How to Take Measurements for Both Woman and Man

How to Take Measurements for Both Woman and Man

It is always preferable to take acute measurements of your shoulder, waist, hip, chest and other areas for designing or purchasing perfectly tailored clothes that will enhance your body shape and size. You may visit the tailor for this purpose or you may save time by taking measurements by yourself at home!

How to Take Measurements for Women
Depending on the type of measurement a woman requires, you can do it alone or seek the assistance of a friend. Following are the various methods of measurements for women:

Depending on the type of measurement a woman requires, you can do it alone or seek the assistance of a friend. Following are the various methods of measurements for women:

Chest Size: Record the chest or band size by wrapping the tape around the base of your bust just where the bra band would sit on your chest.

Bra Size:

• Stand straight facing the mirror and wrap the measuring tape around your back, across the shoulder blades, under the arms and over the fullest part of your bust. Place your thumb under the tape and take the bust size measurement ensuring you do not pull too tight. The tape should be held straight and parallel to the floor.


• To find out your bra size, take bust and band measurements with a bra. Get your round-up bust size and then use it to deduct your band size. The result indicates your bra size. If the result is one inch, it means you have an A cup. 2 inch means B cup and, 3 inch means a C cup, etc. For example, if your bust size is 35 inch and band size is 33 inch, then that's a B cup.

Waist Size: Strip down to your undergarment and stand straight facing the mirror. Bend forward or sideways to identify the line where your waist creases. Wrap the measuring tape around your waist along this line and take down the measurement.

Hip Size: Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your hips and buttock. This position usually lies 7-9 inches below the natural waist.

You can also watch the video below to learn how to take all kinds of measurements from your head to toe:

How to Take Measurements for a Man
Most men try so hard to achieve a proportionate build and an ideal body shape. And the trick lies in proper measurement and perfectly tailored clothes. Here are some tips on taking measurements for a man:

Neck: Take a measuring tape and wrap it around the base of your neck and read the measurement.

Chest: Hang both your arms laterally. Then ask a friend to wrap the measuring tape around your chest, under your armpits and across the shoulder blades and take the reading.

Waist: Wear a close fitting undergarment or bottom wear to prevent errors in reading. Wrap the measuring tape around your waist and record the reading.

Hips: With the help of a friend, wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your hips and record the reading.

Thighs: Wear your best fitting pants while taking this measurement. Ask your friend to take a series of measurements by wrapping the measuring tape around your thighs, starting from the crotch area to the bottom of the pants.

Calves: Measure both calves at their thickest part and then take their average as your final measurement.

How to Take Measurements for Tailored Garments

Inseam: Ask a friend to measure your legs from the ankle to the bottom of your crotch. If wearing a jean, take measurements from the lowest hem to the bottom of the crotch. Round up the measurement to the closest half-inch and record it.

Thigh: Stand before the mirror with your legs slightly apart. Wrap the measuring tape around your thighs, bring the ends of the tape in front and take the measurements. Do not pull ends so tight that it digs into your flesh.

Rise: Stand in front of the mirror with your legs slightly apart. Hold one end of the measuring tape at the center back of your waist and pull the other end in between your legs and under your crotch to the center front of your waist. Record the measurement observed on the mirror.

Sleeve Length: Stand with your hand resting on the hips and elbows bent at 90-degree. Ask your friend to measure the continuous distance between the center back of your neck down to your wrist.

Upper Arm: With arms extended outwards, wrap the tape around the thickest part of your upper arm and note the measurement.

Shoulder Width: Stand straight facing the mirror and relax your shoulders. Let someone measure the length between the outer edge of one shoulder to the outer edge of the other shoulder.

Low Shoulder Length: Measure the shoulder length between the two armholes.

Front Length: Take the measurement between the top of the shoulder and the center front of your natural waist.

Back Length: Measure the distance between the nape of your neck and the center back of your natural waist.

Dress Length: Measure the distance between the top middle of your shoulder over the fullest part of your bust to your desired hemline distance.

Skirt Length: Stand straight facing the mirror with your legs together. Measure the distance between the center front of your natural waist till your knees or your desired hemline.

Height Measurement: Stand with your feet slightly apart and back resting on a wall. Measure the distance between the back of your heels and the top of your head with the help of a friend. If alone, place a book on your head and mark the base of the book resting on your head; and then measure the distance from the mark to the floor.