How to Measure Your Body for Custom Clothes

How do you provide clothing makers with accurate measurements?

It’s not as hard as you think, and it’s surprisingly empowering to know your own body data. Some folks feel strongly that a manual tape measure is the most accurate means, and others find body scanning technology is more accurate and fast. So, we offer you both!

Standard Body Measurements

Waist

If you put your arms down and bend at your elbows, where your elbow bends is your natural waist. It is also the narrowest point on your torso. Stand tall and natural. If you are round-shaped or have 'rolls', do not suck them in.

Total Bust

Take a 360° measurement at the widest point of your bust. Measure with your arms down rather than out to the side. Note: The nipples are not always the widest point of every woman’s bust.

Highest Point of Hips

Measure approximately 3’’ below your waist, at the top point of your hip. Take a 360° measurement, with your feet together.

Widest Point of Hips

Measure approximately 8’’ below your waist, at the widest point of your hips (and generally your booty). Take a 360° measurement, with your feet together.

Single Thigh

Wrap the measuring tape around the thickest part of your thigh, with legs straight. This should be right under your booty. Take a 360° measurement.

Widest Point of Upper Arm

Take a 360° measurement of the widest part of your upper arm. Flex or bend your arm if you want a looser fit. Otherwise, leave your arm outstretched.

Neck to Sleeve Length

Start at the middle of the back of your neck. Measure to your shoulder bone, then down to your wrist. Let your arm hang down naturally. This is for most shirts and dresses. If you are measuring for a suit jacket, ask your designer to add 2 inches (4 cm) or preferred length for suit sleeve.

Shoulder to Shoulder (Back)

Measure from one shoulder bone to the other across the back of your neck. If you have trouble figuring out where your shoulder tips are, find anything you own that fits you well and has both a collar and a sleeve and measure its shoulder length.

Front Collarbone to Waist

Stand tall as you measure from the center of your collarbone (your clavicle) to your waist. For added accuracy, tie a string around your natural waist before measuring!

Inseam to Ankle

Measure inside the top of the leg to ankle bone.

Upper Body

Neck

Take a 360° measurement at base of your neck.

Shoulder to Shoulder (Front)

Measure from one shoulder bone to the other across the front of your neck. If you have trouble figuring out where your shoulder tips are, find anything you own that fits you well and has both a collar and a sleeve and measure its shoulder length.

Neck to Shoulder

Measure at the base of your neck—on the top of your shoulder—to the tip of your shoulder bone.

Cross Front

Measure horizontally across the front of your body from armpit crease to armpit crease. Keep your arms down by your side.

Cross Back

Measure horizontally across the back of your body from armpit crease to armpit crease. Keep your arms down by your side.

Top of Bust

Get a 360° measurement under your armpits, along the top of your bust.

Under Bust

Take a 360° measurement where your bra band sits, right underneath your bust.

Bust Depth

Measure a straight vertical line from the top of your shoulder to the apex of your bust (the apex of your bust will not necessarily be your nipple). Remember to wear or not wear a bra depending on your general preferences.

Apex to Apex

Measure in between the two highest points of your bust (sometimes from nipple to nipple- but not necessarily for all women).

Special Request for Bust

Use this field to enter information about any special bust needs. This could include mastectomy information or breast asymmetry.

Drape/Lengths

Front, Shoulder to Floor

Stand tall as you measure the front of your body from the top of your shoulder to the floor. Make sure to measure from the top of your shoulder, over your bust and keep a straight, vertical line.

Front, Collarbone to Floor

Stand tall as you measure from the center of your collarbone (your clavicle) to the floor.

Front, Shoulder to Waist

Measure from the high point of your shoulder, over your bust, and to your waist.

Front, Waist to Knee

Measure down from your natural waist to the top of your knee. Follow the natural curves of your body as you measure.

Back, Shoulder to Waist

Measure from the high point of your shoulder to your waist.

Back, Spine to Waist

Stand tall as you measure the back of your body from the top of your spine at the base of your neck to your waist. For added accuracy, tie a string around your natural waist before measuring!

Back, Spine to Floor

Stand tall as you measure the back of your body from the top of your spine at the base of your neck to the floor.

Inseam to Floor

Measure inside the top of the leg to the floor.

Outseam, Waist to Ankle

Measure outside the body from your waist to your ankle.

Crotch

Tie a string around your natural waist. Measure from the center of the front of your waist under your crotch to the center of the back of your waist.

Crotch Over Shoulder

Take a 360° measurement from your crotch looping around one of your shoulders. This measurement is specifically meant for jumpsuits and rompers.