How to Calculate Your Size: Blazers/Sport Coats and Pants

March 26 2021, by Antonio Rossi, 3 min reading time

There's no excuse for wearing an ill-fitted suit. All you need is this article, a tape measure, and a good tailor.

How to Measure Yourself for Blazers (or Sport Coats):

Take a measuring tape and wrap it around the fullest part of your chest (under your armpits). If you measure 40 inches around your chest, then your chest size is 40 inches and, likewise, your suit jacket size is 40. 

The letter after the jacket size is the length of your jacket (both body and sleeve). Your options are short (S), regular (R), long (L), or extra long (XL).

Generally, a "short" is suitable for people 5’8” and shorter; a "regular" is good for individuals 5’9” - 6’ feet tall; between 6’1” and 6’4” is considered "long;" people 6’5” and taller need "extra long."

How to Measure Your Pants Size: 

Do not base your dress pant size on your jeans size. Why? Jeans and casual pants are "vanity sized" (not to mention the fabric has more stretch). Just because pants claim they are a size 34 does not mean they actually measure 34 inches around.

The best thing is to physically measure the waistband of a pair of dress pants or slacks that fit you well and sit at your waist (not lower, like jeans are often worn). If you don’t have dress pants, measure your actual waist (just above where you’d wear your belt).

The measurement of your waist or the waistband of your favorite dress pants is your pant size. If your waist is 34 inches around, your pant size is 34 or 34W (W stands for waist).

Options for Tailoring

Manufacturers often, but not always, think ahead and include extra fabric at the waist and seat in case the pant needs to be let out (or taken in) up to two additional inches.

Pants also come with an inseam measurement. This represents the inner seam of the pant leg, from the seat seam below the zipper down to the bottom hem. Pants can be purchased unhemmed or pre-hemmed -- in this case, it will have two numbers separated by an ‘x’ (e.g. 34x32). That second number is your inseam.

In traditional men’s tailoring, most dress pants should hit the back of your dress shoe and have a small break in the front.

SHOP ALL SUITS

More Men's Suit Guides: 

• Wool Suits vs. Synthetic Suits
• The Fat Man's Guide to Buying a Suit
• How to Match Your Socks to Your Suit 

Comments

• I’m looking for a 52 portly black pattern mens suit. Pants waist 48-50

• These days, longs are measured (back of the collar to the hem) at around 29.5". But this is a vintage sport coat and styles change over time. As such, I’d most likely list it as a 42L. To be sure and double check your work, I would measure the sleeve length as well: a ‘short’ will measure up to 25.2", a ‘regular’ will measure up to 26", and a ‘long’ will usually be around 26.8" (or longer). Thanks for the question and good luck!

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