How to Take Measurements at Home
To find your perfect fit.
This article will outline the most common suit measurements and offer basic instruction on how to take them accurately. This will help you get the best experience out of finding your perfect fit in the comforts of your own home. The measurements that will be highlighted below are the most important and will serve as a baseline from which you can reasonably assess a suits fit.
How to properly hold measuring tape:
Be sure to leave about one fingers worth of space behind the measuring tape and between the body. Focus on wrapping the tape around the area of the body being measured and hold it in place. Generally, you’ll want tape to feel snug on you, but not tight. You can drastically change measurements by holding the tape too tight. In tailoring, an inch is a mile.
Types of measurements– Circumference, Length, and Width
When measuring the body, there are three directions one generally needs to go– around (circumference), up and down (length), and across (width). Most bodies have natural dips that allow one to find the same spot to measure from, which is important for the sake of consistency.
- Neck - Measure the circumference of the base between two collar bones.
- Shoulder width - Measure the width from the bone at the top of the shoulder, across the back of the neck, to the other bone at the top of the shoulder.
- Bicep - Measure the circumference of the widest part of the bicep, with your elbow bent.
- Sleeve Length - Measure from the top of the shoulder to just past your wrist bone or wherever you would like your sleeve to end
- Wrist - Measure around where wrist bone is or where you would like your sleeve to fall.
- Torso length - Measure at the highest point of the shoulder right next to the base of the neck to the top crest of the hip bone/arms length depending on your height.
- Chest/Bust - Measure around at the widest point of the chest or bust.
- Waist - Measure around the body, usually near or above the belly button.
- Waist to knee - Measure the length from waist to middle of knee.
- Pants Length - Measure from waist to desired length.
- Rise - Measure from the length of front of and back of the waist where you pants sit and fall. Make sure this is comfortable and not too tight.
- Hip - Measure at the circumference of the widest point of the hip area, including the back side.
- Thigh - Measure the circumference at the top of the widest point of the thigh.
- Knee - Measure around the knee, at the widest part.
- Calf - Measure around the widest part of the calf muscle.
- Ankle - Measure around where you would like your pants length to sit.
Although seeking a professional tailor is ideal, you do not need to be an expert to take measurements. All you need is patience and a friend.
Here at Edbesong, we are always more then happy to assist and steer you in the right direction. If taking measurements yourself is not for you, you may consult with a local tailor of choice. If you are in the Brooklyn/NYC area, please come in and see us! Book your appointment and allow us to take your measurements. You will leave us looking like a GQ model!
