How to Measure Yourself for Clothing Sizes
Learn how to measure your chest, waist, hips, inseam, shoulders and sleeves correctly, and how to use the numbers with a brand size chart.
Key takeaways
- Use a soft tape measure, keep it level and snug but not tight, and measure over light clothing.
- The key measurements are chest or bust, waist, hips, inseam, shoulder width and sleeve length.
- Size names differ between brands and countries, so always compare your numbers with the brand size chart.
Clothing sizes are not standard. A medium from one brand can be a small in another, and sizes in the US, UK and Europe use different numbering. Your own measurements are the only reliable starting point. They take about five minutes to record, and they make online shopping far less risky.
What you need
- A flexible fabric or plastic tape measure, not a metal builder tape.
- A mirror, or a helper for measurements that are hard to take alone.
- A pen and paper, or the notes app on your phone.
The key body measurements
| Measurement | How to take it |
|---|---|
| Chest or bust | Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms and across the shoulder blades, keeping it level |
| Waist | Measure at your natural waist, the narrowest part of the torso, usually just above the navel |
| Hips | Measure around the fullest part of the hips and seat, keeping the tape level |
| Inseam | Measure from the top of the inner thigh, at the crotch, down to the ankle bone |
| Shoulder width | Measure across the back from the edge of one shoulder to the other |
| Sleeve length | Measure from the centre of the back of the neck, over the shoulder and down the arm to the wrist |
| Neck | Wrap the tape around the base of the neck where a collar would sit, leaving room for one finger |
Tips for accurate measuring
- Stand naturally with your feet together and your arms relaxed.
- Keep the tape parallel to the floor, and snug against the body without pressing into it.
- Breathe normally and measure after a normal exhale.
- Take each measurement twice and record the larger number if the two differ.
- Measure again every few months, because bodies change.
Using a size chart
Find each of your measurements in the brand chart. If your numbers fall between two sizes, choose by the measurement that matters most for the garment: chest for jackets and shirts, waist and hips for trousers and skirts. When a product page describes the fit as slim, relaxed or oversized, adjust one size accordingly. Stretch fabrics allow more flexibility than rigid ones.
Inches and centimetres
To convert inches to centimetres, multiply by 2.54. To convert centimetres to inches, divide by 2.54. For example, a 40 inch chest is about 101.6 centimetres.
Sizing across countries
US, UK and European sizes use different scales. As a general rule, a UK women’s size is typically four numbers higher than the US size. European sizes use a separate numbering again. Treat any conversion chart as a guide only, and rely on the brand’s own measurements when they are provided.
