How to measure yourself for tailoring using a tape or an app

Are you wondering how to measure yourself? Follow the simple steps below with a tape measurements or try our TAILOAR Measurement iPhone App instead (no tape needed!) Alright, wear tight clothes, stand up straight, let's do this!

Jennifer Burk on Unsplash

SHOULDERS

Lining your tape on the top of your back alongside the curve of your shoulders, ending on each shoulder seam.

Tips: Imagine a shirt, the shoulder ends should be where you wish the shoulder seam to be and where your sleeves end.

NECK

Wrap the tape around the circumference of your neck and insert 1 finger in between the tape and the neck to give it a bit more room.

Tips: Don’t forget the extra finger (!) in between your neck and the tape for a roomy addition!

UNDER ARMS

Wrap the tape around your arm pits, from the back to the front to make a full circle. Get the measurement where the circle meets.

Tips: Try to get as close to the arm pits as possible as this measurement is different from the Chest measurement (more below)

CHEST

No matter your body types or gender identities, find the fullest part of your chest and wrap the tape around from the back to the front to make a full circle. Get the measurement where the circle meets.

Tips: Your Chest should be below your Under Arm (and usually the larger measurement)

WAIST

Find your natural waist and wrap the tape around from the back to the front to make a full circle. Get the measurement where the circle meets.

Are you doing it? Yes you can!

HIP

Find your booty (~) wrap the tape around from the back to the front to make a full circle. Get the measurement where the circle meets.

You're a pro!

SLEEVE LENGTH

The Sleeve Length is the distance between your shoulder seam and your desired sleeve cuff. Place your hand on your hips to make a triangle with your elbow, then place the tape on the top of your Shoulder and at the end of where you want your sleeve to be.

Tips: Sleeves length should be a personal choice. You can always measure your favorite long sleeves shirt as a substitute!

BICEP

Wrap the tape around the circumference of your bicep and insert 1 finger in between the tape and the bicep to give it a bit more room.

Tips: Find the fullest part of your arm and that's your bicep. We don't want that sleeve to be tight, do we? 

WRIST

Wrap the tape around the circumference of your wrist and insert 1 finger in between the tape and the wrist to give it a bit more room.

Tips: Make sure you give it some room but not too much otherwise the cuff will slide right off!

WAIST POINT

Place the tape on top of your shoulder seam where it meets with your collar, guide it over the top of your chest, to your natural waist. Measure this distance.

Tips: You might wonder, why would I need this? Well, tailors use the Waist Point to form the structure of a fitted shirt, a waistcoat, or a corset, anyone?

HIP  POINT

Similar to the Waist Point (above), place the tape on top of your shoulder seam where it meets with your collar, guide it over the top of your chest, to your hip. Measure this distance.

Tips: You might wonder, why would I need this? Tailors use the Hip Point often to determine the length of a shirt or a coat.

Phew! You've made it! Was it hard? we have all of our faith in you. If you find the tape measurement process a little bit cumbersome even with the instruction above or if you don't have a tape measure on hand, consider using our TAILOAR Measurement iPhone App.

TAILORU Technology is part of the TAILORU Group, along with TAILORU Education, and TAILORU Collective. Our mission is to advance humanity through design, technology, and education.