Size guide
Four shapes — the skinny scarf, the 21 in (53 cm) bandana, the square in three sizes and the 51 in (130 cm) shawl. All drawn to scale, inches first, with what each one actually does.
Silhouette: a 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) woman, crown to wrists. Dashed outline: the 51 in (130 cm) shawl. Ruler ticks every 5 in (12.7 cm).
Skinny scarf
2 – 5 in wide · 5 – 12 cm wide
A narrow band of silk: wound round a bag handle, knotted at the neck like a thin tie, or tied over a ponytail.
- Best uses
- Bag, neck, hair
- Knots that work
- Spiral on a handle, flat knot, hair tie
Bandana
18 – 23 in · 45 – 58 cm
The smallest square — what the US calls a bandana, or a neckerchief. A headband, a neckerchief folded in a triangle, a kerchief over the crown knotted at the nape, a bow on a bag handle. Folded on the bias it still goes round the neck; a full head wrap and the shoulders need a larger square.
- Best uses
- Hair, neck, head, bag
- Knots that work
- Headband, neck triangle, kerchief, bag bow
Small square
23 – 31 in · 59 – 79 cm
A roomier bandana: neck knots, a headband, a bow on a bag handle that shows from a distance. It wraps short hair for the night, but not long hair.
- Best uses
- Neck, hair, bag
- Knots that work
- Neck knot, headband, bag bow
Square
31 – 41 in · 80 – 104 cm
The classic square, and the one that does the most: neck knots, a headband, a full head wrap or a sleep wrap on hair of any length, a knotted top, a bow on a bag.
- Best uses
- Neck, hair, bag, sleep
- Knots that work
- Neck knot, head wrap, knotted top, bag bow
Large square
41 – 51 in · 105 – 129 cm
More fabric: folded into a triangle it covers the shoulders, knots as a top and wraps curls without slipping.
- Best uses
- Shoulders, hair, top
- Knots that work
- Shoulder wrap, knotted top, head wrap
Shawl
51 in and up · 130 cm and up
Worn open rather than knotted: a wrap over a dress, a sarong at the beach, or a big head wrap.
- Best uses
- Shoulders, beach, head
- Knots that work
- Evening wrap, sarong, big head wrap
Every size in one table
| Size | Inches | Centimeters | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skinny scarf | 2 – 5 in wide | 5 – 12 cm wide | Bag handle, neck, ponytail |
| Bandana | 18 – 23 in | 45 – 58 cm | Headband, neckerchief, kerchief, bag |
| Small square | 23 – 31 in | 59 – 79 cm | Neck knots, headband, bag |
| Square | 31 – 41 in | 80 – 104 cm | Neck knots, headband, sleep wrap |
| Large square | 41 – 51 in | 105 – 129 cm | Shoulders, knotted top, head wrap |
| Shawl | 51 in and up | 130 cm and up | Evening wrap, sarong, big head wrap |
Bands, not fixed sizes: suppliers cut to their own dimensions, so each scarf states its exact measurement on its own page. Measured flat, edge to edge, hem included.
How each shape is worn
Pick a shape and see the three ways it actually gets worn. The size decides what a scarf can do far more than the print does. The small square behaves like a generous bandana and the large square like the square, so they are not shown separately.
A ribbon. Three places it ends up.
Shop skinny scarves- Bag handle
Wound round the handle in a spiral and knotted. The one thing only a ribbon does well. - At the neck
Two turns and a flat knot, worn like a thin tie or a choker. - Round a ponytail
Tied over the elastic, ends left long.
The three ways it gets worn most.
Shop bandanas- Headband
Folded into a band and knotted on top or underneath. The native use of this size. - Neck triangle
Folded corner to corner: the hypotenuse is twice a neck, so the knot sits easily. - Kerchief
Folded in a triangle over the crown, knotted at the nape. For a full head wrap, take 35.5 in (90 cm).
The three ways it gets worn most.
Shop squares- Neck knot
Rolled into a band first, then knotted. A flat square slips, a rolled one holds all day. - Head wrap
This is the size head wraps are cut to: it covers the head in a triangle and ties behind. - Knotted top
Two corners at the neck, two at the back. Below 31 in (80 cm) there is not enough cloth.
Worn open, not knotted.
Shop shawls- Over a dress
Draped on the shoulders, ends hanging. Most of the demand for this size is for evenings. - Beach cover-up
From 51 in (130 cm) the square goes right round the hips and holds as a sarong. - Head and shoulders
One length covering both, the way a hijab square is cut.
Ranked by what people search for, month after month, then filtered by what the size can physically do.
Which size for which use
-
On the head21 in (53 cm) as a headband or a kerchief knotted at the nape. 27.5 in (70 cm) adds a sleep wrap on short to shoulder hair. 35.5 in (90 cm) for a full wrap, long hair, curls or locs.Read the hair wrap guide
-
On the body21 or 27.5 in (53 or 70 cm) at the neck, 35.5 in (90 cm) over the shoulders or knotted as a top, 51 in (130 cm) as an evening shawl or a sarong.Read the tying guide
-
As a knotA skinny scarf wound round a bag handle, a 21 in (53 cm) square for a bow on a handbag, 27.5 in (70 cm) if you want the bow to show from a distance.Five ways to wear it on a bag
Measure a scarf you own
The fastest way to know which of our sizes matches the one you already wear.
Lay it flat
On a table, without pulling. Silk stretches slightly on the bias and will read larger.
Measure edge to edge
Hem included, along one side. A square is measured on one side only, not diagonally.
Round to the nearest size
Between two sizes, take the larger one: a knot always eats an inch or two (2.5–5 cm).
Questions about sizes
What is the difference between a small square and a square?
About eight inches (20 cm) — 27.5 in (70 cm) against 35.5 in (90 cm) — and it changes what the scarf can do. A small square, 23 to 31 in (59 to 79 cm), ties at the neck and holds as a headband. A square, 31 to 41 in (80 to 104 cm), does all of that and wraps hair of any length for the night. Between the two, take the larger one.
Is a 35.5 in (90 cm) square too big for the neck?
No, but it sits fuller. Roll it into a narrow band first, or fold it twice before knotting.
What if I pick the wrong size?
We refund rather than exchange, which is usually faster: order the size you want now and send the first one back. You have 14 days from delivery to ask for a return, then 14 more days to post the scarf back unused; return postage is yours unless it arrived faulty. Returns & Refunds.