When information technology comes to your conform or tuxedo, you lot probably know that fit is of import, and you don't desire to sabotage your look by taking the wrong measurements.

Suit tape measure with question marks.

Perhaps you're renting the traditional brick-and-mortar way, and trying to decide whether you should learn how to measure for a suit yourself,or trek to the mall to have your inner thigh measured past a surly sales associate. (Truly formal wear's Sophie's Choice if e'er there was i.)

Or maybe you lot're buying a adjust online. That can feel risky, and you wouldn't be the first person to stand in front of your full-length mirror, mouth afraid, asking yourself "What is my suit size? And… who am I, actually?" Nosotros tin can't help you with the 2d office of your literal cocky-reflection, but we tin help you find the adapt size you demand.

The most heady office? You may not actually need to measure for a suit at all. From the nuts ("How should a suit fit?" or "How should a tux fit?") to the specifics ("How do I measure for a tux?"), we've got the answers. Read on to find your fit.

Table of Contents

Before You Measure
Understanding Suit Sizes
How Should a Arrange Fit?

How to Find My Size
Endeavor On Suits in a Shop
Measure Yourself
Get Your Measurements Taken

Understanding Suit Sizes

Before you dig in to find your fit and measure out for a suit, there are a few things you should sympathize about how to read adjust sizes. Without getting too deep in the weeds, let's get you lot up to speed.

Jacket Chest
The size label on a accommodate jacket will include a number—typically betwixt 34 and 52—and a letter or 2. The numbers are the breast size of the jacket (not to be confused with your chest measurement, which is different—more than on that later), and unremarkably they're offered in fifty-fifty sizes.

Jacket Length
Jackets typically come in brusque (S), regular (R), and long (50) lengths, although some brands offer extra brusk (XS) and actress long (XL) lengths as well. Commonly, these lengths represent with your overall superlative.

Pant Sizes
This one's tricky. Typically, the first number on a characterization for dress pants or denim is the waist size, while the 2d is the length size (AKA the inseam). But when it comes to suit pants, you'll often only be provided with a waist size. That's considering with traditional suiting, you'll accept the pants hemmed to your desired length. More often than not, waist sizes tend to come in fifty-fifty sizing (32, 34, 36, etc.). If a conform pant inseam is offered, they'll typically be even sizes every bit well.

Casual Clothing vs. Formalwear
If your get-to jeans are a size 32 waist, you'd probably presume you lot clothing the same size in suit pants, only that's rarely the case. Coincidental clothing, similar denim and chinos, typically have a piffling more stretch in the waist. That means your arrange pants, which take less requite, will likely need to be a larger size.

Similarly, the fabrics used for suit pants don't bunch upwardly as easily as coincidental fabrics. That means your 32 length jeans fit shorter than their size. When yous try on a 32 length pair of adjust pants, you'll probably find them to be too long.

To recap: Suit pants fit tighter and longer than coincidental pants in the aforementioned size.

Brand to Brand Size Differences
While big differences in sizing from brand to brand are unusual, sizing tin can vary—call back +/- a size or length. Your favorite suit jacket might exist (for case) a 38L and fit you perfectly, just a 38L in some other make could be likewise tight or too short. This shouldn't stop you from shopping a variety of brands, but it's important to keep it in mind if you shop online—ordering the tag size may non equate to an identical fit. This also ways a sales acquaintance (or online size predictor) could provide a sizing recommendation that differs from what you'd ordinarily look.

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How Should a Adjust Fit?

The fit of your suit really comes down to personal preference. If information technology helps, think about the fit of a suit like you'd think about eggs: not everyone loves them the same way, so unless you lot specify, you might become scrambled when yous're expecting sunny side up.

Classic vs. Regular vs. Slim vs. Skinny Fits
Each brand volition interpret fit types in different ways, only by and large, there are some assumptions you can brand most classic, regular, slim and skinny fits.

Classic Fit
A "classic" fit will exist more generous in size overall. Rather than having a contoured cut, yous'll find the waist of the jacket and leg of the pants to accept a pretty even cut without much tapering. This fit had its heyday in the '80s and '90s, only some brands offering a modern version of the classic fit that'due south only a petty more generous in the seat and thigh of the pants, and in the artillery of the jacket. You can expect the same from a "regular" fit.

Skinny Fit
A "skinny" fit is probably going to mean what you lot think it means: it will profile your torso closely. This probably isn't a nifty fit if you're planning on… I don't know, doing the YMCA or inbound a limbo contest? That'due south because this fit won't get out you with much extra fabric (literally no jerk room) in the jacket or pants. Simply if you're going for a model-in-a-mag expect, skinny fit probably checks all the boxes. Merely don't program on lifting any boxes.

Slim fit grey suit from The Black Tux.

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Slim Fit
A "slim" fit offers the best of both worlds: a contoured cut that looks bully, but with just enough room to shake your groove thing. It's also timeless, and then a very safe option for fit if you're purchasing a suit. The jacket will have a tapered waist, hugging you in all the right places, and the arm holes will neither experience baggy nor constrict your motility. Plus, the leg of the pant will taper downwardly to your shoe, creating a slimming effect.

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A Note on Atypical Torso Types
Every trunk type is unique, but some of us are so unique that it becomes difficult to vesture the nearly accessible brands. If you have a super-athletic build, a tall and thin frame, or you lot're shorter with a broad build, you'll likely get the best results from custom, tailor-made garments. Merely that can become expensive, and off-the-rack is a non-starter. Instead, purchase or rent adjust (or tux) separates, and talk to your tailor about the all-time ways to adjust the fit of the garments you own.

Custom vs. Off-the-Rack
When you buy a suit off the rack, y'all're buying a suit with a "standard drop"—the deviation betwixt the chest size of your jacket minus the waist size of your pant. The standard driblet is 6, which means if y'all habiliment a size 38 jacket, the pants will be a size 32 waist (38 – 32 = 6). Unfortunately, not anybody fits neatly into this standard driblet. If that's you, consider having a garment custom made, shop for (or hire) separates, or plan on taking your off-the-rack garment to a tailor for fine-tuning.

What tin a tailor adjust?
Beginning, are you renting or ownership? If you hire a adjust, y'all'll probably exist express to temporary sleeve length or pant length hem adjustments. If you lot ain the suit, y'all have more options, but there are some parts of a accommodate you shouldn't touch on.

Practise non take your suit in for these alterations:
→ Jacket Shoulders
→ Jacket Breast
→ Jacket Body Length

If the suit seems to be your size but something'due south but a piffling off, do tailor:
→ Jacket Sleeve Length
→ Pant Length Hem
→ Jacket Waist
→ Pant Waist
→ Pant Taper

When in doubt, ask your tailor what'due south realistic, and manage your expectations accordingly.

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How to Find My Size


Try On Suits In a Store
Skillful quondam trial and error. Trying on adjust separates is a great mode to get a ballpark judge of your sizes. Make sure you're wearing a dress shirt and apparel shoes, and attempt on as many jackets and pants as you need until yous discover the right fit. While this method withal requires you to head into a shop, you're not in the (sometimes) bad-mannered position of asking an associate to take your measurements.

You'll as well want to pay attention to whether the garment that fits you best is a slim or classic fit. While the definition of these terms tin can vary from make to brand, information technology still helps to know if the size 38 adapt jacket you tried on was designed for a more tailored fit or a relaxed fit.

Finally, make sure to write downwardly (or email yourself) the sizes—jacket breast size, jacket length, pant waist size, and, if applicable, inseam length.

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How to Mensurate Yourself for a Suit

We know what y'all're near to say—something along the lines of "I'll mess it upwards and end up with a bad fit." This would be a valid concern, but what y'all may not realize is that the days of asking a friend to measure you for a conform are numbered. Proprietary fit and sizing technology has come a long way, making information technology easier than ever to find your suit sizes.

Proprietary Sizing and Fit Applied science
Getting measured for a adapt has been a de facto tradition in our culture for a long time. Simply then once more… so has lining up exterior of department stores with bellies full of turkey and carbs to save $75 on a HDTV. There has to be a improve way. We realized that it's asking a lot to have you measure yourself at home, or  to send you to tailor or menswear shop to get your measurements taken. And if nosotros're being honest, neither method always results in a great fit.

Instead, nosotros ask simple questions that nigh people already know the answers to: pinnacle, weight, age, trunk shape, and shoe size. If you know anything about your fit preferences (slim, archetype, etc.) or formalwear sizes—like your dress shirt or pant size—we'll employ that info, too. If non, that's fine. Then, nosotros use data gathered from hundreds of thousands of customers to calculate the most likely sizes for your perfect fit.

Think of it every bit the modern tape measure out—something anyone can use to detect the correct fit. In fact, you can endeavor it out at present, for costless.

How to Measure for a Accommodate Using a Tape Mensurate
Perchance the old way has worked for you before. Possibly your buddy asked you to hire from a brick and mortar tux shop, and these measurements are required. Whatever the case, you'll need accurateness if you're using a tape measure out to measure for a adjust. These are the most common measurements you'll need to take and how to take them.

Demand a tape measure? Grab one hither.

Cervix Measurement
Measure around the fullest part of your neck, but don't measure too tightly—a finger or two should fit between the measuring tape and your neck.

Shoulder Measurement
Wearing a shirt that fits you well helps with this measurement, as you're pretty much merely measuring the altitude between armhole seams across your back.

Sleeve Measurement
Keeping your shoulders relaxed and arms downwards at your sides, hold the measuring tape at the border of your shoulder, at the armhole. Measure straight down to the wrist, just where it meets your paw.

Chest Underarm Measurement
Wrap the measuring tape under your arms, measuring around the widest part of your chest. As tempting as it is, don't puff out your chest or flex.

Chest Overarm Measurement
Measure around the widest part of your chest, just this time, wrap the tape measure all the way around your arms. Again, endeavour to stay relaxed for this measurement.

Waist
Wrap the measuring record around your waist, just higher up your hips, where dress pants would ordinarily sit. If you're wearing jeans or casual pants, aim for just to a higher place the waist of the pant, but don't go over the pinnacle, where a belt would sit.

Outseam Measurement
Mensurate from the top of your waistband, straight down to the footing. Y'all can either subtract i″-2″ from the total measurement, or eyeball the spot where your pants hit your shoe. If you tend to wear your pants with a larger break (more pant textile gathered on the shoe), just decrease 1″-ii″ from the total waist-to-floor measurement.

Bonus: Inseam Measurement
Nearly suiting brands won't request an inseam measurement, but they'll usually accept one during a fitting. First, vesture pants that fit yous well, without a lot of loose textile. Then, measure the inside seam of your pant leg, from the highest point to the edge of your apparel shoes. Don't measure to the terminate of the pants you're wearing

As you take your measurements, continue in mind that these raw numbers don't always translate into garment sizes. For instance, your waist measurement may be 33", but that doesn't hateful yous're a size 33 waist. #MindBlown

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How to Have Measurements Taken for a Arrange

If you've ever rented a adjust from a traditional brick-and-mortar menswear store, you probably take a very specific memory of getting measured for a conform. While it'due south probably not something yous'll journal about over a glass of cabernet, there are benefits to stopping into a shop.

If the make you're buying or renting from doesn't offering sizing or fit engineering science, and you lot're not confident in your ability to accurately measure yourself, you should visit the store. Whenever possible, get to the same shop you're buying or renting from. If y'all ask to have measurements taken someplace else, you'll find that commissioned sales associates tend to get annoyed, which tin lead to mixed fit results.

Quick Tips for Getting Fitted
i. Always wearable a clothes shirt and dress shoes to become fitted.
Without over-explaining, this is all about precision. Flip flops and t-shirts aren't the same.

2. Communicate your preferred fit (or bring a photo).
Nosotros each have our own definition of what looks good and fits correctly, and so speak upwards so the pro'due south tin punch information technology in for you. Non certain how to depict your preference? Show them a photograph of a celeb wearing a suit the manner yous like it.

iii. But don't argue with the pros.
If they're making a recommendation, at that place's probably a adept reason—maybe they know something about the fit of their suits that you don't. Merely know that they want you to wait good. Care for it similar a trust fall, only for your suit.

Suits by The Black Tux

Taking measurements for a suit or tuxedo tin can be a hassle, but more importantly, information technology's simply non always reliable. We decided it was time to call back most fit a unlike fashion—one meliorate suited to the experience of renting or shopping online. Using a combination of data science, machine learning, and good-old-fashioned formalwear expertise, we realized that the all-time manner to measure for a accommodate doesn't crave a tape measure.

When you're ready to never be awkwardly hugged/measured by a menswear sales associate over again, you tin outset finding your suit sizes here.