How to Choose a Singing Bowl: Size, Sound and Material

Every handmade singing bowl has its own voice, so choosing one is a little like choosing an instrument. These simple questions will help you find the right one.

Start with how you'll use it

A small bowl is easy to hold in your palm and keep on a desk or altar. A larger bowl suits a meditation corner, yoga class or sound bath. If you want to play for a group or follow the seven chakra notes, look at a full 7 chakra set.

Size and tone

As a general rule, a smaller bowl sounds higher and brighter, and a larger, heavier bowl sounds deeper and lasts longer. Thickness and shape matter too, so two bowls of the same width can sound quite different.

Listen before you buy

Sound matters more than anything else. Tap the bowl gently and listen. A good bowl rings clearly and fades slowly. Many bowls also have two tones, a low hum and a brighter ring above it, and that mix is part of their character. You can hear real recordings of our bowls by pressing play in our singing bowl collection, or visit our Jersey City store and try them in person.

Hammered, engraved or polished

Hand-hammered bowls show small marks across the surface and often have a warm, layered look. Engraved bowls carry mantras or patterns. Polished bowls have a bright, mirror-like shine. The finish is mostly about what you love to look at, so choose the one that feels right for your space.

What about chakra notes?

Many people match bowls to notes linked with the seven chakras, from C for root to B for crown. This comes from modern sound healing practice rather than from science, and handmade bowls rarely land exactly on a note. We list the closest note for bowls we have measured, so you can use it as a helpful guide.

What should come with it

A cushion keeps the bowl steady and lets it ring freely, and a wooden striker or mallet is used for tapping and rimming. Check what's included before you buy. When your bowl arrives, our guide on how to play a singing bowl will get you started.