Short answer: an Indian bangle size is the inside diameter of the bangle, written as inches plus sixteenths. A 2.4 is 2 and 4/16 inches across the inside (about 5.7 cm), a 2.6 is 2 and 6/16 inches (about 6 cm), and a 2.8 is 2 and 8/16 inches (about 6.35 cm). To find yours, measure across the inside of a bangle that already fits you, or measure around your hand at the knuckles and divide by 3.14.
That one idea, sixteenths of an inch, explains almost every confusing thing about bangle sizes, including why a 2.10 is bigger than a 2.8. The chart, three ways to measure at home and the fit questions people actually ask are below.
Bangle size chart: inches, cm and mm
The number before the point is whole inches. The number after it counts sixteenths of an inch. "Across" is the inside diameter; "around" is the inside circumference, which is the diameter multiplied by 3.14, which is useful if you measure with a string or tape instead of a ruler.
| Size | Across (in) | Across (mm) | Around (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 2 | 50.8 | 159.6 |
| 2.2 | 2 2/16 (2.125) | 54.0 | 169.6 |
| 2.4 | 2 4/16 (2.25) | 57.2 | 179.6 |
| 2.6 | 2 6/16 (2.375) | 60.3 | 189.5 |
| 2.8 | 2 8/16 (2.5) | 63.5 | 199.5 |
| 2.10 | 2 10/16 (2.625) | 66.7 | 209.4 |
| 2.12 | 2 12/16 (2.75) | 69.9 | 219.5 |
Some sellers write the same sizes as 2-4, 2-6 and 2-8, or call them 2/4, 2/6 and 2/8. They mean the same thing. A few international brands sell bangles as S, M and L or by circumference instead; if a listing does that, use the circumference column above to translate it. Our own bangles, measured inside the finished, wrapped bangle, run slightly larger than this standard chart; their figures are in the House of Falguni section below.
Why 2.10 is bigger than 2.8
Because the figure after the point is not a decimal. It is a count of sixteenths. A 2.8 is 2 and 8/16 inches; a 2.10 is 2 and 10/16 inches, which is two sixteenths (about 3 mm) larger. Read the sizes as a sequence, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 2.10, 2.12, and they climb in steps of 2/16 of an inch, roughly 3.2 mm each time.
The same logic catches people the other way round. A 2.4 and a 2.6 sound almost identical, but the 2.6 is a full 3.2 mm wider across, which is the difference between a bangle that slides on easily and one that stops at your knuckles.
How to measure your bangle size at home
Method 1: measure a bangle that already fits
This is the most reliable method, because it uses a bangle you already know is comfortable.
- Choose a rigid bangle you wear often and like the fit of, not an openable kada or an elastic one.
- Lay it flat and place a ruler across the inside, from inner edge to inner edge, through the centre.
- Read the distance in millimetres and match it to the nearest size in the chart.
If the bangle is slightly oval, measure the longest inside distance. If it falls between two sizes, note both and read the section on fit below.
Method 2: measure around your hand
A rigid bangle has to pass over the widest part of your hand, not just sit on your wrist, so this is the measurement that matters most when you have no bangle to copy.
- Bring your thumb in towards your little finger, as if you were slipping a bangle on.
- Wrap a soft tape, or a strip of paper or thread, around the widest part of the hand, across the knuckles. Keep it snug but not tight.
- Mark where it overlaps and measure the length in millimetres.
- Divide by 3.14. That is the smallest inside diameter that will pass over your hand.
- Choose the first size in the chart at or above that number.
Worked example: a hand measures 185 mm around the folded knuckles. 185 ÷ 3.14 = 58.9 mm. A 2.4 (57.2 mm) is smaller than that and will be a struggle; a 2.6 (60.3 mm) is the right starting size.
Method 3: trace a bangle on paper
If you do not have a ruler with millimetres, press a comfortable bangle flat on paper and trace around the inside edge with a sharp pencil. Measure across the widest part of the circle you drew. Tracing the outside edge is the most common mistake here, and it can push you a whole size too large.
How a bangle should fit
- Going on: a rigid bangle should need a gentle squeeze of the hand to pass the knuckles, not force. If you need soap or someone else's help, it is too small.
- On the wrist: it should move freely and rest a little above the wrist bone, without sliding back over your hand when your arm hangs down.
- Coming off: the same gentle squeeze should take it off. A bangle that only comes off with a struggle will crack (glass), bend (thin metal) or wear at the edges (fabric) over time.
Hands can swell slightly in heat, after salty food or at the end of a long day. If you measure on a cool morning and your hand is borderline between two sizes, that is a reason to choose the larger one.
Between two sizes? How the material changes the answer
| Bangle type | How it behaves | If you are between sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | Completely rigid; breaks if forced over the hand | Choose the larger size |
| Solid metal, gold or brass | Rigid and heavier; a loose one slides and knocks | Larger for comfort, or ask a jeweller for the half size |
| Fabric or thread over a plastic base | Rigid base with a soft, slightly thicker wrapped edge | Choose the larger size |
| Openable kada or screw bangle | Opens to go on, so only the wrist matters | Choose by wrist comfort, often the smaller |
| Elastic or beaded stretch | Stretches over the hand | Size matters much less |
A soft fabric surface feels gentler against the skin than glass or metal, but it does not stretch. Treat a fabric bangle on a plastic base exactly like any other rigid bangle when you choose the size.
Stacking changes the fit
When you wear several bangles on one arm, the stack sits wider than a single bangle and settles further down the hand. Two things follow from that:
- Keep every bangle in a stack the same size, so they sit together rather than in steps.
- If you mix sizes on purpose, put the smaller bangle nearest the hand so the larger ones do not slide over it.
A kada worn with thinner bangles is usually bought in the same size as the bangles. It looks heavier because of its width, not because it needs more room.
House of Falguni bangle sizes
| Set | What comes in it | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Phool Katha: Haldi Phool (mustard), Kaali Katha (black), Panna Phool (dark green) and Gulnaar (magenta) | A pair of floral printed cotton bangles on a plastic base | 2.4, 2.6 |
| Lariya | A kada and two leheriya fabric bangles with ghungroo | 2.6, 2.8 |
| Rangriti | A kada and four fabric bangles with real mirror work and ghungroo | 2.6, 2.8 (black: 2.4, 2.6) |
Rangriti now comes as six sets, one per colour: green, blue, maroon, orange, pink and black.
All our sizes are measured inside the finished, wrapped bangle, so the figure is the space your hand actually passes through: a 2.4 is 2.3 inches across (about 5.8 cm), a 2.6 is 2.4 inches (about 6.1 cm) and a 2.8 is 2.6 inches (about 6.6 cm). Size 2.6 is the one size all three share, so a 2.6 Phool Katha pair stacks with either of the other two sets. Our size chart has the same figures alongside the clothing sizes, and the full range is in the fabric bangles collection.
Buying bangles as a gift without knowing the size
You do not have to ask directly. Borrow a bangle she wears often for a minute and measure it with Method 1, or look at the size printed on the box of one she already owns. If neither is possible, choose the larger of the sizes on offer. A slightly loose rigid bangle can still be worn; a tight one cannot.
Frequently asked questions
What does bangle size 2.4 mean?
It means the inside diameter is 2 and 4/16 inches, which is 2.25 inches, 57.2 mm or about 5.7 cm.
What is bangle size 2.6 in cm?
About 6 cm. A 2.6 is 2 and 6/16 inches across the inside, which is 60.3 mm.
Is 2.10 bigger than 2.8?
Yes. The number after the point counts sixteenths of an inch, so 2.10 is 2 and 10/16 inches (66.7 mm) and 2.8 is 2 and 8/16 inches (63.5 mm).
How do I measure my bangle size without a bangle?
Fold your thumb towards your little finger, measure around the widest part of the hand in millimetres, and divide by 3.14. Choose the first size at or above that number.
Should I size up or down if I am between two sizes?
For rigid bangles in glass, metal or fabric over a plastic base, size up. A slightly loose bangle can be worn; one that will not pass your knuckles cannot. Openable kadas are the exception, because they only need to fit the wrist.
Are bangle sizes the same at every brand?
Most Indian sellers use the same sixteenths system, so a 2.6 should be 2.6 everywhere. Brands that list S, M and L or only circumference are using their own scale, so convert with the chart above rather than assuming.
Do fabric bangles fit differently from glass or metal bangles?
The size system is the same. Fabric-wrapped bangles on a plastic base are just as rigid as glass, with a softer and slightly thicker edge, so choose the larger size if you are unsure.
