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Measurements

Most people have at least one shirt that fits well.  The challenge is getting new shirts that fit the same way.

This page tells you how to take all the measurements you will need for your order using a shirt you have that fits you well.

Please round all measurements to the nearest 1/4 inch.  Make sure you lay the shirt flat as shown in the pictures, without any wrinkles or bunching of fabric in front or in back.

While you can view the measurements on this web page, you can also print the measurement guide below and use it to record your measurements:

Buckhead Tailor Measurement Guide (PDF)     (opens in a new window)

 

NECK (COLLAR)

Open the collar and lay it flat.  Measure from the center of the collar buttonhole to the center of the collar button.

Neck (collar) measurement

Minimum 12 inches, maximum 24 inches

 

HALF CHEST

Here you are measuring half the circumference (distance around) the chest.  Button the shirt and lay it flat.  Make sure that the material is flat in the front and in the back.  Measure from where the sleeve joins the chest on one side of the shirt to the same point on the other side of the shirt.

Half chest measurement

Minimum 15 inches, maximum 45 inches

 

HALF WAIST

Measure the distance across the shirt at the waist.  This is usually where the shirt is narrowest.

Half waist measurement

Minimum 11 inches, maximum 42 inches

 

HALF HIPS

Measure across the bottom of the shirt, at the end of the side seams, as shown below:

 Half hips measurement

Minimum 13 inches, maximum 42 inches

 

HALF ARMHOLE

This is a curved measurement.  Do not use a "straight" ruler or yardstick.  Use a tape measure to measure the seam where the sleeve joins the shoulder and chest.

 Half armhole measurement

 

LONG SLEEVE LENGTH

If you are ordering a long sleeve shirt, measure along the outside edge (opposite the sleeve seam) from the edge of the cuff to the seam joining the sleeve and the shoulder.  THIS IS A DIFFERENT WAY TO MEASURE YOUR SLEEVE LENGTH.  We construct your sleeve from two measurements:  the long sleeve length and the yoke measurement (which follows).  Expect this long sleeve length to be less than the sleeve length for ready-made shirts.

Long sleeve length measurement

Minimum 20 inches, maximum 38 inches

 

CUFF SIZE

Open the cuff and lay the cuff flat.  Measure from the center of the cuff buttonhole to the center of the cuff button.

Cuff measurement

Minimum 6 inches, maximum 13 inches

 

SHORT SLEEVE LENGTH

If you are ordering a short sleeve shirt, lay the sleeve flat and measure from the seam joining the sleeve and the shoulder to the end of the sleeve.

 Short sleeve length measurement

Minimum 5 inches, maximum 16 inches

 

HALF SHORT SLEEVE OPENING

If you are ordering a short sleeve shirt, lay the sleeve flat and measure the distance across the opening at the bottom of the short sleeve.

Half short sleeve opening measurement

Minimum 4 inches, maximum 15 inches

 

YOKE

Measure the distance between the top, outer seams where the sleeve joins the shoulder.

Yoke with lettering measurement

Minimum 13 inches, maximum 30 inches

 

SHIRT LENGTH

Measure down the back, middle of the shirt, from the seam where the collar joins the yoke to the bottom of the shirt.

Shirt length measurement

Minimum 24 inches, maximum 48 inches

 

ADDITIONAL SLEEVE CUSTOMIZATION (OPTIONAL, LONG SLEEVES ONLY)

Consider these if you want to customize the fit of the sleeve, and particularly if you have thin, large, or very muscular arms.  If you do not enter these optional measurements, we will create your shirt with standard sleeves.  The diagram below shows the additional sleeve customization measurements and the written instructions that follow tell you how to get those measurements:

Additional sleeve customization measurements

  1. Put your shirt on and button the front.

  2. Mark the place where your bicep is largest with a piece of tape.  Alternately you can wet a finger and touch your finger to your shirt at this point to mark this point with water.

  3. Next, with a piece of tape, mark the place where your elbow is on the sleeve.

  4. Also, with a piece of tape, mark the place where your forearm falls on the sleeve (usually about 2-3 inches below your elbow).

  5. Remove the shirt and lay the sleeve flat as shown in the diagram above.

  6. Measure along the edge of the sleeve from the seam where the sleeve joins the shoulder down the sleeve to where your bicep is the largest.  This is your bicep distance.

  7. Measure along the edge of the sleeve from the seam where the sleeve joins the shoulder down the sleeve to where your elbow is.  This is your elbow distance.

  8. Measure along the edge of the sleeve from the seam where the sleeve joins the shoulder down the sleeve to where your forearm is the widest.  This is your forearm distance.

  9. Measure across the sleeve where your bicep is the widest.  This is your half bicep.  Half bicep minimum 4 inches, maximum 15 inches.

  10. Measure across the sleeve where your elbow is.  This is your half elbow.

  11. Measure across the sleeve where your forearm is the widest.  This is your half forearm.