Silk Scarf Size Guide: 22, 26, 36 and 44 Inch Squares

If she has never owned a silk scarf, choose 26 inches (65 cm): it ties at the neck and in the hair equally well. Go down to 22 inches (55 cm) for a bag handle or wrist, up to 36 inches (90 cm) for a full head wrap or shoulder cover, and to 44 inches (110 cm) for a shawl.

Ready to choose? Our pick: the 26 inch (65 cm) silk scarves, $97. For a bag or a small gift: the 22 inch square, $75, or the twilly, $57. Orders of $90 or more ship free, and an unused scarf can be returned within 30 days.

Silk squares are sold by the length of one side, and each step up changes what the silk can do: the small square lives on a bag, the everyday square moves between hair and neck, the large square wraps and covers, and the shawl opens across the shoulders. A twilly, the narrow ribbon of silk, is for hair, bags and a slim bow. Here is each size, whom it suits and how to choose one as a gift.

What are the standard silk scarf sizes?

Size	Metric	What it does	Choose it for	Folk Form price
22 inch	55 x 55 cm	Bag handle, wrist, ponytail, small neck knot	Someone unsure she wears scarves; a gift when you do not know her taste	$75 ($64 for Peace In Mind)
26 inch	65 x 65 cm	Headband, ponytail wrap, neck knot, bag roll	A debut silk scarf; everyday wear	$97
36 inch	90 x 90 cm	Full head wrap, turban, shoulder cover, halter, waist sash	Long, thick or tightly coiled hair; a gift that should feel significant	$153
44 inch	110 x 110 cm	Shawl, everyday layer, sarong, belted light layer, pillow cover	Travel and evenings out; the whole design on show	$197
Twilly	2.6 x 59 in (6.5 x 150 cm)	Hair ribbon, ponytail tie, slim neck bow, bag handle, hat band, wrist	A small silk gift; an accent on a bag	$57

What is a 22 inch (55 cm) silk scarf for?

The 22 inch square is bandana size. It ties around a bag handle, wraps a wrist, holds a ponytail or makes a small knot at the neck, and it is too small to wrap a head, belt a waist or cover the shoulders.

It suits someone who is not sure she wears scarves, and it is a safe gift when you do not know her taste. Lifted from a rigid gift box, a hand-printed silk square this size reads as a thoughtful gift. At $75 it sits just under our $90 free-shipping line. Orders of $90 or more ship free. Browse 22 inch silk scarves.

Why is 26 inches (65 cm) the everyday size?

The 26 inch square does hair and neck equally well: a headband, a ponytail wrap, a neck knot, a roll around a bag handle. It is also enough for a head wrap on shorter or finer hair, and if she has never owned a silk square, this is where to begin.

Folded into a band it sits neatly at the neck over a shirt, and tied as a headband it still leaves ends to spare. That balance is why we suggest it for most gifts. Browse 26 inch silk scarves.

When should I choose a 36 inch (90 cm) silk scarf?

At 36 inches the square becomes a full head wrap and a turban, which suits long, thick or tightly coiled hair. It still ties at the neck, and it adds a shoulder cover over a sleeveless dress, a halter, a waist sash and a beach cover.

The price step from 26 to 36 inches follows the work. The larger square is almost twice the cloth, 1,296 square inches against 676, and the hand-rolled edge grows from about 8.7 feet to 12 feet. If the gift needs to feel unmistakably significant, this is the size. Browse 36 inch silk scarves.

What can a 44 inch (110 cm) silk scarf do?

The 44 inch square is a layer: a shawl over an evening dress, a wrap on a long flight, a sarong at the shore, a belted light layer, even a pillow cover.

It is also the size that shows the whole composition. On Dragon Of Grace, where small dragons repeat in symmetry around a center, the full arrangement comes together at 44 inches. On a petite frame a 44 inch square worn loose can swamp the wearer, so fold a 26 inch narrow or tie a 36 inch neatly instead. Browse 44 inch silk scarves.

What is a twilly, and how big is it?

A twilly is a narrow ribbon of silk, 2.6 x 59 inches (6.5 x 150 cm): long enough to wrap a bag handle and slim enough to tie in the hair like a ribbon. Folk Form's twilly carries the Phoenix Dance motif in pink, purple or green and costs $57. See the Phoenix Dance twilly, and for step-by-step ties read How to Wear a Silk Twilly.

New to the shape? What is a twilly answers the basics, and how to tie a scarf on a purse shows seven ways to dress a bag handle with one.

Which size suits which person?

• She has never worn a silk square: 26 inch.
• She may not wear scarves at all: 22 inch, or a twilly for her bag.
• Long, thick or tightly coiled hair, worn as a head wrap: 36 inch.
• Shorter or finer hair, worn as a head wrap: 26 inch.
• She travels often, or wants a shawl for evenings: 44 inch.
• A petite frame: 26 inch folded narrow, or 36 inch tied neatly, rather than a 44 worn loose.
• A gift that should feel significant, such as an anniversary or a retirement: 36 inch. For the silk anniversary, see our 12th anniversary gift ideas.
• A thank-you for a teacher, host or colleague: 22 or 26 inch.
• You do not know her taste or how she dresses: 22 inch in a navy or deep colorway, which reads as a single quiet accent.

Does the motif change with the size?

A little. Dragon Dreams is drawn as a picture, four dragons with open space around them, so larger squares show more of it. Dragon Of Grace is a repeat of small dragons, and at small sizes a repeat survives folding better than a picture does. For what each design means and whom it suits, see What Vietnamese Silk Motifs Mean.

What does every Folk Form size share?

Every Folk Form square is 100% mulberry silk (the supplier specifies Grade 5A raw silk and 16 momme), hand screen-printed through both faces, with edges rolled and stitched by hand. It arrives in a rigid gift box with a story card naming the motif, an illustrated styling guide, a care card and a small cutting of the same silk so you can test it yourself.

Your order leaves Vietnam within 1 to 3 business days, then takes 9 to 15 business days to reach a US address. Shipping is free on orders of $90 or more, a flat $20 below that, and we pay the import duty.

Our pick for sizing, if you are unsure

Choose the 26 inch (65 cm) square at $97. It ties at the neck and in the hair equally well, so it is the size most likely to be worn every week, and it is the one we would hand to someone whose taste we do not know. Go up to 36 inches (90 cm) only if she wants a full head wrap or shoulder cover.

A note on budget: the 26 inch square at $97 clears the $90 free-shipping line on its own, with the gift box, story card and import duty already covered, while the 22 inch square at $75 leaves a little room for a twilly beside it. Either way, the 5% from BLOG5 is applied at checkout.

Choosing a scarf size: your questions

What size silk scarf should I buy first?

26 inches (65 cm). It ties at the neck and in the hair equally well, which covers how most people wear a silk scarf.

What size is a bandana silk scarf?

About 22 inches (55 cm) square. It suits a bag handle, a wrist, a ponytail or a small neck knot, and it is too small to wrap the head.

What size silk scarf do I need for a head wrap?

36 inches (90 cm) for a full head wrap or turban, especially with long, thick or coiled hair. A 26 inch square works as a headband or as a wrap for shorter hair.

How many centimeters are Folk Form's scarf sizes?

The 22 inch square is 55 x 55 cm, the 26 inch is 65 x 65 cm, the 36 inch is 90 x 90 cm and the 44 inch is 110 x 110 cm. The twilly is 2.6 x 59 inches (6.5 x 150 cm).

How long is a silk twilly?

Folk Form's twilly is 2.6 x 59 inches (6.5 x 150 cm), long enough to wrap a bag handle or go twice around a ponytail.

What if I choose the wrong size?

You can return an unused, unwashed and unworn scarf in its original box within 30 days of delivery and order the size you need. Return postage for a change of mind is paid by the customer, and store credit comes with an extra 15%.

Related guides

• How to Wear a 36 Inch Silk Scarf (90x90 cm): The Most Versatile Size
• Silk Scarf vs Twilly vs Bandana vs Shawl: Which One Do You Need?
• What Is a Twilly Scarf? Size, Uses and the Skinny Scarf Difference
• Silk Scarf Gift Guide: How to Choose the Right Size, Print and Box
• All our silk scarf and tie guides