How to Measure a Person for a Sports Coat

You can measure your own body to insure a properly fitted sports coat.

A sports coat is an essential element in a fashionable man's wardrobe. This versatile piece of clothing can be worn in a casual or business-type setting and still project a sense of style when worn with a variety of other clothes. However, like a suit, even a high-end sports coat can look tacky if it is not specifically sized to a person's body.

Things You'll Need

• Cloth tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure around your chest with your arms relaxed at your sides. The tape measure should be around the widest part of your chest while taking a deep breath. Record the measurement to obtain coat size.

2. Measure around the outsides of your shoulders and chest at the widest point. Subtract 6 inches from this measurement to obtain the coat size. This is called the overarm method and is most accurate for bodybuilders and larger men. The larger of the chest and overarm measurements should be used for coat size.

3. Hold your arm at a 90 degree angle with your hand on your hip. Measure the distance from the back-center of your neck, across the shoulder, around the outside of the elbow and to your wrist. This measurement is your sleeve length. If the measurement falls between a coat's sleeve sizes, then select the larger size.

4. Measure around your neck at an inch above its base. This is your neck size. It is rarely used for sports coats, but in the unlikely event that you need it, it is nice to know.

References

• Lands' End: How to Measure
• Great Price: A Guide to the Proper Fit
• LewRockwell.com: How to Dress Like a Man