A bangle has no clasp, so it has to pass over the widest part of your hand and then sit comfortably at the wrist. That makes the hand, not the wrist, the number that matters. This calculator turns the circumference of your hand, or the inner diameter of a bangle that already fits, into the standard Indian bangle size, from 2-2 to 3-0, with the inner diameter and circumference in millimetres and inches.
How to use the bangle size calculator
- Pick the method. Choose “My hand” if you have a soft tape, or “A bangle that fits” if you own one that slides on and off comfortably.
- Measure the hand. With your fingers together and the thumb folded towards the little finger, wrap the tape around the widest part: the knuckles and the thumb joint. Keep the tape level and do not squeeze. Take three readings.
- Or measure a bangle. Lay it flat and measure the inside, edge to edge, across the widest line, in centimetres, millimetres or inches.
- Read the size. The result shows the chart size and its inner diameter and circumference. If the hand falls between two sizes, the calculator gives the larger.
Bangle size formula
bangle method: size = chart size with the closest inner diameter
circumference ≈ π × inner diameter
The ladder below is the Indian bangle chart published by Bluestone (retrieved 2026-10-16). Each size is 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) larger in diameter than the one before. The printed circumferences are a little below π × diameter, usually by 0.1 to 0.3 mm, as the next table shows, so this page uses the chart’s own circumference figures for the hand method.
| Indian size | Inner diameter (mm) | Inner diameter (in) | Inner circumference (mm) | Inner circumference (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2 | 54.0 | 2.126 | 169.4 | 6.67 |
| 2-4 | 57.2 | 2.252 | 179.6 | 7.07 |
| 2-6 | 60.3 | 2.374 | 189.5 | 7.46 |
| 2-8 | 63.5 | 2.500 | 199.4 | 7.85 |
| 2-10 | 66.7 | 2.626 | 209.3 | 8.24 |
| 2-12 | 69.9 | 2.752 | 219.5 | 8.64 |
| 2-14 | 73.0 | 2.874 | 229.4 | 9.03 |
| 3-0 | 76.2 | 3.000 | 239.3 | 9.42 |
Chart circumference compared with π × diameter
| Size | Chart circumference (mm) | π × diameter (mm) | Difference (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2 | 169.4 | 169.6 | 0.2 |
| 2-4 | 179.6 | 179.7 | 0.1 |
| 2-6 | 189.5 | 189.4 | -0.1 |
| 2-8 | 199.4 | 199.5 | 0.1 |
| 2-10 | 209.3 | 209.5 | 0.2 |
| 2-12 | 219.5 | 219.6 | 0.1 |
| 2-14 | 229.4 | 229.3 | -0.1 |
| 3-0 | 239.3 | 239.4 | 0.1 |
Worked example
Your hand measures 19 cm (190 mm) around the knuckles and thumb joint.
- Size 2-6 has an inner circumference of 189.5 mm. That is 0.5 mm short of your hand, so it will not pass.
- Size 2-8 has an inner circumference of 199.4 mm, which clears 190 mm. This is the first size that fits.
- Its inner diameter is 63.5 mm (2.5 in), and the extra 9.4 mm of circumference is the clearance that lets the bangle slide over the hand.
Choosing between sizes
- Next larger when between sizes. This is the rule the chart’s publisher gives, and it avoids a bangle that cannot pass the hand.
- Wide thumb joint. If the thumb joint is much wider than the rest of the hand, go by the widest reading and the next size up.
- Thick or flat bangles. A wide or chunky bangle behaves smaller than its label because the opening is stiffer, so check the shop’s own chart.
- Both hands. Measure both and take the larger, especially if you will wear the bangle on the dominant hand.
This tool covers closed bangles. For fingers use the Ring Size Calculator, for a necklace the Necklace Length Calculator and for watches the Watch Band Size Calculator. The result is general guidance based on one published chart.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these pages, read directly on the date shown. Brand names are used only to identify published charts.
- Bluestone — Bangle size chart: how to measure the right fit (size ladder 2-2 to 3-0 and hand-measuring method) — retrieved 2026-10-16
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my hand for a bangle?
Bring your fingers together, tuck the thumb towards the little finger and wrap a soft tape around the widest part, the knuckles and the thumb joint, without squeezing. Take the reading three times and use the largest steady one. If you have no soft tape, mark a strip of paper and measure it against a ruler.
What if my hand is between two bangle sizes?
Choose the next larger size. A bangle that is slightly loose is easy to wear and can be fixed with a thin matching bangle on the same wrist. One that is too small will not pass the hand, or has to be forced over it.
What do sizes like 2-4 and 2-6 mean?
In India the number before the dash is whole inches of inner diameter and the number after it counts sixteenths of an inch, as the chart’s diameters show: 2-4 is 2 and 4/16 inches, which is 2.25 inches or 57.2 mm. Each size steps up by 1/8 inch, about 3.2 mm of diameter.
Should I measure my hand or a bangle I already own?
A bangle you already wear comfortably is the most reliable guide because it already has the right clearance for your hand. Lay it flat and measure across the inside edge to edge, then use the second method of this calculator.
Do all jewellers use the same chart?
The 2-2 to 3-0 ladder is widely shared, but individual shops round the millimetre figures differently, and bangles with a thick or oval section can wear smaller than their label. Check the product page of the shop you are buying from. See the Ring Size Calculator for finger sizes.