How to Measure a Shirt

Guide to Taking Measurements Using a Dress Shirt

Learn how to measure an existing dress shirt to create your own custom made men's shirt by Luxire. You will need: a dress shirt and cloth measuring tape.

How to Measure Neck Size / Collar Size on a Shirt

To measure the neck / collar on a shirt, unbutton the shirt and spread it out on its back. Pull the collar tight so that any curve to the collar band becomes straight. Using a cloth measuring tape, measure from the center of the button to the middle of the buttonhole. 

How to Measure Sleeve Length on a Shirt

To measure the sleeve length on a shirt, button up the shirt front and cuffs. Lay the shirt down on a flat surface, face down, so that the back is visible. Pull the sleeve away from the shirt body so that it is fully extended and laying flat. Measure the sleeve length with the cloth measuring tape by beginning at the center of the yoke right to the end of the sleeve.

How to Measure Chest Size on a Shirt

To measure the chest size on a shirt, spread the shirt out on its back so that there are no wrinkles. With a cloth measuring tape, measure the width across the chest, just below the area where the arms meet the body.

How to Measure Waist Size on a Shirt

To measure the waist size on a shirt, spread the shirt out on its back so that there are no wrinkles. With a cloth measuring tape, measure the width across about 8 inches below the armpit.

How to Measure the Bottom Width on a Shirt

To measure the bottom width on a shirt, spread the shirt out on its back so that there are no wrinkles. With a cloth measuring tape, measure the width across the bottom of the shirt at the places where the shirt front and back are attached.

How to Measure the Yoke on a Shirt

To measure the yoke of on a shirt from the shoulder forward line, use a cloth measuring tape and measure from the point where the yoke meets the sleeve, and straight across to the same point on the other side. Make sure there are no wrinkles at time of measuring.

How to Measure Bicep / Sleeve Width of a Shirt

To measure the bicep / sleeve width on a shirt, lay the shirt flat on its back. Spread out the shirt sleeve flat so that there are no wrinkles. With a cloth measuring tape, measure across from the bottom of the sleeve, where it meets the body, to the top of the sleeve.

How to Measure Armhole on a Shirt

To measure the armhole on a shirt, place the cloth measuring tape at the top of the armhole seam and follow it along its edge. The armhole measurement should be 1 or 2” bigger than the bicep measurement

How to Measure Cuff Size of a Shirt

To measure the cuff size on a shirt, spread the cuff out flat and with a cloth measuring tape, measure from the center of the button to the middle of the buttonhole.

How to Measure Shirt Length

To measure shirt length, lay the shirt on a flat surface, face down so that the back is visible. With a cloth measuring tape, measure from the base of the back of the collar at the point where the yoke meets the neck band and measure till the bottom end of the shirt.

Learn How to Measure Your Body to Create Custom Shirts

If you would like to measure your body for custom shirt measurements, follow our guide to taking body measurements. We also have a shirt size chart available for your custom order specifications.