The short answer
A bandana is usually a printed cotton square, often around 20 to 22 inches; fold it corner to corner to get a triangle. A kerchief is a square or triangle worn on the head or neck; a neckerchief is one worn at the neck. Cotton grips hair and washes easily; silk is dressier.
Kerchief, bandana, neckerchief
The small triangle family
| Name | Usually | Worn |
|---|---|---|
| Bandana | Printed cotton square, about 20 to 22 in | Neck, hair, wrist, bag strap |
| Kerchief | Square or triangle, cotton, silk or knit | Over the hair or at the neck |
| Neckerchief | Small square or triangle | Knotted at the neck |
| Headkerchief | Triangle or folded square | Over the hair, tied at the nape |
Size is not standardized, so check the listing. Retailer listings commonly show 22 by 22 inches.
The styles
-
01
Classic
The cotton paisley bandana
Best for Neck or hair, every day
- Easy to wash, grips the hair
- Fold corner to corner for a triangle
- Packs of several colors are common
-
02
For the hair
The cotton kerchief
Best for Tied at the nape over the hair
- Some come as a true triangle with ties
- Linen and cotton gauze are cool in summer
- Look for a soft hand so it lies flat
-
03
At the neck
The neckerchief
Best for Open collars, western and workwear looks
- A small cotton or silk square
- Point at the front for western; rolled and side knotted for polished
- Neckerchiefs for men are a big search too
Ways to wear one
The bandana bib
Works with Bandanas, kerchiefs and small knits.
- Lay it flat
Lay the scarf flat with the long edge at the top. A square bandana gets folded corner to corner first.
- Point to the front
Hold the long edge against your neck with the point hanging down your chest, and take both ends behind your neck.
- Knot at the back
Tie the ends in a double knot at the back of your neck, under your hair or over it.
- Settle the point
Pull the point straight and loosen the neck edge until it sits flat rather than tight.
The bandana headband
Works with Bandanas and small silk scarves.
- Fold to a triangle
Fold a square bandana corner to corner.
- Fold into a band
Fold from the point toward the long edge until the band is one to two inches wide.
- Tie on top
Place the band at the nape, bring the ends up over the head and knot on top, a little off center.
More knots, including the side neckerchief and the nape tied kerchief, are in how to tie a triangle scarf and triangle hair scarf styles.
Bandana vs a true triangle
A folded bandana is double thickness and has a fold along the long edge; a true triangle is single layer with a hemmed long edge, so it lies flatter and often has ties. See triangle vs square scarf.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a bandana and a kerchief?
In everyday use, a bandana is a printed cotton square, classically paisley. Kerchief is the broader, older word for a square or triangle of cloth worn on the head or around the neck. Many kerchiefs are bandanas; some are silk, linen or knit.
What size is a bandana?
There is no single standard. Many retailer listings are 22 by 22 inches, and 20 inches is also common. Folded into a triangle, the long edge is about 1.4 times the side.
How do you fold a bandana into a triangle?
Lay it flat and fold one corner over to meet the opposite corner, so the fold runs diagonally. For a headband, keep folding from the point toward the long edge into a band.
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Styles, sizes and availability change; check the listing before you buy.