Why measure yourself
Letter and number sizes vary between makers, but a tape measure does not. A set of reliable body measurements lets you compare yourself directly with a size chart, brief a tailor, or check a pattern. It also removes much of the guesswork when ordering online. The process takes about ten minutes, and the results are useful for a long time.
Measurements are not a judgment about your body. They are simply information, like a shoe size.
What you need
- A flexible tape measure, the soft kind used in sewing. A rigid metal tape does not follow body curves.
- A mirror, so you can see that the tape is level.
- Pen and paper, or a notes app.
- Fitted or minimal clothing, or underwear, since bulky clothes add inches.
- If possible, a helper. Some measurements, such as the back or sleeves, are much easier with a second person.
General rules for accuracy
- Stand naturally. Keep your posture relaxed and your weight even on both feet. Do not hold your breath or pull your stomach in.
- Keep the tape level. It should be parallel to the floor around the torso. Check in the mirror.
- Snug, not tight. The tape should touch the body without pressing into it. You should be able to slide a finger underneath.
- Read at the same point. Note the number where the end of the tape meets the zero.
- Measure twice. If two readings differ, measure a third time and use your judgment.
- Record immediately. Write down each number with its label so nothing is forgotten.
Key measurements, step by step
Chest or bust. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, under the arms and across the shoulder blades at the back. Keep it level and breathe normally.
Waist. Find your natural waist, usually the narrowest part of your torso, which is often a little above the navel. Bending sideways can help locate the crease. Wrap the tape there. Note that this may differ from where trousers sit, which is the next point.
Trouser waist. If you want a measurement for trousers, measure where you actually wear them. This is often lower than the natural waist and is the figure that matters for waistbands. Trouser fit also depends on rise, which is the distance from the crotch seam up to the waistband.
Hips. Stand with feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat, keeping the tape level at the back and front.
Shoulder width. Measure across the back from the edge of one shoulder to the other. A helper makes this easier. If you are measuring alone, you can lay a favorite well-fitting shirt flat and measure its shoulder seam to seam instead.
Sleeve length. With your arm relaxed at your side, measure from the shoulder point, where the arm meets the shoulder, down to the wrist bone. Having a slight bend in the elbow while measuring gives a more realistic length for wearing.
Inseam. Measure along the inside of the leg from the crotch to the ankle or the point where you want the hem to fall. Wear or hold the shoes you plan to wear. A simpler option is to measure the inseam of trousers that fit well.
Torso or back length. From the bump at the base of your neck down to your natural waist. This is useful for dresses and jackets.
Height. Stand against a wall without shoes and mark the top of your head.
Common mistakes
- Measuring over thick clothing.
- Letting the tape sag at the back.
- Pulling too tight, which gives numbers too small to be comfortable.
- Measuring a different spot each time. Mark landmarks with a small piece of tape or a loose string around the waist as a reference.
- Forgetting to account for ease, which is the extra room a garment needs to be comfortable.
Using the numbers
Body measurements show the size of the body, not the garment. Most clothing is designed with extra room, so a chart that lists body measurements already accounts for this, while one listing garment measurements does not. Reading the chart carefully, as discussed in articles on finding your clothing sizes, tells you which type you have. When ordering online, comparing your numbers with the chart reduces surprises and returns.
When preparing for a tailor, bring your measurements, but also expect them to take their own. Tailors usually measure garments and your body directly. Your own notes are still a useful starting point for describing fit problems, particularly for clothing alterations that depend on length and width.
Keep a record
Save your measurements somewhere you can find them, with the date. Bodies change over time, so check them every so often, such as once or twice a year or when a garment starts to fit differently. Treat the numbers as a guide, not a rule, and always consider the cut, fabric and stretch of the item you are buying.