How To Measure A Dress Shirt - Kiwi Sizing

When buying dress shirts online, it is important to take accurate measurements to ensure a better fit.

You can measure a dress shirt to find its size and length by laying it on a flat surface and using a measuring tape. You can also measure your body to figure out which sizes work best for you. It’s easy to take these measurements and translate them to alphabetical sizes (like small, medium, and large) with the help of a size chart.

For dress shirts, measuring the neck, arm, chest, and waist is critical. Below is a simple guide on how to take the measurements properly, and some typical dress shirt size charts to help.

Steps to Measure a Dress Shirt

Measuring an existing dress shirt allows you to identify the exact dimensions that fit you best and use them as a reliable reference when shopping online or comparing brand size charts. This section explains how dress shirts are measured so you can better understand sizing standards, avoid inconsistent fits between brands, and confidently select the right size.

For vendors selling dress shirts, these are the key measurements customers rely on, making accurate, standardized sizing essential for reducing returns and setting clear expectations.

For a perfect-fitting dress shirt, you need to measure seven different parts of the shirt individually.

Step 1: Measure the dress shirt collar

The first step is to measure the collar. This is done from the inside band of the collar. To begin:

• First, unbutton the shirt and spread it out, facing up. 
• Then use the measuring tape to measure from the center of the button where the button stitching comes through, to the far end of the inside buttonhole.

Step 2: Measure dress shirt sleeve length

Unbutton the shirt and spread it out, facing down. To measure the sleeve of a dress shirt, measure from the base of the collar, where the collar meets the neckline, down the length of the arm to the cuff. This is the sleeve length of a shirt.

Step 3: Measure dress shirt length

Spread the shirt out, facing down. Measure from the highest point (below the collar) to the very bottom of the dress shirt. This is also called the torso length measurement and you can use this to find dress shirts that are just long enough for your preferences.

Step 4: Measure dress shirt shoulder

To find the shoulder measurement of a dress shirt, follow these steps:

1. Button up the shirt and place it on a flat surface, such as a table or a bed.
2. Locate the seam at the top of the sleeve, where the sleeve attaches to the shirt body.
3. Using a flexible tape measure, measure from the base of the collar to the seam at the top of the sleeve.

Step 5: Measure the dress shirt chest/bust

Button up the shirt and spread it out, facing up. Measure from the bottom of the armpit of the shirt to the bottom of the other armpit.

1. Place the dress shirt on a flat surface and smooth out any wrinkles or creases.
2. Measure the chest/bust of the dress shirt by placing a measuring tape under the armpits of the shirt and measuring across the fullest part of the chest/bust (the line marked in the image shows the area)
3. Make sure to take the measurement in inches. 

Step 6: Measure the dress shirt waist

To measure the waist of a dress shirt, follow these steps:

1. Lay the shirt on a flat surface.
2. Place the end of a measuring tape at the waistline of the shirt (as shown in the image above)
3. Wrap the measuring tape around the waistline of the shirt and stretch the shirt out fully to ensure you get the correct measurement.
4. Take note of the measurement on the measuring tape in inches. This is the waist size of the dress shirt.

Step 7: Measure the sleeve cuff

Spread the cuff out flat and measure from the center of the button to the far end of the buttonhole.

‍‍Steps to Measure Your Body for a Dress Shirt

Measuring your body provides a baseline for determining which dress shirt sizes are most likely to fit before you order. This section explains how to take accurate body measurements so you can match them to brand size charts, identify the right neck and sleeve combinations, and account for personal fit preferences such as slim, classic, or relaxed cuts.

For retailers, body-based measurements help guide customers who do not already own a well-fitting shirt and need a starting point for selecting the correct size.

• Measure your neck around: Place the measuring tape around the neck where the collar would normally sit. Stand relaxed and do not crane your neck out or squeeze your chin down. Place the tape lightly on the skin. Do not squeeze it. Hold one finger under the tape to ensure some room so the collar of the dress shirt will not be too snug.
• Measure the sleeve length: Have a partner help you measure the sleeve length. Measure from the nape of the neck to the wrist. Make sure that the tape measure lays flat across the shoulder.
• Measure your shoulder width: Have a partner help you measure the shoulder length. Stand up straight with your shoulders relaxed. Find the shoulder points where shoulder meets the arm. Measure the length between the shoulder points. The measuring tape will not be horizontally straight during the measurement. It must bend along the curve with your shoulders.
• Measure your chest: Stand up straight with your arms hanging down in a relaxed, natural pose. Measure around the fullest part of your chest. Tight up under the armpits and over the shoulder blades.
• Measure the torso length: Measure from the base of the back of your neck, down your back to the point where you would want the shirt to be. This point is usually the bottom of the buttocks. Go slightly longer if you plan to tuck the shirt in or slightly shorter if you plan to wear the shirt un-tucked.
• Measure your wrist around: Measure your wrist around the wrist bone. Hold the tape tight but do not squeeze your wrist. Round up to the nearest ¼ inch. Add 2 inches to this measurement when determining your cuff circumference.
• Measure your waist: Stand up straight in a relaxed, normal position. Run the tape around the widest part of the belly, not the narrowest part we usually think of as the waist measurement.

Tips for Taking Measurements

• For dress shirt measuring, take all measurements lying flat on a clean floor or table.
• Use a soft, flexible measuring tape rather than a rigid ruler or metal tape. Flexible tapes follow the natural contours of the shirt and body, resulting in more accurate measurements, especially for curved areas like the shoulders, chest, and neck.
• Measure twice to ensure the most accurate measurement.
• Record measurement to the nearest ¼ inch. Remember that lying flat measurements are generally doubled (e.g., a lying flat waist of 13.5″can be understood as a 27″waist) so a ¼ inch could make a difference.
• Always choose the larger size if your measurements come between two sizes, especially when you’re ordering online.
• Each country has its own sizing standards. Don’t worry. You can choose the size based on your measurements and find the corresponding sizes on different dress shirt size charts.

What do dress shirt sizing numbers (alpha sizing) mean?

Dress shirts are often sized using numbers rather than simple alphabetical labels like small, medium, or large. These numeric sizes—sometimes called alpha sizing—provide more precise fit information by breaking the shirt down into specific measurements.

A size listed as “17 / 35–36” refers to two key dimensions: the first number (17) is the neck size in inches, and the second number (35–36) indicates the sleeve length range. This system helps ensure a better fit, especially for men who need a specific neck and sleeve combination.

The size charts below show how these numeric sizes correspond to standard alphabetical sizes, making it easier to compare measurements and choose the right fit.

Dress shirt size chart for men

SIZE	NECK	SLEEVE	CHEST	WAIST
S	14-14½′	32-33′	34-36′	28-30′
M	15-15½′	33-34′	38-40′	32-34′
L	16-16½′	34-35′	42-44′	36-38′
XL	17-17½′	35-36′	46-48′	40-42′
2XL	18-18½′	36-37′	50-52′	44-46′
3XL	19-19½′	37-38′	54-56′	48-50′
4XL	20½-21′	38-38½′	58-60′	53-55′
5XL	22-22½′	38½-39″	62-64′	58-60′

Dress shirt size chart for women

US SIZE	BUST	WAIST	HIPS
XS (0-2)	32-33″	26½-27″	34½-35½″
S (4-6)	34-35″	27½-28½″	36½-37½″
M (8-10)	36-37″	29½-30½″	38½-39½″
L (12-14)	38½-40″	32-33½″	41-42½″
XL (16-18)	42-43½″	34-36″	44-46″
XXL (20-22)	45-46½″	38-40″	48-50″
1X (16W-18W)	43-45″	36-38″	46-48″
2X (20w-22w)	47-49″	40-42″	50-52″

Dress shirt sizing FAQs

How do you read a dress shirt size tag?

To read a dress shirt size tag, look for two numbers separated by a dash or slash. The first number is the neck size and the second number is the sleeve length.

For example, if the tag says “16-32/33”, it means the neck size is 16 inches and the sleeve length is 32 or 33 inches. The overall shirt size is usually indicated by a word (e.g. “Large”) or a letter (e.g. “L”).

What are the standard dress shirt sizes for men?

The standard dress shirt sizes for men are small, medium, large, and extra-large. The sizes correspond to the following chest sizes: small (34-36 inches), medium (38-40 inches), large (42-44 inches), and extra-large (46-48 inches).

What are the standard dress shirt sizes for women?

The standard dress shirt sizes for women are: small, medium, large, and extra-large. The sizes correspond to the following chest sizes: small (30-32 inches), medium (34-36 inches), large (38-40 inches), and extra-large (42-44 inches).

Measure for your perfect-fitting dress shirts

A well-measured dress shirt can make you look and feel your best. It can also boost your confidence and make you feel more stylish. To find your perfect-fitting dress shirt, take your measurements and refer to a size chart.

If you’re selling dress shirts, it’s important to have accurate measurements to provide to your customers. If customers are returning your products due to sizing issues, we recommend Kiwi Sizing’s AI size recommender for your size charts. It automatically recommends the most suitable size for your customers — reducing returns, decreasing costs, and creating a positive ecommerce experience for your customers.