How to Measure Jacket Size

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Measuring your jacket size gives you the numbers you need to find well-fitting garments whenever and wherever you shop. To get your size, you'll need to take measurements of several different parts of your body: your chest, waist, shoulders, arms , and back. Once you know these measurements, you can compare them to a brand's sizing guide and pick out a jacket that fits you perfectly.

Measuring Jacket Size

For width, wrap a measuring chest around the broadest part of your chest. For length, measure down the front of your chest from the top of your shoulder. Take the measurement from the spot where you want the jacket to hit, such as the top of your thigh.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Measuring Your Body

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  1. Thick clothing, like sweaters or bulky jeans, can distort your measurements, as you’ll want to measure as close to your body as possible. [1]
  2. Ask a friend to help you! This part is hard to do by yourself. Lift your arms up to the side and have your friend wrap the measuring tape under your armpits. Lower it until the tape is wrapped around the widest part of your chest. For women, wrap the tape around your bust, or the fullest part of your chest. [2] [3]
    • Add an additional inch to your chest measurement if you’re looking for a more casual jacket. Casual jackets tend to be more loose-fitting. [4]
    • Make sure the tape is always being held level as you’re having your measurements taken. [5]
    • Clothing companies will usually cut a jacket’s chest about 10.16 cm (4.00 in) longer than their estimate of your chest size. This is why chest size does not equal jacket size.
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  3. Pinpoint the natural crease of your waist by bending to one side. This crease will be higher than where you normally wear your pants — above your belly button, but typically just below your ribcage. Keep the tape measure parallel to the floor and measure all the way around your torso where this crease formed. [6] [7]
    • If your jacket has buttons, it should button neatly over your natural waist without strain or tightness. This is why it’s crucial to get your waist measurement right. [8]
  4. Measure the width of your shoulders . Stand with a relaxed, natural posture. Stretch the tape measure horizontally across the back of your shoulders and measure the full width of your shoulders. [9] [10]
    • This measurement is important because — especially with a suit or formal jacket — you’ll want the shoulder of your jacket to lie flat, and not to bunch up or sag down over your upper bicep.
    • If the shoulder of a jacket doesn’t fit right, you’ll often see wrinkles or lumps in the sleeves and top areas of the jacket. [11]
  5. Find your sleeve length . Place one of your hands on your hip so your arm is bent. Have a friend start from the bone at the base of your neck and run the tape measure all the way down to your wrist. This is how long your jacket sleeve should be. [12] [13]
    • This is a key measurement because, if your sleeves are too short or too long, it can make it look like the whole jacket is too small or too big for you.
  6. Start the tape measure at one hip, wrap it around the other one and then connect it back to the one you started on. The tape measure should be wrapped around the widest part of your hips, around your buttocks. It can be hard to hold the tape measure level if you’re just measuring yourself, so ask a friend to help you so you can get the most accurate measurement.
    • For men, a nice-fitting formal jacket should go past the waist and fall just over the widest curve of your hips, so this is a good measurement to know. [14]
  7. Place your measuring tape at the top of your shoulder and extend it down the front of your chest. Stop measuring wherever you would like the jacket to end. [15]
    • Jacket length varies based on height and the style of the jacket. For a standard blazer or coat, a good rule of thumb is to measure down to the top of the thigh.
    • This may differ for women, though, as many women like the cropped jacket look because it can have a leg-lengthening effect.
  8. Most companies will offer sizing charts that provide exact dimensions for their clothes on their websites. Match your measurements to the right size, with the chest width being one of the most important measurements. [16]
    • Many sites will include measurements in the product description of the specific item that you’re looking at.
    • Regretfully, because different countries have instituted different systems of measurement for jackets, don’t rely too much on any general country-wide jacket guidelines. It’s better to compare your measurements with the specific measurements of the product you’re looking to purchase.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Taking Measurements of a Jacket That Already Fits You

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  1. If you want a more formal jacket, choose a formal one you already have. If you’re looking for a more casual sport jacket, find one that already fits you well.
    • If you don’t have a similarly-styled jacket, ask similarly-sized friends or relatives if they have anything similar to what you’re looking for, and if you can try it on.
  2. Button or zip it up, and make sure the sleeves are not bent. To get accurate measurements, the fabric should be as flat as possible.
  3. Connect the lowest points of the armpit seams using your measuring tape. Multiply this number by 2, and you have your chest circumference.
  4. Starting from the base of the collar, measure straight down to the bottom hem of the jacket. If you like the length of this particular jacket, you can use this measurement to look for jackets of a similar length. Again, it’s really a stylistic and personal preference — there is no perfect jacket length that you should look for.
  5. Start your tape measure at the center of the back of the jacket, right below the collar. Then, run it down the length of the sleeve, ending your measurement at the cuff.>
  6. With the coat still facing back side up, flatten the shoulders and measure the distance between the 2 shoulder seams. You don’t want the shoulders to be too tight-fitting or too loose.
  7. Look up the dimensions of the jacket you want to buy and use the measurements you just took to find which size is right for you. Brands tend to vary a lot, so it’s best to find the measurements that are unique to the brand you’re buying from.
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      Tips

      • Re-take your body measurements every few months to ensure accuracy, especially if you undergo any kind of drastic physical change.
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      • If you buy a jacket that doesn’t fit correctly, look into having a tailor alter it! Giving a tailor all the measurements listed above can help them adjust the jacket so it’s right for you.
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      • Tailors also typically offer to do body measurements as a service, if you prefer that over asking a friend to help you.
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      Warnings

      • Beware of relying solely on the general sizes (S, M, or L) provided by a company, as they’ll often use “vanity sizes” that end up confusing customers. The only way to know if an item will fit you is to look up the measurements.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFFRYS7M_qw
      2. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFFRYS7M_qw
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFFRYS7M_qw
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilg0oMZ455g&feature=youtu.be&t=37s
      6. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpf0EGfCdmU&feature=youtu.be&t=4s
      8. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/good-fitted-suit-visual/
      9. ↑ https://shopffa.org/docs/jacket_guide_female.pdf
      1. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/good-fitted-suit-visual/
      3. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      4. ↑ https://shopffa.org/docs/jacket_guide_female.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/good-fitted-suit-visual/
      6. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      7. ↑ https://www.blitzresults.com/en/jacket-size/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To measure your jacket size, take off any thick clothing, then grab a tape measure, and ideally a friend to help. Find your chest measurement by measuring the widest part of your chest, right under your armpits or around your breasts. Next, find your waist measurement by wrapping the tape measure above your belly button, and find your shoulder width by measuring the distance from the outside of one shoulder to the outside of the other. Take your hip measurement at the widest point of your hips, wrapping the measure around your butt. To learn how to take measurements using a piece of clothing you already own, keep reading!

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