How to measure clothing for a size chart
How to take accurate garment measurements for your size chart: tools, the flat-lay method, and exactly where to measure tops, pants, dresses and bras.
Your size chart is only as good as the measurements in it. This guide covers how to measure garments so the numbers on your product page match what the customer receives.
Garment measurements vs body measurements
Before you measure anything, decide which kind of chart you're making:
- Garment measurements describe the item itself, measured laid flat. "Chest width: 52 cm" means the shirt measures 52 cm across. Customers compare these with a piece of clothing they already own.
- Body measurements describe the person the size is meant for. "Chest: 96–100 cm" means the size fits someone with that chest measurement.
Both work. What causes wrong sizes is mixing them up, or not saying which one you used. Put a short note above the table, such as "All measurements are taken with the garment laid flat."
This guide covers garment measurements, which you can take yourself from your stock.
What you need
- A soft tape measure, ideally with both cm and inches
- A flat, hard surface such as a table
- One sample of each size, and if you can, two or three of each to check consistency
- A spreadsheet to record the numbers
The basic method
- Lay the garment flat and face up, buttons and zips closed.
- Smooth it out without stretching it. Knits and stretch fabrics are easy to pull longer by accident.
- Measure in straight lines, edge to edge, keeping the tape flat.
- Write down width, not circumference. For a flat-lay chart, "chest width" is one side only. If you'd rather show circumference, double it and label the column clearly.
- Repeat for every size and round consistently, for example to the nearest 0.5 cm or 1/4 inch.
Production pieces can differ by a centimetre or two. If two samples of the same size measure differently, use the average, and mention in your fit note that measurements may vary slightly.
How to measure tops and T-shirts
- A. Shirt length: from the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar, straight down to the bottom hem.
- B. Chest width: straight across from armpit seam to armpit seam, about 2.5 cm (1 inch) below the armholes.
- C. Shoulder width: straight across from one shoulder seam to the other.
- D. Sleeve length: from the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve.
How to measure pants and jeans
- Pants length: from the top of the waistband down the side seam to the hem.
- Waist width: straight across the top of the waistband, edge to edge, relaxed (not stretched).
- Hip width: straight across the widest part of the hips.
- Inseam: along the inside leg seam, from the crotch to the hem. This is the measurement customers check most.
- Thigh width: across one leg at its widest point, just below the crotch.
- Leg opening: straight across the bottom of one leg.
How to measure dresses
- Dress length: from the highest point of the shoulder down to the hem.
- Bust width: straight across from armpit to armpit.
- Waist width: across the narrowest part, or along the waist seam if there is one.
- Hip width: across the widest part of the skirt, usually about 20 cm (8 inches) below the waist.
- Shoulder width: from one shoulder seam to the other.
How to measure bras
Bras are usually sized by the wearer's body, so most bra charts use body measurements, with the band and cup worked out from them:
- Underbust (band): the wearer measures snugly around the ribcage, right under the bust.
- Bust (cup): around the fullest part of the bust, with the tape level and not tight.
The difference between the two gives the cup size. Because brands use different conversion rules, always show your own band and cup table rather than a generic one.
Turning measurements into a size chart
- Put sizes in rows and measurements in columns, in the order a customer would check them, for example chest, length, then sleeve.
- Keep it short. Four to six measurements is plenty. Every extra column makes the chart harder to read on a phone.
- Show both units, or let customers switch between cm and inches.
- Add a labelled diagram so customers know where each measurement was taken.
- Add a fit note, for example "Relaxed fit. If you're between sizes, size down."
If you'd rather not start from a blank page, our free size chart templates include typical measurements, labelled diagrams and measuring steps for 120+ products, including T-shirts, jeans, dresses and bras.
Next step
Once your measurements are ready, see How to add a size chart to Shopify to put them on your product pages.