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Fashion Accessories
Ties
The Easy Way to Tie a Perfect Bow Tie Download Article Dress up your next formal outfit with a fancy bow tie Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Drape the tie around your neck so one side is longer. 2 Cross the tie’s long side (side A) over the short side (side B). 3 Pull side A up through the neck loop. 4 Fold side B over at its widest point. 5 Bring side A over the middle of the bow. 6 Fold side A into a bow shape. 7 Pass side A through the loop behind side B. 8 Pull the folded parts of the bow. + Show 5 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles Expert Interview References Article Summary Co-authored by Sahra Brandt and Hunter Rising
Last Updated: October 29, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article ARTICLE VIDEO X
This article was co-authored by Sahra Brandt and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Sahra Brandt is a Personal Stylist and the Founder of Shop the City, a company dedicated to helping others attain their style goals. With over ten years of fashion industry experience, Sahra specializes in wardrobe audits, personal shopping, and remote styling. She also runs Que Sera Sahra, a lifestyle blog. Sahra holds a BBA in Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising from LIM College. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,829,439 times.
You may be used to putting on a regular necktie, but a bow tie? Not so much. Bow ties add a ton of style to button-ups, suits, and tuxedos, and you’ll have no trouble tying one if you already know how to tie your shoes. Whether you’re wearing a bow tie for the first time or just need a refresher on tying one, we’ll walk you through each step of the way. Once you finish reading, your tie will look neat and stylish for any occasion.
Things You Should Know
Put the bow tie around your neck so one side is slightly longer. Cross the long side over the short side, and pull it through the neck loop.
Fold the short side at its widest point to make a bow shape. Hold it horizontally where your tie overlaps.
Drape the long side over the front of the short side. Fold the long side into a bow shape at its widest point.
Pull the folded end of the long side through the tie’s loop. Pull the folded ends on each side of the tie to tighten it.
Steps
1
Drape the tie around your neck so one side is longer.
Download Article
Put the longer side of the tie on the same side as your dominant hand. Wear a button-down collared shirt with your bow tie for a classic look.[1]X Expert Source Sahra BrandtPersonal StylistExpert Interview Lift your collar, and put the bow tie around your neck so that the pattern is face-up. Position your tie so one end hangs roughly 11⁄2–2 inches (3.8–5.1 cm) lower than the other end. From now on, the longer side is called “side A” and the short side is “side B.”[2]XResearch source
Measure your neck to find out what size bow tie you need. Many bow ties have adjustable sliders or buttons that let you change the length to fit around your neck.
Advertisement 2
Cross the tie’s long side (side A) over the short side (side B).
Download Article
Loosely overlap your tie right below your Adam’s apple. Pull side A over so the strap, which is the narrowest part, is just above the “leaf”, which is rounded, bulged section near the end, of side B. Leave 1 or 2 finger-widths between your skin and the tie where it overlaps.
3
Pull side A up through the neck loop.
Download Article
Set side A on your shoulder after so it's out of the way for now. Push the end of side A through the bottom of the neck loop and pull it through. Pull side A tight until your tie is a finger-width away from your neck.[3]XResearch source
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Fold side B over at its widest point.
Download Article
The fold creates the first loop of your bow tie. Pinch where your tie overlaps, and bring side B toward your non-dominant arm. Then, lift up the shorter end and fold it over on itself at the widest part to make the bow shape. Turn that section of your tie so it’s horizontal and right below your Adam’s apple.[4]XResearch source
Keep your tie pinched so it stays tight against your neck.
5
Bring side A over the middle of the bow.
Download Article
The tie strap forms the center of your bow tie’s knot. Take the longer end off your shoulder and drape it over the skinniest part of the bow shape you just made. Make sure the patterned side faces out and lies flat on the bow.[5]XResearch source
Advertisement 6
Fold side A into a bow shape.
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Repeat the same fold you did for side B for the bow’s other half. Pinch side A right above where the strap starts to widen out and fold it back toward your chest. Then, fold your tie down at the widest point to create the bow shape.[6]XResearch source
7
Pass side A through the loop behind side B.
Download Article
Each side of the bow will have a folded and flat part. Pinch the ends of side B together to expose the loop in your tie. Gently push the folded section of side A into the loop and pull it through. Smooth out the tie so it sits flat and aligns with the bow shape in front of it.[7]XResearch source
Advertisement 8
Pull the folded parts of the bow.
Download Article
You’re all done tying your bow tie after a quick tightening. Gently pull on the loops on each side of the tie until the knot is secure. If you need to even out the sides of your tie, then pull on the flat ends to make your adjustments. After that, just lower your shirt’s collar and finish getting dressed![8]XResearch source
Check your tie periodically while you’re wearing it to ensure it’s still straight and tight.
Community Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question What is the correct way to wear a fixed tie? Community Answer There is no correct way. Always buy a ''real'' bow tie. You can practice tying the bow tie on your leg; that's a good way to get the hang of it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 35 Helpful 79
Question How loose will the knot be? Community Answer The knot can be however tight or loose you want it to be. If it feels too loose, tighten it, or undo it and adjust the size. You should be able to have a space that you could fit your finger in between the fabric and your neck. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 17
Question If I want to make a bow tie that is one set length, corresponding to my neck measurements, how long do I make it? Community Answer First, measure your neck. The tie will have slots in it that the "hook" (usually a "T") slips into, creating the proper length for your tie. Traditionally, all ties start at 13 1/2" going all the way up to 19 3/4". Any larger and you may need a tailor-made tie. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 8
Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Video
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Tips
Practice by tying a bow around your thigh. It is less fatiguing on your arms, and you can see what you are doing and still get the feel of tying the knot. Your thigh just above the knee is about as thick as your neck.[9]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
If you’re still struggling to tie your bow tie, consider getting a pre-tied bow tie or a clip-on. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 3
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about bow ties, check out our in-depth interview with Sahra Brandt.
References
↑ Sahra Brandt. Personal Stylist. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Sahra Brandt Personal Stylist This article was co-authored by Sahra Brandt and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Sahra Brandt is a Personal Stylist and the Founder of Shop the City, a company dedicated to helping others attain their style goals. With over ten years of fashion industry experience, Sahra specializes in wardrobe audits, personal shopping, and remote styling. She also runs Que Sera Sahra, a lifestyle blog. Sahra holds a BBA in Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising from LIM College. This article has been viewed 2,829,439 times. 11 votes - 75% Co-authors: 89Updated: October 29, 2025 Views: 2,829,439 Categories: Ties | Knot TyingArticle SummaryX
1. Cross the longer end over the shorter end. 2. Loop the long end under where the two ends cross. 3. Fold the dangling end to make a loop. 4. Drop the longer end over the skinny center of the bow. 5. Pinch the bow together in front of the long end. 6. Feed the middle of the dangling end back through the knot. 7. Pull at the loops and straighten the bow tie. Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Anthony Pinta
Jan 14, 2018
"I have a wedding coming up and I wanted to wear a bow tie. I've never been much for prettied ties. These step by step instructions really helped me get ready to look my best. Step 5 was especially helpful! Thanks wikiHow!"..." more
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Yes No Did this article help you? Say thanks with a small tip. $1 $3 $5 Leave a Tip Support our mission to help everyone in the world learn how to do anything. Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Sahra Brandt Personal Stylist 11 votes - 75% Click a star to vote 75% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 89Updated: October 29, 2025 Views: 2,829,439
Anthony Pinta
Jan 14, 2018
"I have a wedding coming up and I wanted to wear a bow tie. I've never been much for prettied ties. These step by step instructions really helped me get ready to look my best. Step 5 was especially helpful! Thanks wikiHow!"..." more
Donny Clark
Aug 19, 2020
"Reading the instructions was difficult for me. But the video, that was perfect. When you put them both together, that was excellent training. Thanks."..." more
Robby Jsznyi
Oct 8, 2019
"Yikes! I thought it'd be impossible, but with a little practice, it's as simple as tying my shoes. Honest to God, it's really simple... now."..." more
Anonymous
Feb 8, 2017
"By far the best instruction I found, and so much better than listening to someone prattle on about men's grooming. "..." more
T. Hamer
Jul 22, 2018
"Into my 60's but always used a hook-n-eye cheat before. " Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Dress up your next formal outfit with a fancy bow tie Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Drape the tie around your neck so one side is longer. 2 Cross the tie’s long side (side A) over the short side (side B). 3 Pull side A up through the neck loop. 4 Fold side B over at its widest point. 5 Bring side A over the middle of the bow. 6 Fold side A into a bow shape. 7 Pass side A through the loop behind side B. 8 Pull the folded parts of the bow. + Show 5 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles Expert Interview References Article Summary Co-authored by Sahra Brandt and Hunter Rising 
How toTie a Pants Bow 
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Co-authored by: Sahra Brandt Personal Stylist This article was co-authored by Sahra Brandt and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Sahra Brandt is a Personal Stylist and the Founder of Shop the City, a company dedicated to helping others attain their style goals. With over ten years of fashion industry experience, Sahra specializes in wardrobe audits, personal shopping, and remote styling. She also runs Que Sera Sahra, a lifestyle blog. Sahra holds a BBA in Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising from LIM College. This article has been viewed 2,829,439 times. 11 votes - 75% Co-authors: 89 Updated: October 29, 2025 Views: 2,829,439 Categories: Ties | Knot Tying Article SummaryX
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Put the longer side of the tie on the same side as your dominant hand. Wear a button-down collared shirt with your bow tie for a classic look.[1] Lift your collar, and put the bow tie around your neck so that the pattern is face-up. Position your tie so one end hangs roughly 1 1⁄2–2 inches (3.8–5.1 cm) lower than the other end. From now on, the longer side is called “side A” and the short side is “side B.”[2] 
Repeat the same fold you did for side B for the bow’s other half. Pinch side A right above where the strap starts to widen out and fold it back toward your chest. Then, fold your tie down at the widest point to create the bow shape.[6] 
You’re all done tying your bow tie after a quick tightening. Gently pull on the loops on each side of the tie until the knot is secure. If you need to even out the sides of your tie, then pull on the flat ends to make your adjustments. After that, just lower your shirt’s collar and finish getting dressed![8] 
Community Answer There is no correct way. Always buy a ''real'' bow tie. You can practice tying the bow tie on your leg; that's a good way to get the hang of it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 35 Helpful 79 
Community Answer The knot can be however tight or loose you want it to be. If it feels too loose, tighten it, or undo it and adjust the size. You should be able to have a space that you could fit your finger in between the fabric and your neck. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 17 
Community Answer First, measure your neck. The tie will have slots in it that the "hook" (usually a "T") slips into, creating the proper length for your tie. Traditionally, all ties start at 13 1/2" going all the way up to 19 3/4". Any larger and you may need a tailor-made tie. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 8 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.