How to Measure Yourself for a Custom Dress Shirt

A custom shirt can only fit as well as the numbers behind it. The good news is that you need just a soft tape measure, a mirror and ten minutes. A friend to hold the tape makes it easier, but it is not essential.

Before you start

• Wear a thin T-shirt or nothing at all, never a thick sweater.
• Measure in inches and stand relaxed, the way you normally stand.
• Keep the tape snug but not tight. You should be able to slide one finger under it.
• Measure each point twice. If the two numbers differ, use the larger one.

The five measurements that matter most

1. Neck

Wrap the tape around the base of your neck, where a collar would sit, just above the Adam's apple. Keep one finger under the tape. This is the number that decides whether you can button the collar and still breathe at the end of a long day.

2. Chest

Lift your arms, place the tape around the fullest part of your chest, under the arms and across the shoulder blades, then lower your arms. Check in the mirror that the tape is level all the way round. Do not hold your breath or puff out your chest.

3. Shoulder width

This one is easier with help. Measure across your back from the tip of one shoulder bone to the other, following the natural curve of the shoulders. The shoulder point is where the top of your arm meets the shoulder.

4. Sleeve length

Bend your arm slightly, as if resting your hand on a table. Start at the shoulder point and run the tape down the outside of the arm, over the elbow, to the wrist bone. If you wear a large watch, tell us, and we will add a little room to that cuff.

5. Shirt length

Measure at the back, from the highest point of the shoulder next to the neck down to where you want the shirt to end. For a shirt you will tuck in, the bottom of the seat is a good guide. For an untucked shirt, aim for around the middle of the fly on your pants.

Helpful extra measurements

For the closest fit we also ask for your waist (around the narrowest part of the stomach), hips or seat (around the widest part), bicep (around the fullest part of the upper arm) and wrist. Our Size Guide explains each one.

An easier option: copy a shirt you already love

If you own a shirt that fits well, lay it flat on a table, button it up and smooth it out. Measure it edge to edge: collar, chest from armpit to armpit, waist, hem, shoulder, sleeve and back length. Send us the flat numbers exactly as you measure them. Do not double them; we do the rest.

Choosing your fit

Your measurements describe your body, and the fit decides how much room we add. Extra Slim sits closest to the body, Slim is clean and tapered, Regular is our classic fit, and Loose gives the most room. If you are unsure, Slim or Regular suits most people.

Ready to order?

Pick a fabric in our Design Your Shirt collection, choose your collar and cuffs, then enter your measurements in the last step. If a number looks odd, contact us before you order and we will check it with you.