Watch size that fits your wrist
Watch dimensions: The ideal wrist size for the watch
Watches are available in many different watch sizes. Some prefer a smaller watch, while for others it can’t be big enough. But is there such a thing as ‘too big’? We tell you exactly which size watch fits your wrist.
We also tell you more about the thickness of the watch and the width of the watch strap at the bottom of this page, so that you get the desired timepiece.
The wrist in these photos has a circumference of 17 cm (6.7 inch). This is the watch size of these designs:
A: 43mm
B: 46mm
C: 36mm
D: 41mm
It is not easy to find the right watch size based on photos. Therefore, below is a complete size chart.
Best watch size for the wrist
The most striking part of a watch is the watch case. It is crucial that the size of the case fits your wrist well. Otherwise it will quickly look ‘out of balance’ and affect the wearing comfort. Not too big and not too small! The watch size for men are usually between 38mm and 46mm in size. Anything larger than 46mm quickly comes across as overly large. And anything smaller than 38mm is usually for women.
By measuring your wrist and using the following size chart, you know exactly which size watch case is suitable for your wrist.
Average sizes in inches for men and women:
Wrist circumference | Watch case size |
5.9 – 7.1 inch | 1.3 – 1.7 inch |
7.5 – 9.5 inch | 1.6 – 1.8 inch |
Or in CM and MM:
Wrist circumference | Watch case size |
15 – 18 cm | 34 mm – 43 mm |
19 – 25 cm | 42 mm – 46 mm |
Women’s watches from 20 mm to 30 mm therefore fall into the category of small watches.
Watch and wrist size for men – inches & cm
Wrist circumference | Watch | size | |
Small | Medium | Big | |
15 cm | 32 mm | 37 mm | 41 mm |
16 cm | 34 mm | 39 mm | 43 mm |
17 cm | 36 mm | 41 mm | 45 mm |
18 cm | 36 mm | 42 mm | 45 mm |
19 cm | 37 mm | 43 mm | 46 mm |
20 cm | 38 mm | 44 mm | 47 mm |
21 cm | 39 mm | 44 mm | 47 mm |
22 cm | 40 mm | 45 mm | 48 mm |
23 cm | 41 mm | 45 mm | 48 mm |
24 cm | 42 mm | 46 mm | 49 mm |
Wrist circumference | Watch | size | |
Small | Medium | Big | |
5.9 inch | 32 mm | 37 mm | 41 mm |
6.3 inch | 34 mm | 39 mm | 43 mm |
6.7 inch | 36 mm | 41 mm | 45 mm |
7.1 inch | 36 mm | 42 mm | 45 mm |
7.5 inch | 37 mm | 43 mm | 46 mm |
7.9 inch | 38 mm | 44 mm | 47 mm |
8.3 inch | 39 mm | 44 mm | 47 mm |
8.7 inch | 40 mm | 45 mm | 48 mm |
9.1 inch | 41 mm | 45 mm | 48 mm |
9.5 inch | 42 mm | 46 mm | 49 mm |
Discover the perfect men’s watch for your wrist:
Of course this is not a hard rule, because sometimes a large or a small watch is trending. So the most important thing is that you like the watch and that it matches the wearing comfort and your preference.
Watch and wrist size for women – inches & cm
Wrist circumference | Watch | size | |
Small | Medium | Big | |
12 cm | 21 mm | 27 mm | 34 mm |
13 cm | 22 mm | 27 mm | 34 mm |
14 cm | 23 mm | 28 mm | 35 mm |
15 cm | 24 mm | 29 mm | 36 mm |
16 cm | 25 mm | 30 mm | 37 mm |
17 cm | 26 mm | 31 mm | 38 mm |
18 cm | 27 mm | 32 mm | 39 mm |
19 cm | 28 mm | 33 mm | 40 mm |
20 cm | 29 mm | 34 mm | 41 mm |
21 cm | 30 mm | 35 mm | 41 mm |
22 cm | 31 mm | 36 mm | 42 mm |
23 cm | 32 mm | 37 mm | 43 mm |
24 cm | 33 mm | 38 mm | 44 mm |
Wrist circumference | Watch | size | |
Small | Medium | Big | |
4.7 inch | 21 mm | 27 mm | 34 mm |
5.1 inch | 22 mm | 27 mm | 34 mm |
5.5 inch | 23 mm | 28 mm | 35 mm |
5.9 inch | 24 mm | 29 mm | 36 mm |
6.3 inch | 25 mm | 30 mm | 37 mm |
6.7 inch | 26 mm | 31 mm | 38 mm |
7.1 inch | 27 mm | 32 mm | 39 mm |
7.5 inch | 28 mm | 33 mm | 40 mm |
7.9 inch | 29 mm | 34 mm | 41 mm |
8.3 inch | 30 mm | 35 mm | 41 mm |
8.7 inch | 31 mm | 36 mm | 42 mm |
9.1 inch | 32 mm | 37 mm | 43 mm |
9.5 inch | 33 mm | 38 mm | 44 mm |
Discover the perfect women’s watch for your wrist:
The case size of this model is 29 mm and this ladies wrist is 15.5 cm (6.1 inches).
Watch case thickness
In the past, a thin watch case was considered better than a thicker one. Since the quartz watch has appeared on the market, that is no longer the case. Watches with a smaller watch case (38 to 42 mm) often have a watch case with a thickness of 7 mm. Larger watch cases are usually around 9 mm thick. If you choose a good size watch case for your wrist, the thickness is therefore usually also good.
Watch strap width
You often don’t have to think about the width of the watch strap. Usually it is the case that the watch case is twice as wide as the watch strap. For example, if the case has a diameter of 40 mm, the band is often 20 mm. However, with some watches these proportions are different.
What is very important to know before you buy a watch is that the ‘lug’ is not included in the case diameter. This may mean that if you already have a watch with a very large case, the lugs may extend over your wrists. However, this is not comfortable and we recommend choosing a watch with a small case. In addition, you can learn more about jewelry sizing if you like.
Watch strap material
Different materials from which a watch strap can be made determine the look. For example, a 26 mm steel strap looks a lot bigger and wider than a watch strap of the same diameter made of leather. It’s up to you to have a preference for a bold look, with a metal strap. Or a more classic and sophisticated look by wearing a leather strap.