How To Tie A Windsor Knot: 8 Easy Steps - WikiHow

Skip to ContentQuizzes

• PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
• QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship Quizzes Cars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and Fitness Computers and ElectronicsHealthPets and AnimalsTravel Education & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork World Family LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
• LOG IN

  Log in

  Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
• RANDOM

• Home
• Random
• Browse Articles
• TrendingNew
• Quizzes & Games
• All QuizzesHot
• Love Quizzes
• Personality Quizzes
• Fun Games
• Dating Simulator
• Learn Something New
• Forums
• Courses
• Happiness Hub
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow

• Log in / Sign up

Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

• Categories
• Personal Care and Style
• Fashion
• Fashion Accessories
• Ties

How to Tie a Full Windsor Tie: 8 Easy Steps Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Drape the tie around your neck. 2 Cross the wide end over the narrow end. 3 Feed the wide end through the neck loop. 4 Wrap the wide end behind the knot. 5 Guide the wide end through the top of the neck loop. 6 Fold the wide end over the front of the knot. 7 Bring the tie through the bottom of the neck loop. 8 Pull the tie down through the loop in front of the knot. + Show 5 more... - Show less... Other Sections VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 21, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France. 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 945,216 times.

If you’re putting the finishing touches on a formal outfit, tying your necktie into a Windsor knot will make you look super stylish. A full Windsor, or double Windsor, has a large triangular knot that’s the perfect addition to a wide-collared shirt. Even if you’ve never tied a tie before, a Windsor knot is pretty easy and will only take a few minutes. Keep reading and we’ll help you through the steps for tying your tie so it looks clean and professional.

How to Knot a Tie

1. Drape the tie around your neck so the wide end is longer
2. Bring the wide end over to make an X.
3. Feed the wide end of the tie up through the collar loop.
4. Wrap the wide end of the tie behind the knot and feed it through the top of the neck loop.
5. Bring the wide end across the front of the knot.
6. Feed the tie’s wide end through the bottom of the neck loop.
7. Pull the wide end through the front of the knot.

Steps

1

Drape the tie around your neck.

Download Article

1. Leave the wide end longer than the narrow end. Drape your tie so the wide end hangs over your right shoulder. Adjust the length of the tie so the narrower end sits just above your ribcage and the wide end is by your belly button.[1]
   • If you’re left-handed, start with the wide end over your left shoulder instead.
   • Be sure to coordinate your tie with the color or pattern of your outfit so you can look your best.
Advertisement

2

Cross the wide end over the narrow end.

Download Article

1. Crossing the ends forms a loop around your neck. Hold the narrow end of the tie in place with your left hand. Try to keep the point where your tie overlaps close to your collar so the knot stays tight. The wide end is now on your left side and the narrow end is on your right.[2]
   • Leave a little bit of slack when you first tie your tie, or else it might get too tight and make it difficult to breathe or swallow.

3

Feed the wide end through the neck loop.

Download Article

1. Looping the tie through forms one half of the Windsor knot. Pull the wide end up through the bottom of the neck loop right where the tie overlaps at your collar. Drape the wide end back down over the top of the neck loop to form one side of the knot. The wide end will be right-side up.
   • Practice tying your tie in front of a mirror since it’ll be a lot easier to see what you’re doing.[3]
Advertisement

4

Wrap the wide end behind the knot.

Download Article

1. Wrapping the tie around the knot makes it more secure. Take the wide on the left side of your chest, and bring it behind the knot in the center. Use your left hand to hold the tie against the back of the knot so it stays in place. The wide end should be upside-down on your right side and underneath the knot and narrow end.[4]
   • Make sure you pull the tie as tight as you comfortably can so the knot looks clean when you’re done.

5

Guide the wide end through the top of the neck loop.

Download Article

1. Feeding the tie through the neck loop finishes the base of the knot. Pull the wide end over the right side of the neck loop and feed it through the top. Pull the wide end down through the neck loop so it’s upside-down and on your right side when you’re finished. The knot near your collar now has a symmetrical cone shape on each side.[5]
   • If the shapes are not symmetrical, undo your tie and try starting over so your knot doesn’t look messy.
Advertisement

6

Fold the wide end over the front of the knot.

Download Article

1. Smooth out your tie to give the front of the knot a clean, classy look. Bring the wide end from right to left across the front of the knot. Pull your tie tight so the knot doesn’t have any wrinkles or creases. Hold the tie in place with your left hand so it doesn’t get loose.[6]
   • Straighten out your tie so it lays flat and doesn’t hang backward or crooked when you finish tying it.

7

Bring the tie through the bottom of the neck loop.

Download Article

1. Pulling the tie through the neck loop again secures the knot in place. Fold the wide end up through the bottom of the neck loop on the left side of your body. Pull your tie completely through the neck loop.[7]
   • Tilt your head up to make it easier to work with your tie.
Advertisement

8

Pull the tie down through the loop in front of the knot.

Download Article

1. Pulling the tie through the knot lets you tighten and resize it. Grab the wide end of the tie and make sure it’s facing right-side up. Push the wind end through the space between the knot and part of the tie wrapped around the front of it. Hold the narrow end with one hand and pull the knot up toward your collar until it’s comfortable to tighten and adjust the length.[8]
   • Fit your tie so the wide end reaches your waistband when you’re finished tying a Windsor knot. If the tie is too short, undo your tie and shorten the narrow end before trying again. If your tie was too long, shorten the wide end.

Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Read Video Transcript

Tips

• Give yourself a little extra time if you’re tying a tie on someone else since it’s a little trickier getting the fit right. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 2
• For a less bulky alternative, try tying a half Windsor knot instead. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 10

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

You Might Also Like

How toTie a Tie Half Windsor How toTie a Tie How toTie a Tie on Someone Else How toTie a Skinny Tie 25 Classic & Trendy Tie Knots & How to Tie Them (Easy Steps) The Easy Way to Tie a Perfect Bow Tie How toTie a Rose Bud Tie Knot How toTie a Trinity Knot How to Tie a Coat Belt How toTie a Dimple How toWear a Loose Tie What’s the Proper Tie Length? Look Refined in a Tie How toWrap a Turban How toMake a Crown Knot Advertisement

References

1. ↑ https://www.chadburn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Tying-a-Cadet-Tie.pdf
2. ↑ https://gentiluomo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/How-to-Tie-a-Tie-The-Double-Windsor-Knot.pdf
3. ↑ Chloée Ohayon-Crosby. Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist. Expert Interview
4. ↑ https://www.hale.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/instructional-tie-card.pdf
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0NPYZyI7V8
6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0NPYZyI7V8
7. ↑ https://www.morgan.edu/Documents/ADMINISTRATION/CENTERS/ccd/Handouts/Handout~How%20to%20Tie%20a%20Tie.pdf
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0NPYZyI7V8

About This Article

Co-authored by: Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist This article was co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France. This article has been viewed 945,216 times. 5 votes - 52% Co-authors: 36 Updated: August 21, 2025 Views: 945,216 Categories: Featured Articles | Ties Article SummaryX

If you want a more formal knot, try a Full Windsor: Step 1. Button the top button of your shirt, and fold your collar up. Step 2. Drape the tie around your neck so the wide end is on the right side, and extends well below the narrow end. Step 3. Hold the narrow end of the tie in place while you cross the wide end over the narrow end near your collar. Step 4. Wrap the wide end behind the back of the tie. Step 5. Pull the wide end of the tie through the middle of the neck loop from back to front, pulling it through to make the first “shoulder,” over the left side of the neck loop. Step 6. Pull the wide end of the tie to the right, behind the narrow end of the tie. Loop this end over the right side of the neck loop from front to back, pulling through to make the second “shoulder”. You should now have to triangle shapes, one on either side of the knot. Step 7. Bring the wide end of the tie from right to left across the front, creating a horizontal bar. Step 8. Bring the wide end of the tie behind the neck loop, then pull the end of the tie from to bottom, behind the horizontal bar you just created. Step 9. Hold the knot with your left hand, and pull the long end to tighten the knot. Then hold the knot with your left hand, and push the knot up to your collar. Step 10. Adjust the knot if needed. You may need to pinch or pull a bit to make the knot balanced and nicely shaped. Step 11. Fold your collar down, and make sure that the tie is covered by the collar all the way around your neck. To learn how to tie a half-Windsor knot, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages German Spanish French Portuguese Russian Arabic Indonesian Japanese Italian

• Print
• Send fan mail to authors

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 945,216 times.

Reader Success Stories

• 

  Jassie Singh

  Jan 20, 2017

  "I know how to tie a Windsor knot, but have not done so for years. I just wanted to be sure that I gave the correct..." more

More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Chloée Ohayon-Crosby Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist 5 votes - 52% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 36 Updated: August 21, 2025 Views: 945,216

Jassie Singh

Jan 20, 2017

"I know how to tie a Windsor knot, but have not done so for years. I just wanted to be sure that I gave the correct..." more

Arica Raislback

Nov 16, 2021

"I was getting ready for school, and I was wearing a tie for my outfit, but I had forgotten how to tie a Windsor..." more

Michelle O.

Jul 24, 2025

"I'm going to a private school, and looking professional at all times is their policy. This helped me learn a..." more Rated this article:

Guy Ackermann

Sep 29, 2021

"I've been retired for six years and always wore a tie. However, I have not wore a tie since my retirement...." more Rated this article:

Max K.

Dec 24, 2020

"My little brother wanted to know how to tie a tie, but I didn't know. Then I found this article and it helped..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

Quizzes & Games

Music Notes & Symbols TestTake QuizWhat Is My Face Shape QuizTake QuizAm I a Good Kisser QuizTake QuizAm I Good at Flirting QuizTake QuizWhat Men's Haircut Should I Get QuizTake QuizWhat Is My Kibbe Body Type QuizTake Quiz

You Might Also Like

How toTie a Tie Half WindsorHow toTie a TieHow toTie a Tie on Someone ElseHow toTie a Skinny Tie

Featured Articles

What 16 of the Most Common Hugs MeanJuicy, Deep, & Hot-Seat Questions to Get to Know Your Friends Better40+ Talking Games to Play with Friends, Partners & MoreHow toMake Friends

Trending Articles

How to Read Face Moles: Lucky and Unlucky PlacementsWhat Emojis Mean Sex?What Pokémon Am I QuizDo I Have Brainrot QuizSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouDo You Agree with These Hygiene Hot Takes?

Featured Articles

The Different Types of People You Can Find in a Friend GroupAn Introduction to Kibbe Body Types (with Styling Tips!)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?From Alpha to Omega: A Guide to the 7 Male Personalities

Featured Articles

7 Easy Card Magic Tricks You Can Master in MinutesHow to Perform Magic: 8 Tricks for BeginnersHow toHypnotize SomeoneThe Easiest Guinness World Records to Break: Which Will You Try?How to Solve a Rubik's Cube in 20 MovesHow toWhistle with Two Fingers

Watch Articles

How toGrow Out Your BangsHow toDress PunkHow toEnd a Long Distance RelationshipHow toDo E Girl EyelinerHow toRespond to the Fire EmojiHow to Stop Your Glasses from Making Your Eyes Look Small

Trending Articles

Do You Agree with These "Hear Me Out" Character Hot Takes?Introvert or Extrovert QuizWhat JJK Character Am I QuizFinish the Lyrics QuizWhat Is My Animagus Form?Can Your Finger Length Tell Your Personality?

Quizzes & Games

What Eyeliner Type Looks Best on Me QuizTake QuizWhat Makeup Should I Wear QuizTake QuizWhat Do I Look Like QuizTake QuizAre You a Big Spoon or a Little Spoon QuizTake QuizHow Chivalrous Am I in Romantic Relationships QuizTake QuizWhat Pasta Shape Am I QuizTake Quiz

• Categories
• Personal Care and Style
• Fashion
• Fashion Accessories
• Ties

wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.

• Home
• About wikiHow
• Experts
• Jobs
• Contact Us
• Site Map
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info
• Contribute

Follow Us

×

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

Let's go! X --669