How to take body measurements for clothes
Size charts of brands are based on body measurements. Five of them cover most clothes: neck, chest or bust, waist, hips and inseam. You need a soft tape measure and, ideally, a second person.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
Before you start
- Wear underwear or thin, close-fitting clothes.
- Stand upright and relaxed, feet together.
- Keep the tape level and flat on the body. It should neither cut in nor sag.
- Write each value down in the unit the brand uses. One inch is 2.54 cm.
The measurements
- Neck: around the neck where a shirt collar sits.
- Chest or bust: around the fullest part, under the arms.
- Waist: around the natural waist.
- Hips: around the fullest part of the hips, feet together.
- Inseam: from the crotch down the inside of the leg.
Sleeve length for US shirts is a sixth measurement: from the centre of the back of the neck, over the point of the shoulder and down to the wrist, with the arm slightly bent.
Where brands measure differently
The size guides we compared do not agree on every point. Follow the instructions of the brand you are buying from.
| Measurement | One instruction | Another instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Hips | At the fullest part (Marks & Spencer) | 20 cm below the natural waist (ASOS) |
| Inseam, lower end | To the floor, barefoot (Marks & Spencer) | To the ankle bone (ASOS); to the bottom of the ankle (Levi’s) |
| Neck | Around the neck | On a collar laid flat, from button to buttonhole (L.L.Bean) |
Worked example: choosing a size from a chart
Your measurements are chest 96 cm, waist 84 cm, hips 100 cm. The chart of a brand lists size M for chest 94 to 98 cm and waist 80 to 84 cm, and size L for chest 98 to 102 cm and waist 84 to 88 cm.
- Find the size for each measurement separately. Chest gives M; waist is on the border of M and L.
- For tops and jackets the chest decides: M.
- For trousers the waist and hips decide: compare both sizes.
The numbers in this example are invented to show the method. They are not the chart of a real brand.
Common mistakes
- Measuring over thick clothes.
- Holding the tape at an angle. A girth that is not level comes out too large.
- Pulling the tape tight to get a smaller number.
- Measuring a garment and comparing it with a body measurement chart. A garment is cut larger than the body it is made for.
- Using old measurements.
Sources and checks
The instructions follow the size guides below. Body measurements for clothing are defined in the international standard ISO 8559-1, whose definitions are not freely readable; we read its scope only. Last checked against the sources on September 28, 2026.
Used for: bust at the fullest part under the arms, natural waist, hips at the fullest part with feet together, inside leg to the floor.
Used for: hips measured 20 cm below the natural waist, and the inside leg ending at the ankle bone.
Used for: waist and inseam, with the inseam ending at the bottom of the ankle.
Used for: sleeve length from the centre of the back of the neck, and the neck measured on a collar laid flat.
Used for: the existence and scope of the international standard for body measurements.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do I measure the waist for trousers?
- Size charts usually ask for the natural waist. Trousers often sit lower, so some brands ask for the measurement where the waistband sits. Follow the instruction of the brand.
- Can I measure myself?
- Yes, in front of a mirror, so that you can see whether the tape is level. Sleeve length and inseam are easier with a second person.
- Should the tape be tight?
- No. The tape lies flat on the body without pressing in. The garment already includes the room needed to move.
- My measurements match two different sizes. Which one do I take?
- Take the size of the measurement that matters most for the garment: chest or bust for tops, hips and waist for trousers and skirts. If the brand gives fit advice, follow it.