Abayas · 4 October 2026 · 4 min read

Abaya sleeve length and cuffs: how to measure

How to measure abaya sleeve length so your wrists stay covered when you move, plus the wrist, upper arm and cuff measurements for narrow and wide sleeves.

Inspiration

Why abaya sleeves need more care than they seem to

To measure abaya sleeve length, run the tape from your shoulder point over a slightly bent elbow to the point where you want the sleeve to end, usually the wrist bone or a little beyond it. Measuring with the arm bent matters because a sleeve that looks right with your arms at your sides can ride up when you reach for something, drive, or raise your hands.

For many women the sleeve is as important as the overall length, especially if covering the wrist is part of how they dress. A made-to-measure abaya lets you set the sleeve to your own arm instead of accepting whatever a size label gives you.

Taking the sleeve measurement

Find your shoulder point: the bony tip at the outer edge of the shoulder.
Bend your arm slightly, as if holding a bag at your side.
Run the tape from the shoulder point, over the outside of the elbow, to where you want the sleeve to stop.
Note where you stopped: the wrist bone, the base of the thumb, or the knuckles for a very long sleeve.
Measure both arms if you can. Many people have one arm slightly longer, and it is useful to know.

When the shoulder point moves

Not every abaya has a set-in sleeve sitting on the shoulder point. Kimono, dropped-shoulder and very wide styles start the sleeve further down the arm or cut it in one piece with the body. For those, an extra measurement is helpful: from the base of the back of your neck, across the shoulder and down the arm to the wrist. Send it alongside the standard sleeve length and tell us which style you want; we work out the rest from your design.

If your shoulders are broad, narrow or sloping, read our piece on armhole and shoulder problems, because the shoulder seam affects how the sleeve hangs.

Wrist, upper arm and cuff openings

The length is only half the sleeve. These circumference measurements decide how it feels.

Wrist: around the wrist bone. For a narrow cuff without buttons, measure around the widest part of your hand with the fingers together instead, so it slips over.
Upper arm: around the fullest part of the upper arm, relaxed. A slim sleeve needs room here to let you lift your arm.
Cuff opening: for wide or flared sleeves, say how wide you want the opening, or measure the opening of a sleeve you like. Our bell sleeves guide shows how wide shapes behave.
Fastenings: if you want buttons, a press stud or elastic at the wrist, mention it. We confirm what suits your fabric and design in the quote.

Sleeve choices that affect the length

A wide sleeve falls further down the hand than a narrow one of the same length, because it hangs away from the arm. A narrow sleeve can be cut a touch longer so it settles slightly at the wrist rather than stopping short. If you plan to wear a long-sleeved dress under the abaya, the abaya sleeve should be a little longer than the inner sleeve, so the inner cuff does not peep out.

If you are unsure, our page on full sleeves and the article on modest dressing with sleeves and lengths have more ideas. You can also tick “advise me” on the quote form and describe how you want the sleeve to behave.

Putting it in your quote

Add your sleeve length, the point it stops at, and your wrist and upper arm measurements on the quote form. The written quote repeats them with the rest of your design, and nothing is cut until you approve it. Customers in Riyadh, Kuwait and further afield order the same way, entirely online, with delivery and any import charges included in the quote.

Common questions

Should I measure abaya sleeves with my arm straight or bent?

Slightly bent, as if holding a bag. A sleeve measured with a straight arm can ride up when you move, so the bent-arm measurement gives a more practical length.

How long should abaya sleeves be?

Most women choose a sleeve that reaches the wrist bone or a little beyond, so the wrist stays covered when reaching. Wide sleeves can be a touch shorter because they fall further down the hand.

Can I have elastic or buttons at the cuff?

Ask for it in your quote. We confirm what is possible with your chosen fabric and design before anything is cut.

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