Bracelet Size Chart: How to Measure Your Wrist

A bracelet size chart only works if you start from an accurate wrist measurement and then add the right amount of room for the style you want. A chain bracelet, a rigid bangle and an open cuff are not sized the same way, and that is where most sizing mistakes come from.

This guide shows three ways to measure your wrist at home, gives a size chart in inches and centimeters for women and men, explains how much ease to add for each type of bracelet and how to size a bangle, which has to pass over the hand rather than fit the wrist.

How to measure wrist size at home

Measure where you will actually wear the bracelet: usually just above the round wrist bone, on the hand side of the forearm. Take the measurement at the end of the day if you can, when the wrist is at its fullest, and measure the wrist you will wear the bracelet on.

With a soft tape measure

1. Wrap the tape around the wrist, just above the wrist bone.
2. Keep it flat and snug against the skin, without squeezing.
3. Read the number where the tape overlaps, in inches or centimeters.
4. Measure twice; if the results differ, keep the larger one.

With a strip of paper or a string

1. Cut a strip of paper about 1/4 in (5 to 6 mm) wide, or take a non-stretchy string.
2. Wrap it around the wrist in the same spot and mark where it overlaps with a pen.
3. Lay it flat on a ruler and measure up to the mark.

Your wrist can vary slightly with heat, time of day or exercise. If a bracelet leaves a mark on the skin after a few hours, it is generally too small. Paper is more reliable than string, which can stretch or slip. Whatever the method, a measurement taken too tight is the most common error, so let the tape rest on the skin rather than pulling it.

With a bracelet you already own

If you have a bracelet that fits you well, use it as a reference. This is also the simplest answer to how to measure bracelet size: lay a chain bracelet flat, closed or fully open, and measure from end to end including the clasp. For a bangle, measure the inside diameter straight across, from inner edge to inner edge. Then compare that figure with the bracelet length or diameter listed on the product page.

Bracelet size chart for women and men

Find your wrist measurement in the left columns, then read the usual bracelet length for a comfortable chain bracelet fit. Women most often fall between XS and M, men between M and XL, but your measurement matters more than these habits.

Letter sizes are not standardized between brands. Always check the length in centimeters or inches given on each product page, and choose the size closest to your wrist measurement plus the ease that suits the style.

How much room to add, style by style

The gap between your wrist and the bracelet, called ease, depends on how the bracelet is built and how you like to wear it.

• Snug: wrist + 0.25 to 0.5 in (0.5 to 1 cm). The bracelet stays in place but can feel tight in summer.
• Comfort: wrist + 0.5 to 0.75 in (1.5 to 2 cm). The most common choice for chain bracelets.
• Loose: wrist + about 1 in (2.5 cm). The bracelet moves and slides toward the hand.

Chain bracelets

Fine chains are usually worn at comfort fit, and many have an extender chain that adds a little flexibility. A thicker chain takes up more room inside the circle, so add a little extra ease for wide links. A delicate gold chain bracelet is a good example of a piece worn at comfort fit.

Tennis bracelets

A tennis bracelet, a continuous line of set stones, looks best fairly close to the wrist so it does not spin and show the back of the settings. Aim for wrist + 0.25 to 0.5 in (0.5 to 1.5 cm), as with our gold tennis bracelet.

Beaded and stretch bracelets

Elastic bracelets should be close to your wrist measurement plus about 0.5 in (1 cm). Too small, the elastic stays under tension and wears out faster; too big, the bracelet slips. Roll a stretch bracelet on and off rather than pulling it wide.

Men's bracelets and curb chains

Men often prefer a little more room, around 0.75 to 1 in (2 to 2.5 cm), especially with wide links such as those in our cuban link bracelets. A wide chain worn too tight feels stiff and pinches the skin.

Bangle size chart: measuring your hand

A bangle is rigid and closed, so it must pass over the widest part of the hand, not just fit the wrist. Fold your thumb toward your little finger as if you were slipping on a bangle, then wrap the tape around the widest part of the hand, across the knuckles.

That hand measurement is the minimum inside circumference of your bangle. Bangles are usually described by their inside diameter; divide the circumference by 3.14 to find it. Common inside diameters are:

• Small: about 2.25 to 2.4 in (57 to 60 mm), for small, slim hands.
• Medium: about 2.5 in (63 to 64 mm), the most common size for women.
• Large: about 2.6 to 2.75 in (67 to 70 mm), for wider hands and many men.

If you are between two sizes, choose the larger one: a bangle that will not pass the knuckles cannot be worn at all. Browse our bangle bracelets with your measurement in hand.

Cuff bracelets

An open cuff slips on from the side of the wrist, through the narrowest part, so you measure the wrist and not the hand. Most cuffs can be adjusted slightly by pressing gently on both ends. Do it once, slowly, rather than opening and closing the cuff repeatedly, which tires the metal. A polished cuff bracelet should rest just above the wrist bone without sliding over it.

Average wrist size for women and men

Sizing guides commonly place most adult women's wrists between about 6 and 7 in (15 to 18 cm) and most men's between about 7 and 8 in (18 to 20 cm). These ranges explain why a 7 in bracelet is often treated as a standard women's size and an 8 in bracelet as a standard men's size.

An average is useful when you buy a gift and cannot measure, but wrists vary widely with build, so a real measurement is always more reliable. For a gift, a chain with an extender or an adjustable bracelet is the safest bet.

Wearing several bracelets

When you stack bracelets on one wrist, the bracelet closest to the hand should be the snuggest, and looser or heavier pieces can sit a little higher. Mix one rigid piece with one or two chains so they do not all slide in the same place.

The same measuring habits apply to your other jewelry: a ring needs a finger measurement taken just as carefully, using our ring size chart, and a matching necklace depends on where it falls on the neck, explained in our necklace length guide. If you like a full hand, our tips on how to stack rings help balance rings and bracelets together.

FAQ

Is a 7 inch bracelet too big for me?

Compare it with your wrist measurement. A 7 in bracelet gives a comfortable fit on a wrist of about 6.25 to 6.5 in (16 to 16.5 cm). On a smaller wrist it will slide toward the hand; on a larger wrist it will feel tight.

What is a bangle size chart based on?

Bangle sizes are based on the inside diameter or inside circumference of the bangle. Since a bangle goes over the hand, you size it from your hand measurement with the thumb folded in, not from the wrist.

Which wrist should I measure?

Measure the wrist you plan to wear the bracelet on. Many people wear bracelets on their non-dominant wrist, and the dominant one can be slightly larger.

What if I am between two sizes?

For chain bracelets, choose according to the fit you prefer: the smaller size for a close fit, the larger one for a looser look. For bangles, always take the larger size.