Proper Measuring Techniques
If you are unable to find a men’s wear store or tuxedo rental establishment in your area,
you must know the proper techniques needed to ensure precise measurements.
Please have someone follow the steps and instructions below when you are measured.

NECK MEASUREMENT

Place tape around neck at the level the shirt’s collar would be buttoned.  Place two fingers between the neck and tape, and make sure the tape is snug but moves freely.

CHEST MEASUREMENT

Ask gentleman to move his arms outward.  Place tape under arms and around the broadest part of the chest.  Have gentleman lower his arms to his side and relax.  Make sure tape is snug but can move freely.  Do not place any of your fingers between the tape and the gentleman’s chest.

OVERARM MEASUREMENT

With the gentleman’s arms at his side, place the tape around the broadest part of the chest and shoulders.  This measurement is critical if the gentleman has overly-broad shoulders.  Do not place any of your fingers between the tape and the gentleman’s chest.

WAIST MEASUREMENT

Place tape around gentleman’s waist at the level of his navel.  This is the height at which formal trousers are worn.  Make sure tape is snug but can move freely.  Ask gentleman if this is comfortable.

OUTSEAM MEASUREMENT

A. Ask the gentleman to look straight ahead during this measurement.  Place the start of the tape at the side of his waist level to the navel.  Stretch the tape down the side of the leg until you reach the top of the heel on your customer’s dress shoe.  This is the correct outseam measurement.

B. If the gentleman is not wearing dress shoes, have his remove his shoes, measure to the floor and subtract 1/2”.  This method can also yield an accurate outseam measurement.

HIP MEASUREMENT

Place tape around the broadest part of the gentleman’s hips.  Make sure tape is snug but can move away.

SHIRT SLEEVE MEASUREMENT

A. When measuring the sleeve length, make sure you start the tape just below the neck, centered with the spine. 

B. Make sure the tape measure goes over the top of the gentleman’s shoulder.  Take the tape down the arm to the point of their elbow and then measure an inch and a half past the wrist bone.  It is always better to measure long versus short because a sleeve that is too short will likely be unacceptable to the gentleman.