Abayas · 5 October 2026 · 4 min read

What size is a hijab or shayla? Sizes in cm and inches

Hijab size in inches and centimetres: the usual rectangle, maxi, shayla and square scarf sizes, how long a hijab should be for your wrap, and cloth needed.

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The usual sizes

A standard rectangular hijab is about 180 cm long and 70 cm wide, which is roughly 71 by 28 inches. A shayla is a long rectangle of similar width, usually around 200 cm (79 inches) long. Square scarves start at about 90 cm (35 inches) a side and go up to about 140 cm (55 inches).

There is no official standard, so sellers vary by a few centimetres either way. These are the sizes you will meet most often.

Short rectangle: 150 to 160 cm by 50 to 60 cm (59 to 63 in by 20 to 24 in). Light, with little spare length for draping.
Standard rectangle: 170 to 180 cm by 65 to 75 cm (67 to 71 in by 26 to 30 in). The everyday size for most wraps.
Maxi rectangle: 200 cm by 80 to 90 cm (79 in by 31 to 35 in). Extra cover over the chest and shoulders.
Shayla: 180 to 220 cm by 50 to 75 cm (71 to 87 in by 20 to 30 in). Long and fairly narrow, wrapped loosely and laid over one shoulder.
Small square: 90 by 90 cm (35 by 35 in). Folded into a triangle and pinned under the chin; it covers the head and neck.
Medium square: 110 to 120 cm a side (43 to 47 in). The triangle reaches over the chest.
Large square: 130 to 140 cm a side (51 to 55 in). Enough to cover the shoulders and upper arms.

How long should a hijab be for your wrap?

Length is what you wrap with; width is what you cover with. A style that goes once around the head and tucks needs less length than one that crosses under the chin, goes over the crown and still leaves an end to drape across the chest. If you wear a volumising undercap, or pin long hair into a bun, add a little. Taller women, and anyone who likes the ends to fall well below the bust, are usually happier with 200 cm than 180 cm.

A simple test: wrap a scarf you own the way you like it and see how much is left over. If you are always tugging the end to make it reach, go up a size. If you are always folding away spare cloth at the neck, go down.

Fabric thickness changes the size you need

Chiffon and georgette: thin and light, so a generous size adds no bulk. These are the fabrics in which maxi scarves work well; georgette vs chiffon explains how the two differ.
Jersey and other knits: thick, stretchy and grippy. A shorter, narrower piece does the same job because it stretches as you wrap, and a maxi size in jersey feels heavy at the neck.
Crepe and other mid-weight weaves: in between. The standard size suits most people.
Satin and silky cloths: slippery, so a little extra length and an undercap help the wrap stay put.
Cotton lawn and voile: crisp when new and softer after washing; standard sizes fold and pin easily.

How much cloth one scarf needs

If a scarf is being cut from fabric, work from the width of the roll. Our guide to fabric widths explains the common roll sizes, and dupatta sizes covers the larger South Asian scarf.

The long edge of the scarf normally runs along the length of the cloth, and each hemmed edge uses about a centimetre, so add 2 to 3 cm to each dimension. Three examples:

On cloth about 112 cm (44 in) wide, a 180 by 70 cm scarf needs 1.85 m, leaving a long strip just under 40 cm wide.
On cloth about 150 cm (58 to 60 in) wide, 2.05 m gives two 200 by 70 cm scarves side by side.
A 110 cm square needs cloth at least 115 cm wide and 1.15 m long; a 140 cm square needs the wider roll and 1.45 m.

A scarf to go with an abaya

We make abayas to measure, and a scarf to go with one can be requested in the same enquiry. We do not sell fabric on its own, so the scarf is quoted as a finished, hemmed piece alongside the abaya. Give the finished size you want in centimetres or inches, the edge finish, and whether it should be the abaya cloth or something lighter; our article on an abaya with a matching scarf goes through those choices. Add it to the notes on the quote form and we confirm in writing what is possible and how much fabric it takes.

Common questions

Is a shayla the same as a hijab?

A shayla is one kind of hijab: a long rectangular scarf, traditionally worn in the Gulf, wrapped around the head and laid over one shoulder. Hijab is the general word for a headscarf of any shape.

What size hijab covers the chest?

For a rectangle, look for at least 180 cm by 70 cm, or a maxi of about 200 by 85 cm for fuller cover. For a square, 120 cm or more a side lets the folded triangle fall over the chest.

Do scarf sizes include the hem?

Sellers normally quote the finished size, after hemming. If you are giving a size for a scarf to be made, say that you mean the finished measurement so the cutting allowance is added on top.

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