How to Measure for a Suit

Make sure the guy in your life (husband, boyfriend or self) looks his very best. This is a quick way to get the basic measurements needed for a suit. The article will tell you how to measure for a suit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• measuring tape

1. Overarm measurement: Take the measuring tape and measure over the arms at the fullest part of the chest. This will be your overarm measurement.

2. Chest measurement: Measure the chest, around the fullest part, place the tape close up under the arms making sure the tape is up over the shoulder blades, measure at the fullest part of chest. This measurement usually determines what size jacket you wear. (It's ok to go up a size in the jacket if your midsection is a little fuller or down a size if you're measuring over more than one shirt. The key here is comfort).

3. Waist measurement: Measure around the waist over a shirt at the area where you would normally wear your pants aprroximately one inch below belly button.

4. Outseam measurement: measure from the waist (top of the pants) down to the top of the heel of the shoe. This gives you pants length.

Tips & Warnings

• Each company is different and may require different or additional measurements. Check with the store to verifiy which and what measurements they require.
• If you are under 5 feet 5 inches - chose a short jacket
• If you are 6 feet tall, choose a long jacket.
• Taller than 6 foot 3 inches - choose an extra long jacket
• If you are none of the heights, choose regular.