How to measure your wrist for a mala

Most returns on a mala are a size, not a defect. Take the measurement once, properly, and you will not need to send anything back.

Take the number

Wrap a strip of paper around the wrist just below the wrist bone — closer to the hand than to the forearm. Mark where it overlaps, lay it flat, and measure it. That is your wrist size.

Add something for comfort

A strand that measures exactly your wrist will sit tight and leave a mark. Add one finger's width — roughly 1.5 cm — for a fit that moves a little.

What that means for bead size

• 16–17 cm — an 8 mm single loop, or a 108 mala looped twice.
• 18–19 cm — a 10 mm strand, or an 8 mm 108 worn long.
• Over 19 cm — 12 mm, or any 108 doubled or tripled.

Wooden and seed beads swell slightly in humid weather and shrink in air conditioning. If you are between sizes, take the larger.

If you are buying for someone else: most adult wrists are 16–18 cm, and a 10 mm single loop is the safe choice.