How to Measure Yourself for a Suit

Taking Your Own Suit Measurements

A well fitting suit will always look superior to an ill fitting one, even if they are thousands of pounds apart. That designer suit is wasted if the trousers are too wide, or the sleeves too short. Stuck between the cost of a high street tailor, and the fear of making a mistake in their own measurements, many people forego a fully tailored suit. The good news is it’s super easy to take your own suit measurements, simply follow the guide below and you can get your own Made to Measure – fully tailored custom tweed suit.

First things first

Before you begin you will need  a flexible / cloth measuring tape and a pen or some way of noting down your measurements.  If you have a jacket, shirt and trousers you know fit you well, you may want to wear them as well this will help you judge certain measurements.   If you have a friend handy this can help you judge certain measurements as well, but its not necessary.

It’s All About the Numbers

Once you are ready to start taking your measurements you should go through the list below.  This is not an exhaustive list but it usually gives us all we need, whilst still being simple to do yourself.  You should follow the instructions below as illustrated, using a relaxed but firm hand, you should not pull the tape measure tight. Perform each measurement three times for accuracy and round all final measurements to the nearest half inch. First record your height and weight (in kg), this can help us with overall sizing/checking your measurements.

Trouser Measurements

Trouser Waist

Measure around your waist at the height where you would like to wear your pants, which is likely different than your natural waist.  Do not pull the tape measure too tight.  If you are not sure and have an existing pair of trousers that fit as you would like, wear them, and measure around the waist band where they sit.

Hips

Measure around the fullest part of your hips AND seat (tailor term for bum). Stand feet hip width apart, making sure your pockets are empty and the tape is level and untwisted. You should just barely feel the tape against your body.

Thigh

Measure the circumference of your thigh at its widest point,  this is usually near the top of the inseam but may be slightly lower depending on your physique.

Knee

Similar to the previous measurement, take the circumference of your knee. 

Crotch / Rise

Place the end of tape measure at the top of waist on the front where the central button is.  Then ensuring it doesn’t get twisted, place the tape measure through your legs and measure to the top of the waist on the back.  It’s useful to wear a pair of trousers that you know fit you well so you allow for necessary room in the crotch.

Trouser length / Out-seam

Measure vertically from the top of where you want the trouser waist to sit down along the side pant seam, to the desired trouser length. This is typically around 3cm above the ground. If you want to help you can a pair of trousers you know fit you well, and/or wear shoes similar to those you intend to wear with the suit.

Trouser length / In-seam

We typically make our trousers from the out-seam you provide, but inseam can be useful in some circumstances. Again it can help if you wear a pair of trousers you know fit you well, and/or wear shoes similar to those you intend to wear with the suit. Measure vertically from the bottom of the trouser (typically 3cm from the floor), up the inside seam to the desired height of the crotch. In Made to Order / standard store bought trousers this is typically 30″ (short), 32″ (regular), 34″ (long).

Jacket Measurements

Chest

Stand up straight and hold the measuring tape at roughly nipple level, wind it under the armpits and over the shoulder blades.  This should be the circumference of your chest at its widest point. For women you should provide two chest measurements, over-chest as described here passing around the widest point of the chest, and under-chest measurement, which is the same but with the tape passing round underneath where the wearers bra typically finishes.

Overarm

A friend can be quite useful here.  Stand up straight with your arms relaxed by your side, measure at the same level you did for your chest, but this circumference should include both arms.

Neck

Measure the circumference of your neck at the height where your collar would sit. If you wish to be sure you of the height you can wear a shirt that fits you well.

Sleeve Length

With your arm relaxed at your side, measure from where shoulder seam meets the crown down to your desired length, generally at the base of the thumb where it meets your wrist.

Shoulders

Measure across the top of the back arching from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other, its should not be a perfectly straight line but rather follow your natural curvature of the upper back. If you struggle to identify the tip and have a shirt that fits well, you can simply measure between the shoulder seams.

Waistcoat Length

Measure vertically from the where the back body of the shirt meets the collar seam to the desired length of the waistcoat usually somewhere from the lower back to the top of the seat.

Jacket Length

Measure from where the shoulder seam meets the collar seam to your desired jacket length, which for men is usually around the wrist/base of the thumb.

 Bicep

Flex your arm to 90 degrees and measure the circumference of your bicep at its widest point.

Wrist

Measure around the circumference of your wrist at the point where the jacket sleeve would end, keep the tape measure snug but not tight.

Stomach

Measure the widest part of your abdomen, usually around the level of your belly button, ensuring the tape is level. Try not to suck your tummy in, else the measurement will be too small.

 

It’s that easy.

Once you have all your measurements you can order your very own Made to Measure, Tweed Three Piece Suit or something from our Bespoke range.

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