How to Measure an Arm Hole With & Without Help

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Everything you need to take an arm hole measurement correctly
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If you plan to order or create a garment tailored to your figure, you'll need to know how to measure your armhole size. That’s where we come in! This article will tell you how to take your arm hole measurement on your body or using one of your shirts. When you're creating the garment yourself, you'll also need to know how to measure the size of the arm hole space provided on the pattern. So, we’ll also explain how to measure the arm hole in a pattern.

How to Measure an Arm Hole: A Quick Guide

Place the end of the measuring tape at the top of your shoulder. Run the tape over the front of your shoulder and under your armpit to get the arm hole depth measurement. Continue running the tape under your armpit and up over the back of your shoulder to the place where you started for the full arm hole measurement.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Taking Your Armhole Measurement

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  1. Extend your arm straight out so it’s perpendicular to the rest of your body. You can work with either the left or right arm. [1]
    • It is easier to take an accurate measurement for your arm hole if you have a helper. Your helper takes the measurement while you keep your arm in position.
    • If you don’t have a helper, it's probably easier to measure the arm hole of your non-dominant arm while using your dominant hand to hold and maneuver the tape measure.
  2. Position the starting (zero) end of the tape measure flat against the center of the top of your shoulder. Draw the tape measure down over the front of your shoulder and arm, pausing once it hits the center of your armpit.
    • This measurement is sometimes referred to as your arm hole depth. [2]
    • Continue around your armpit and shoulder if you need the full arm hole measurement instead of the depth measurement.
    • Keep the tape measure flat against your body. It should also be vertically straight along the front of your body.
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  3. Continue wrapping the tape measure around your arm and shoulder, drawing it up from behind your shoulder until it meets the starting end. This measurement is your full arm hole measurement. [3]
    • The tape measure must be vertically straight along the back and front of your shoulder. Make sure that it also lies flat against your body.
    • Note that your full arm hole measurement should be twice as large as your arm hole depth.
    • Since the full arm hole measurement may not be exactly twice as large, it’s best to take the actual measurement instead of mathematically doubling the depth measurement.
  4. With the tape measure held in place, move your arm around. Rotate it back and forth, then up and down. Avoid holding the tape measure so tightly that it restricts your arm movement in any way.
    • Place two fingers underneath the measuring tape and against your body as you take the measurement to keep the tape loose.
    • Avoid stretching the tape as you take the measurement to prevent it from being too tight.
    • When in doubt, a slightly larger measurement is better than one that’s too small.
    • To ensure the arm hole is located in the right place, measure the circumference of your chest, from the center of your back to the tip of your shoulder, and from the center of your back to your hip, suggests apparel manufacturing specialist Alessio Iadicicco. [4]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Estimating Armhole Measurement from a Shirt

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  1. Choose a shirt with comfortable, appropriately sized arm holes. Spread the shirt out flat over a table or desk and smooth it so there’s no bunching around the arm hole area. If the shirt is a button-down, make sure to button it up first. [5]
    • The sleeve length of the shirt does not matter. It can even be sleeveless as long as it has an actual armhole.
    • Avoid using a tank top with spaghetti straps, a halter top, or a strapless top.
    • This method is good to use if you do not have a helper to assist you in taking a traditional arm hole measurement.
  2. With the front of the shirt facing up, position the starting (zero) end of the tape measure at the top of the arm hole seam. Then, carefully run the tape measure along the curve of the seam until it reaches the bottom. [6]
    • Keep the tape measure on its side as you wind it around the arm hole seam.
    • Align the tape measure to this seam as precisely as possible.
    • The resulting measurement corresponds to your arm hole depth. It’s about half of your full arm hole measurement.
  3. Smooth the shirt out, then measure the back arm hole seam with your tape measure. Position the starting end of the tape at the top of the arm hole seam. Extend the tape down the curve of the seam until it reaches the bottom.
    • Your front and back arm hole depth will usually be the same. The back arm hole depth can occasionally be larger by as much as 5/8 inch (1.6 cm), though, so take both measurements separately just to be safe.
  4. This is only an estimate of your true arm hole measurement, so it’s not quite as accurate as a traditional measurement. However, it will produce satisfactory results in most instances.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Measuring a Pattern Armhole

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  1. The stitching line is the dotted line indicating where you make your stitches. [7] If you’re drafting the pattern from scratch instead of working with a commercial pattern or previously made pattern, use a French curve or curved ruler to sketch the stitching line and make sure the seam allowances are the same all along the arm hole.
  2. Place the starting (zero) end of the tape measure at the top of the arm hole stitching line, just beneath the seam allowance. Extend the tape down along the curve until you reach the bottom seam allowance.
    • A seam allowance is the area between the cut edge of the fabric and the sewing line. [8] It doesn’t change the size of the opening, so avoid including it in your measurement.
    • Stand the tape measure on its side and make sure that the tape follows the stitching line precisely.
    • Avoid measuring along the outer edge of the arm hole on the pattern. That measurement doesn’t accurately reflect the dimensions of the eventual hole.
  3. Locate the stitching line on the back pattern piece. Place the starting end of the tape measure at the top of the arm hole stitching line. Then, wind it down the curve until it reaches the bottom of the arm hole.
    • Remember to avoid including the seam allowances in your measurement. Doing so skews the results.
  4. The sum of the 2 measurements gives you the total arm hole measurement.
    • The back arm hole measurement might be larger than the front by 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch (1.25 to 1.6 cm). If the measurements are off by more than this amount, the balance is off.
    • The back arm hole measurement is never smaller than the front.
  5. The ease refers to extra fabric added to a garment to make it more comfortable and allow ease of movement. [9] Alter the total arm hole measurement as needed to allow for ease of movement in the final piece.
    • If you're working with a pattern drafted for woven fabrics and want to make a garment with a knit fabric, shorten the ease by 1/2 inch (1.25 cm).
    • Convert a knit pattern for use with woven fabrics by lengthening the ease by 1/2 inch (1.25 cm).
    • If you added some slack when you took the measurement, avoid adding extra ease here.
  6. The simplest way to adjust the arm hole size is to make the curve of the arm hole deeper or shallower. Make the curve deeper if you need the arm hole to be bigger. Make it shallower to make the hole smaller. [10]
    • To alter the arm hole, sketch a deeper or shallower curve onto the pattern using your arm hole measurement.
    • Then, line a French curve up with your sketched line to even it out. [11]
    • Avoid altering the shoulder or side seams to change the arm hole measurement.
    • Keep in mind, the bases and top points of the arm hole on the front and back pattern pieces must match up.
    • When you alter the arm hole size of a pattern, remember to alter the shoulder opening of any sleeve you plan to attach so the 2 measurements match.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you measure mid-arm circumference?
    Alessio Iadicicco
    Apparel Manufacturing Specialist
    Alessio Iadicicco is an Apparel Manufacturing Specialist based in Dallas, Texas. He was the CEO and Co-Founder of MarkersValley, an online apparel and manufacturer sourcing platform that connects luxury fashion brands to a network of highly-vetted, truly Italian manufacturers. After 6 years building MarkersValley, he transitioned into a career as a SBA Lender, currently working as VP of the SBA Business Development Office at U.S. Bank. Through this role, he helps small business owners secure the SBA funding they need to thrive. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economy and Management of Financial Enterprises from The University of Naples Federico II. MarkersValley has connected fashion brands in over 100 countries and has a network of over 100 independent Italian factories and artisans. MarkersValley has been featured in Forbes, EQ, St. Louis Business Journal, Il Mattino, and Corriere Della Sera.
    Alessio Iadicicco
    Apparel Manufacturing Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Take the measurement from under the armpit to the elbow. The middle will be the thickest part of the arm, and according to the size that part comes out to, you can adjust the circumference of the sleeve.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 9
  • Question
    Should I measure along curve of armpit shirt hole?
    Community Answer
    Yes you should. Otherwise you get a piece of flabby materiel under your arm.
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  • Question
    How do you measure arm hole?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    You can measure your arm to find your arm hole measurements. Raise your arm and hold it parallel to the floor. Either arm is fine, though it will be easiest to do your measuring with your dominant arm and use your non-dominant arm for reference. Place the “0” mark against the bony part of your shoulder joint, right where your arm meets your torso. This will serve as the starting point for your measurement. Use the pad of your thumb or forefinger to pin the end of the tape in place. Draw the tape down the front of your shoulder and under your armpit and wrap it all the way around to the original starting point. That's your measurement!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/0ciaKSC2ZBk?t=5
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnGJiHWQ-oM
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/YnGJiHWQ-oM?t=9
      4. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/eGFUeauHsKY?t=4
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/eGFUeauHsKY?t=7
      7. ↑ https://uark.pressbooks.pub/introapparelproductionworkbook/chapter/c-pattern-symbols
      8. ↑ https://patternlab.london/home/what-is-seam-allowance-basic-pattern-making/
      9. ↑ https://patternlab.london/home/what-is-ease-in-pattern-making-basic-pattern-making/
      1. ↑ https://www.seamwork.com/sewing-tutorials/how-to-adjust-armhole-depth-on-a-sewing-pattern
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/jKeQ9DkIbkw?t=178

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Measuring your arm hole size is important if you’re tailoring a garment to your figure, and all you need to get started is a shirt that fits well and a tape measure. First, flatten out the shirt so there are no folds or creases on the arms. Position the tape at the top of the arm, keeping it on its side and as close to the seam as you can. Then, stretch the tape to the bottom of the arm, and take note of the measurement. Flip your shirt over and repeat the process on the back, since your back arm hole depth can sometimes be different. To get your total arm hole measurement, add the 2 results together. For tips on how to measure a patterned arm hole, keep reading!

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