- Round up between sizes, and go one size up for bangles wider than about 10 mm, which cannot be tilted as far as they pass over the knuckles.
If you own a bangle that slides on with a little effort, measure its inside diameter across the center. That single number is a better guide than any hand measurement.
For a sense of scale: in the ANSUR II survey, average hand circumference around the knuckles, without the thumb, was 187 mm (7.4 in) for women and 212 mm (8.4 in) for men. With the thumb folded in the figure rises, and soft tissue then compresses as the bangle slides on, which is why many women wear 2.4 to 2.8 (180 to 200 mm inside circumference).
Western bangle sizes: small, medium, large
Western brands rarely use the Indian scale. They label bangles small, medium and large, or give the inside diameter or inside circumference directly. There is no common standard, so treat the ranges below as typical rather than fixed.
| Label | Diameter | Inside circumference | Nearest Indian size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra small | 55 to 57 mm | 173 to 179 mm | 2.2 to 2.4 |
| Small | 58 to 61 mm | 182 to 192 mm | 2.4 to 2.6 |
| Medium | 62 to 65 mm | 195 to 204 mm | 2.8 |
| Large | 66 to 69 mm | 207 to 217 mm | 2.10 to 2.12 |
| Extra large | 70 mm and up | 220 mm and up | 2.12 and up |
When a listing gives a circumference, it is almost always the inside circumference. Divide by 3.14 to compare it with the diameters above.
Oval, hinged and open bangles
Not every bangle has to pass over the hand.
- Oval bangles are listed as two inside dimensions, for example 60 × 50 mm. The long axis has to pass over the hand like a round bangle, while the short axis sits closer to the wrist, so an oval stays in place better.
- Hinged bangles open on a hinge and close with a clasp, so they are sized by the wrist. Choose an inside circumference about 0.75 to 1 in (2 to 2.5 cm) larger than the wrist.
- Open or cuff-style bangles have a gap and slide on sideways at the wrist. They are sized like cuffs: see the cuff section of the bracelet size guide.
- Charm bangles with a screw-off end are sized like round bangles, but each charm hangs inward and reduces the clearance. The charm size guide covers how much room charms take.
Bangle width and thickness
Width is measured along the arm; thickness is the depth of the metal from inside to outside. Both affect fit as well as look.
| Width | Inches | Style | Fit note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 mm | 0.08 to 0.16 in | Thin stacking bangles, glass bangles | Worn in sets; slide on easily |
| 5 to 8 mm | 0.20 to 0.31 in | Everyday gold and silver bangles | True to size |
| 10 to 15 mm | 0.39 to 0.59 in | Statement bangles, kadas | Consider one size up |
| 20 mm and up | 0.79 in and up | Wide cuffs, bridal pieces | Usually hinged or open |
Thickness matters because it is the inside diameter that has to clear the hand. Two bangles both labeled 2.6 should have the same inside diameter, but a thick one weighs more and may be less comfortable against the wrist bone.
Misreading bangle sizes
- Reading 2.10 as smaller than 2.8. The second number counts sixteenths, so 2.10 (66.7 mm) is two steps larger than 2.8 (63.5 mm).
- Measuring the outside diameter. A bangle with 4 mm thick walls is 8 mm wider outside than inside, more than two sizes.
- Sizing a round bangle by the wrist. Round bangles are sized by the hand; only hinged and open styles go by the wrist.
- Forcing glass bangles. Glass does not flex. If it does not pass with soap and a slow twist, it needs the next size.
Stacks of bangles store best upright on a bangle bar or in a tray with deep sections; the jewelry box guide gives compartment depths. The same inside-diameter idea is used for ring sizes, just at a smaller scale.
Frequently asked questions
What does bangle size 2.10 mean?
It means 2 and 10/16 inches inside diameter, which is 2.625 in or 66.7 mm. It is not 2.1 inches: 2.10 is larger than 2.8, because the second number counts sixteenths.
What diameter should a bangle be?
Slightly larger than your compressed hand: measure around the knuckles with the thumb folded against the little finger, then divide by 3.14. For many women that gives 57 to 64 mm (sizes 2.4 to 2.8); larger hands need 66 mm (2.10) or more.
Is a 2.6 bangle small or large?
Medium. At 60.3 mm inside diameter and 189 mm (7.46 in) inside circumference, 2.6 fits many average women's hands. It sits between 2.4 (smaller) and 2.8 (larger).
How do I measure a bangle I already own?
Lay it flat and measure across the inside, from inner edge to inner edge, through the center. Turn it 90 degrees and measure again; if the readings differ, the bangle is oval and you should note both.
What size bangle fits a child?
Children aged about 3 to 10 typically wear 1.10 to 2.0 (41 to 51 mm). Bangles slip off small hands easily and are a hazard for babies and toddlers, so avoid them for under-3s.