Struggling to find the perfect fit for your watch or bracelet? Let me guide you on measuring your wrist accurately for the optimal fit of watches and bracelets
Why in the world would you need a complete guide about how to measure your wrist for a watch? This is pretty straightforward, right? It is, but you must consider several factors, including the strap styles you’re measuring your wrist for.
I couldn’t find anyone online talking about all these points in-depth. So I decided to write this article for you. I hope it’s helpful!
Time is of the essence, so let’s get down to business.
Quick Take: How to Take Your Wrist Measurement
How to measure your wrist size (or circumference):
- Make sure the palm of your hand is facing up.
- Open your hand. Doing so ensures you get the actual size of your wrist when it’s the largest.
- Snuggly wrap a measuring tape around your wrist.
- Read the size on the measuring tape, preferably in inches or centimeters.
This value is significant if you measure your wrist size for a watch or a bracelet. If you don’t have a measuring tape, you can use a simple piece of string or a sheet of paper. Read on for the complete guide on how to measure your wrist size correctly.
How to Measure Your Wrist Size
Is this the first time you’re trying to get an accurate measurement for watches? If so, you need a good, flexible measuring tape. It’s a kind of ruler that people use to measure pretty much everything you can think of.
Ideally, you want a soft measuring tape, one used by tailors for sewing. However, if you don’t have one, no worries. You can use any kind of measuring tool to find your wrist circumference.
If you don’t have one yet, this is the exact type of tailor measuring tape that I use (Amazon link).
You can read the measure in centimeters or inches. It’s super cheap and gets the job done perfectly.
Wrist Measurement Step 1
Rotate your forearm outward until your palm faces up, and open your hand. This act makes your wrist size the largest.
You have to consider this size when measuring for the perfect fitting watch.
Do not rotate your wrist inward (like you would read the time on your watch) or close your hand. If you do, you will get a reading slightly smaller than your wrist’s size.
Wrist Measurement Step 2
Place the end of the measuring tape in the middle of your wrist width. Positioning the end of the tape measure there makes it easier to take the reading afterward.
The exact placement may differ according to your morphology. So, how high or low on your wrist should you place it? Most of the time, you want to align it with your wrist bone. You can also set it 1 cm or 1/2 inch higher (toward your elbow). This is where your wrist is the smallest.
Place the end of the measuring tape in the middle of your wrist, where you will wear your watch.
Wrist Measurement Step 3
Wrap the measuring tape around your wrist. Wrap it firmly against your wrist but not too tight. The measurement tape should fit snugly around your wrist, with no play or space between your skin and the tape.
But the tape shouldn’t be so tightly wrapped around your wrist that your skin begins to bulge.
The place where your measuring tape meets is your wrist size.
That’s all there is to it. Now you have your wrist size.
How to Measure Your Wrist Without a Measuring Tape
If you do not have a measuring tape, don’t panic. You can still measure your wrist size. Here’s what you can use as an alternative:
- A piece of string. Use the same method as outlined above. A fabric string will be the most comfortable and give you the best reading since it’s so soft and flexible.
- A garden twist tie. Just be careful, and don’t hurt yourself with this one. Note that the reading might be slightly off. This happens because a garden tie isn’t as flexible as a measuring tape or a string.
- A sheet of paper. You’ll want to cut a piece of paper into a long strip. Be cautious to avoid papercuts. Use the edge like you would use a measuring tape or a string. The piece of paper will wrap around your arm in a skewed way. It’s okay because the reading you obtain from the edge is good.
With all of these alternatives, be sure to mark where the ends meet. Then, compare your improvised measuring device to a ruler to get your watch band length measurement.
Wrist Measurements for Various Watch Types
Did you know your wrist size grows over the course of the day? It absolutely does.
To account for changes in size and comfort, choose a watch strap or bracelet slightly bigger than your wrist size.
You want a watch that doesn’t fit so snuggly to your wrist that it’s uncomfortable. But also provides airflow around your wrist. Unless you do prefer a snugger fit for your bracelet, go ahead and do that.
I know a bracelet is perfectly sized when I can fit my index finger between my wrist and the bracelet.
While your wrist measurement is exact, the size of the watch strap will vary depending on the brand and materials. Here’s what to look for when measuring your wrist for various watch straps.
Metal Bracelets
Often, when you wear a watch with a metal bracelet, it’s better to wear it slightly looser.
As a matter of fact, over time, the metal bracelet will take the temperature of your body. So, you will sweat a little bit too.
A metal bracelet is flexible and can adapt to your wrist’s shape. Therefore, you won’t add as much to your wrist size as you think.
But don’t choose a large metal bracelet that falls on the base of your thumb. That just doesn’t look good. Pick the right balance between comfort and style here.
I recommend you add 1 cm or approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch to your wrist size. I found this to be the most comfortable size for a metal bracelet.
Leather Bands and Rubber Straps
Leather and sweat don’t play well together. This is why you would mostly wear a leather strap in the winter, not so much in the summer.
Rubber or silicone straps are okay all year. Manufacturers made them to handle water, sweat and hot temperatures.
Because of their design, you want a leather band or a rubber strap to fit more snugly around your wrist.
If you don’t, your watch will turn around your wrist most of the time. This leaves you with the face of your watch under your wrist, facing down when you try to read time.
Yet, a band or strap is not as flexible as a metal bracelet. And this is why you have to give your wrist more room. Adding 2 cm or 3/4 inch to your wrist size is best for a leather band or rubber strap.
Nato Straps
Nato straps are great to wear all year, but they are very welcome in the hot summer temperatures.
Nato straps have a very particular way to wrap under your watch and around your wrists. As a matter of fact, there are two layers of strap between the watch case and your wrist.
Also, a Nato strap has to go around the spring bars. This design requires more room to fit correctly on your wrist.
I found that adding 2.5 cm or 1 inch to your wrist size is the minimum to wear your watch on a Nato strap.
It seems huge. But the path that the strap has to take around your watch case and spring bars makes it imperative. You may have to add more room if you prefer a looser fit.
How to Measure Your Wrist for an Apple Watch and Other Activity Trackers
Today, most activity trackers or smartwatches have sensors. Namely and most importantly, heart rate and O2 sensors. This is why fit is essential when you wear these types of accessories.
If you want to get the best readings for these sensors, your watch band should fit snugly. If they don’t, you may receive wrong readings. Or even worse, no reading at all.
But again, you don’t want it to be so snug that it becomes uncomfortable or even painful. I recommend you add 1.25 cm or 1/2 inch to your wrist size for a smartwatch band or activity tracker.
How to Measure Your Wrist for a Bracelet
When it comes to bracelets, there is no hard and fast rule. How you want your bracelets to fit depends on your style and comfort preferences.
Personally, I prefer my bracelets to have a good balance between a snug fit and comfort. Similar to how a metal bracelet watch would fit.
I always opt for looser if I have to choose between a bit snugger or looser. But jewelry bracelets don’t wrap around your wrist more than a leather band or Nato strap. Therefore you don’t need that much more room.
This is true for pandora bracelets, bead bracelets, and some rope or paracord bracelets.
So add 1.25 cm or 1/2 inch to your wrist size, and you should be good to go.
Final Thoughts on How to Measure Your Wrist
Learning how to measure your wrist is a relatively simple process. Plus, once you’ve done it once, the subsequent times are a cinch. Even if you don’t have the right tool, you most likely have alternatives within arms reach. Once you know your wrist size, rest assured your watch strap purchases are the perfect fit.
