Bangle Size Chart Pakistan: Sawa 2, Dhai and What 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 Mean
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Pakistani bangle sizes describe the inner diameter — how wide the bangle is across the inside. 2.6 is Sawa 2 (2¼ inches), 2.8 is Dhai (2½ inches), 2.10 is Poonay 3 (2¾ inches). Most adult women in Pakistan take 2.6 or 2.8.
That is the short version. The longer version matters, because this is the single most confusing thing about buying bangles online — and getting it wrong means a pair that will not go over your hand, or one that slides off.
What does Sawa 2 mean in bangle size?
Sawa 2 means two and a quarter. A Sawa 2 bangle is 2¼ inches across the inside, which is 57 mm or 5.7 cm. It is usually written as 2.6 and fits slim to average adult hands. You will also see it spelled sava 2, swa 2 or sawa do, and the bangle itself called a chudi, churi or chori. They all describe the same size.
Sawa 2, Dhai and Poonay 3 in inches and cm
| Urdu name | Usually written as | Inches (inner diameter) | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sawa 2 | 2.6 | 2¼ in | 5.7 cm |
| Dhai | 2.8 | 2½ in | 6.35 cm |
| Poonay 3 | 2.10 | 2¾ in | 7.0 cm |
What the numbers actually mean
A bangle size is not a length or a weight. It is the inner diameter: the distance straight across the empty space in the middle. A 2.8 bangle has a 2½ inch hole. Your hand has to fold small enough to pass through that hole.
The written numbers — 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 2.10 — are a trade shorthand, and the honest truth is that they are not labelled consistently by every seller in Pakistan. What is never ambiguous is the Urdu name and the physical measurement. When in doubt, ask the seller for the diameter in inches, or ask which Urdu size it corresponds to.
The size chart
| Size | Urdu name | Inner diameter | Inner circumference | Who it usually fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | just under Sawa 2 | ~2 in / 51 mm | ~160 mm | Teens, very slim hands |
| 2.6 | Sawa 2 (2¼) | 2.25 in / 57 mm | 179 mm | Slim to average adult hands |
| 2.8 | Dhai (2½) | 2.5 in / 63.5 mm | 199 mm | Average to fuller adult hands |
| 2.10 | Poonay 3 (2¾) | 2.75 in / 70 mm | 220 mm | Fuller hands, or a looser fit |
Sawa means "and a quarter", dhai means "two and a half", and poonay means "a quarter less than". So Sawa 2 is 2¼, Dhai is 2½, and Poonay 3 is 2¾. These fractions are exact and they do not vary between sellers — which is why they are the safer thing to quote when ordering.
How to find your size in two minutes
Method 1 — measure your hand (most accurate)
- Bring your thumb across towards your little finger, as if you were slipping a bangle on. Fold your hand as small as it will comfortably go.
- Wrap a measuring tape, a strip of paper or a piece of thread around the widest part of that folded hand — across the knuckles, over the thumb joint.
- If you used paper or thread, mark where it overlaps and measure it flat against a ruler.
- That number is your inner circumference in millimetres. Match it to the chart above.
If your measurement falls between two sizes, take the larger one. A bangle that will not pass your knuckles is unwearable; one that is slightly loose still sits fine.
Method 2 — measure a bangle you already own
Lay a bangle that fits you flat on a table and measure straight across the inside opening, edge to edge, through the centre. That is the inner diameter. 2¼ inches means you are a 2.6, 2½ inches means 2.8.
This is the quicker method and it is what most people should do — but only if the bangle you are copying genuinely fits well.
Why some charts say 2.6 is 60 mm
Some sellers, especially those following Indian size charts, read the number after the point as sixteenths of an inch rather than as an Urdu size. On that reading the same numbers mean slightly different bangles:
| Written size | Urdu-name reading (this guide) | Sixteenths reading |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | about 2 in | 2 4/16 in, about 57 mm |
| 2.6 | Sawa 2, 2¼ in, 57 mm | 2 6/16 in, about 60 mm |
| 2.8 | Dhai, 2½ in, 63.5 mm | 2 8/16 in, 63.5 mm |
| 2.10 | Poonay 3, 2¾ in, 70 mm | 2 10/16 in, about 67 mm |
The Urdu names never change: Sawa 2 is always 2¼ inches and Dhai is always 2½. That is why it is safer to order by the Urdu name or by the inches, and to ask any seller which reading their numbers follow.
Which size do most Pakistani women wear?
2.6 and 2.8 cover the large majority of adult women. If you are ordering as a gift and truly cannot ask, 2.8 is the safer guess: a slightly loose bangle is wearable, a tight one is not.
2.4 is generally for teenagers and very slim hands. 2.10 is for fuller hands, or for anyone who prefers bangles that sit loose and move on the wrist.
Kara sizing is not the same
An openable kara — the kind with a clip lock that opens on a hinge — does not have to pass over your knuckles at all. It opens, closes around the wrist, and clips shut. That means kara sizing is about wrist circumference, not hand width, and you can usually go a size smaller than you would in a closed bangle.
If you are between sizes and struggling, an openable kara removes the problem entirely.
Common sizing mistakes
- Measuring the wrist instead of the hand. For a closed bangle the wrist is irrelevant — it is the knuckles that decide whether it goes on.
- Measuring a relaxed, open hand. Fold the hand as you would to put the bangle on, or the number will come out too large.
- Assuming every seller labels sizes the same way. They do not. Quote the Urdu size or the inches.
- Ordering a pair a size down because it "looks nicer". A bangle that does not go on cannot be worn at all.
What sizes Metcos offers
Our bangles are supplied in 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 and 2.10, sold as a pair, in 24K gold plating over brass with American zircon and an anti-tarnish coating. The Elegant Diamond Kara is an openable clip-lock style if you would rather avoid closed sizing entirely.
If you are unsure between two sizes, message us on WhatsApp with your measurement before you order — it is a two-minute conversation and it saves a return.
Frequently asked questions
What does sawa 2 mean in bangle size?
Sawa 2 means two and a quarter. A Sawa 2 bangle has an inner diameter of 2¼ inches, about 57 mm or 5.7 cm, and is usually written as 2.6. It fits slim to average adult hands.
What is sawa 2 bangle size in inches and cm?
Sawa 2 is 2¼ inches across the inside, which is 5.7 cm or 57 mm. Its inner circumference is about 179 mm. Dhai, the next size up, is 2½ inches or 6.35 cm.
Why do some charts say 2.6 bangle size is 60 mm?
Some sellers, especially those using Indian charts, read 2.6 as 2 and 6/16 inches, about 60 mm. On the Urdu-name reading, 2.6 is Sawa 2, 2¼ inches or 57 mm. The Urdu names do not change, so order by the Urdu name or the inches.
What does 2.6 mean in bangle size?
2.6 is Sawa 2 — a bangle with an inner diameter of 2¼ inches, roughly 57 mm across, or about 179 mm around the inside. It suits slim to average adult hands.
What is Dhai size in bangles?
Dhai means two and a half, so a Dhai bangle is 2½ inches across the inside — about 63.5 mm, or roughly 199 mm inner circumference. It is usually written as 2.8 and fits average to fuller adult hands.
Which bangle size is most common in Pakistan?
2.6 and 2.8 between them cover most adult women. If you are buying a gift and cannot ask, 2.8 is the safer choice because a slightly loose bangle is still wearable.
How do I measure my bangle size at home?
Fold your hand as if putting a bangle on, wrap a strip of paper around the widest point across the knuckles, mark the overlap and measure it flat. That gives your inner circumference in millimetres, which you can match to a size chart.
What if I am between two bangle sizes?
Take the larger size. A bangle that will not pass your knuckles cannot be worn at all, while a slightly loose one sits and moves normally on the wrist.
Is kara sizing the same as bangle sizing?
No. An openable kara clips around the wrist rather than passing over the hand, so it is sized to wrist circumference. You can often take a size smaller than you would in a closed bangle.
Related
Metcos Designer Jewelry ships across Pakistan with cash on delivery available.