Which silk scarf size should you buy?
If you only take one thing from this page: pick the size for the job. A 21 in (53 cm) bandana does the neck, the hair and a bag handle, and it is our most common size. A 35.5 in (90 cm) square adds the full head wrap and the night wrap on long hair.
What each size does
| Size | In cm | What it does | What it cannot do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 in | 53 cm | Neck knot, bandana fold, headband, bag handle, ponytail, wrist | Head wrap, shoulders, Parisian knot |
| 25.5–27.5 in | 65–70 cm | All neck knots, headband, bag handle, small head wrap | Full head wrap on long hair, shoulders |
| 35.5 in | 90 cm | Every neck knot, full head wrap, night wrap, halter top | Shoulder wrap in cold weather |
| 43.5–51 in | 110–130 cm | Shawl, shoulder wrap, beach cover-up, belt | Neck knots — far too much fabric |
The mistake most people make
Buying for a job the size cannot do. A 21 in (53 cm) square is the hardest-working one in the hair and on a bag handle, and it ties a neck knot or a neckerchief, but it will not wrap a whole head. If a full head wrap is what you want, go up to 35.5 in (90 cm).
The second mistake is buying the 51 in (130 cm) shawl as a first scarf because bigger sounds more versatile. It is not — it is a shawl. It will not tie at the neck.
See the difference rather than guess at a number. Our size guide draws every size to scale, side by side. Shop silk scarves.
Choosing by what you want it to do
- Something round my neck, most days → 21 in (53 cm) for a neck knot or a neckerchief, 27.5 in (70 cm) for the flatter Parisian knot. See the silk neck scarves.
- To wear in my hair → 21 or 27.5 in (53 or 70 cm) for headbands, ponytails and buns, 35.5 in (90 cm) for a full wrap. See silk scarves for hair.
- A full head wrap → 35.5 in (90 cm) minimum, 51 in (130 cm) for long or thick hair. See the silk head scarves.
- To protect my hair at night → 27.5 in (70 cm) for short to shoulder-length hair, 35.5 in (90 cm) for long hair, curls or locs. See sleeping in a silk scarf.
- On a bag handle → 21 or 27.5 in (53 or 70 cm) rolled tight. See tying a scarf on a bag.
- A ribbon for a ponytail, a wrist or a bag → a skinny silk scarf, 2 in (5 cm) wide.
- Over the shoulders → 43.5 in (110 cm) and up: the large silk scarves and shawls.
- A gift, and I do not know → a 21 in (53 cm) silk bandana. It works in the hair, at the neck and on a bag, so it suits whoever opens it.
Why scarf sizes also come in centimeters
Silk scarves have been sized in centimeters since the trade settled on Lyon and Como, and the convention stuck even in the US market. The conversions are worth knowing: 21 in is 53 cm, 25.5 in is 65 cm, 27.5 in is 70 cm, 35.5 in is 90 cm, 43.5 in is 110 cm, and 51 in is 130 cm.
Does weight matter as much as size?
It matters for knots. A very light silk in a large size slides out of a knot; a heavier silk holds. Some sellers give that weight in momme — the explanation is in silk or satin.
