Men's Measurement Guide

Men's sizing tips

In the Overstock.com Apparel Size Guides, measurements are given to let you know which sizes to choose. However, if you aren't sure how to find your measurements, those guides won't help you know how to buy men's clothing. This measurement guide will show you where to measure and what to look for when online shopping, so you will know how to buy men's clothing that looks great on you.

Before you begin, you'll need:

• A flexible (cloth or plastic) measuring tape (not the metal one from your tool box!)
• Someone to help you
• A paper and pencil (so you won't need to remember your measurements)

For accurate measurements, make sure to measure over bare skin or your underwear. Some people prefer measuring clothes that fit them well over measuring themselves, but this may not be as precise.

How to measure yourself for a suit

Jacket

Suit sizes have a number with a letter or word, such as 40L or 40 Long. The number is your chest measurement, or your overarm measurement minus 7 inches. If these two numbers are about the same, use your chest measurement as your suit size. However, if the measurement over your arms is larger than your chest, use your overarm measurement as your size.

Overarm

• Stand up straight and let your arms hang straight at your sides.
• Have someone measure the broadest part of your shoulders, over your arms.
• Keep the measuring tape parallel to the ground.

Chest

• Stand up straight with your arms hanging straight at your sides.
• Have someone measure the fullest part of your chest, over your shoulder blades and under your underarms.
• Keep the measuring tape parallel to the ground.
• Add an inch to the measurement if you'd like a looser fitting jacket.

The letter or word given in the size refers to your overall height.

• Short: 5'5" to 5'7"
• Regular: 5'8" to 5'10"
• Long: 5'11" to 6'2"

Pants

Suits have what is called a "drop," which is the difference between the number given in the size and your pant size. American suits typically have a 6-inch drop. For example, an American suit in size 38R would have pants that are size 32. European suits typically have a 7-inch drop. So, you will need to subtract 7 from the overarm measurement to see what the pants size is. Most pants can be let out one inch and taken in up to two inches, so your body doesn't need to have the same measurements as the suit, but you'll want to choose one that is as close as possible.

Waist

• Bend over to one side to find the spot where your waist naturally creases.
• Measure this spot; it should be right under your navel.
• Keep the measuring tape parallel to the floor and snug against your skin, but don't pull it tight.

Pants, especially suit pants, are usually sold in one length, so you can have a tailor hem them to the right length. When they do this, tailors put in a "break." The break refers to how the bottom edge of your pants hits the top of your shoes.

• Full break: pants are hemmed to reach down to the top of the shoes' heels, with the front of the hem "breaking" naturally over the shoes. This look is considered very fashionable.
• Half break: pants are hemmed to reach about halfway down the back of the shoes. This look is considered classic.
• No break: hems end right before shoes, and a bit of sock is showing. This tends to look a bit casual.

When you have your pants hemmed, you can also decide if you want a cuff or not. In general, pleated-front pants can be worn with or without cuffs, while flat-front pants should not have cuffs.

How to measure yourself for a dress shirt

Men's dress shirts will have one of two types of sizes: measurements or US Standard clothing sizes. Measurements will give the neck measurement and the arm measurement. US Standard clothing sizes (Small, Medium, Large, etc.) will correspond to those same measurements. Refer to the Overstock.com Apparel Size Guides to see how they relate.

Neck

• Measure around your neck just below your Adam's apple.
• Add a half-inch to the measurement for comfort.

Arm

• Have someone measure one of your arms, with it hanging straight at your side.
• Measure from the center back of your neck, over the top of your shoulder and down to your wrist.

The chest size and the length of the shirt will vary by brand, but you can have your shirt tailored to fit as long as the neck and arms already fit you well.

Casual men's clothing sizes

Casual men's clothing uses the same measurements as dress clothing, with more use of US Standard clothing sizes. After you've taken your measurements, find the corresponding standard size (such as small, medium, large). Your clothing should fit perfectly.

Casual pants usually are measured by waist and inseam, and they are hemmed when you purchase.

Inseam

• Stand up straight with your legs about 6 inches apart.
• Have a friend measure the inside of one leg from the crotch to the bottom of your ankle.
• In this case, measuring a pair of pants that fit you well can be fairly accurate.

How to measure yourself for men's accessories

Belts: Belts are meant to fit on your true waist, so you can use the same waist measurement as your pants, by bending to the side, finding the natural crease and measuring there.

Gloves: Measure the circumference of your dominant hand over your knuckles. Then measure from the tip of your middle finger to the base of your hand. Use the larger of these two measurements for your glove size. The size will either be in inches or in US Standard clothing sizes. Here's how they correspond:

• Small: 7 inches
• Medium: 7 ? inches to 8 inches
• Large: 8 ? inches to 9 inches
• X-large: 9 ? to 10 inches
• XX-Large: 10 ? inches to 11 inches

Hats: Measure the widest part of your head, about an inch above your eyebrows. Hats are often sold in standard sizes (small, medium, large), but you may also see some that are sold with numerical sizes (sometimes called 1/8 sizes because they are written as fractions).

Inches	1/8 Size	Standard Size
21 1/4	6 3/4	Small
21 5/8	6 7/8	Small
22	7	Medium
22 3/8	7 1/8	Medium
22 3/4	7 1/4	Large
22 1/8	7 3/8	Large
23 1/2	7 1/2	X-Large
23 7/8	7 5/8	X-Large
24 1/4	7 3/4	XX-Large
24 5/8	7 7/8	XX-Large
25	8	XX-Large

Men's clothing alteration tips

• Having your clothes tailored will make them look custom-made. In addition to suits, you can have your shirts and even your casual clothing altered for an impeccable look.
• Keep the leftover fabric when you have your suit altered. If you ever have a snag, hole or stain, the fabric can be rewoven back into the suit to repair it.
• One part of a suit that can't be changed by a tailor is the shoulders. Be sure to choose the shoulder shape, size and pad that work for you.
• Remember that suits (or any other clothing) cannot be returned once you have had them hemmed or altered.
• All of your measurements (except maybe your hat size) can fluctuate. If it's been awhile or if you know your body has changed, measure yourself again before making any purchases.

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