Gents, we want to look our best in a dress shirt. However, wearing a regular t-shirt and wearing a button-down are two different things. Unfortunately, we can’t just grab a medium dress shirt and call it a day. To obtain comfort and optimal fit, we need to know how to properly measure the shirt. And one of the most important parts of this process is knowing how to measure sleeve length.
I’d argue that sleeve length is probably the most important part of a well-fitting dress shirt. It connects to the chest, collar, and back of the shirt so a well-fit sleeve length does wonders for both comfort and fit.
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Why Sleeve Length Matters
Why is sleeve length important? Sleeve length matters because if your sleeves are too long, your hands will be partially or fully covered, ruining the holistic look of the shirt. If the sleeves are too short, then it’s harder to move your hands freely and most of your mobility is lost.
Step-By-Step Guide on Measuring Sleeve Length
Measuring sleeve length is a straightforward but important task that must be done right the first time. Here’s the step-by-step guide to measuring sleeve length properly.
Put on Your Desired Shirt
Straightforward but simple. First, put on your desired shirt. There aren’t many rules to this step except that the desired shirt should be a button-down. We can measure a polo or a t-shirt, but that’s pretty straightforward and for most men, choosing their size in a slim fit will do the job.
When you pick your desired button-down, make sure that it’s also in your desired fit. If you’re a medium, pick medium. Again, this step is pretty straight forward.
Measure Sleeve Length
Next, you need to measure your sleeve length. I recommend using a measuring tape for this step as I’ve found this to be the easiest way to measure sleeves. Place this measuring tape at the nape of your neck.
Measuring sleeve length comes in two measurements. First, you’ll measure from the nape of your neck to the shoulder of your shirt. Then, you measure from the shoulder of your shirt to just below your palm.
Add up both of these measurements and you have your sleeve length. If that’s all you were looking for today, then you’re all set!
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Now, back to the article.
If you’re looking to ensure that the rest of your dress shirt fits perfectly, we’re also going to need to measure around your neck, chest, and cuffs.
Measure Around Your Neck
Measuring around your neck is vital. Too many times have I bought a shirt where the collar has either choked my airways or left me with one too many gusts of air going down my body. A properly fitted neck collar will keep the shirt secure but also leave enough space for your neck to feel loose and free.
How to Measure Your Neck Size
Measuring neck size is pretty easy. Just follow these steps:
- Wrap the measuring tape around your Adam’s apple.
- Keep the tape firm but do not squeeze the neck.
- Record the measuring tape’s measurements
- If the measuring tape’s measurements end at a quarter-inch, round up to the next half-inch. (Ex: 15.25 rounds up to 15.50)
- Take your neck measurement and add a half-inch for your shirt size
(Psst! Interested in learning more about men’s fashion? Check out our latest article on ascot ties! They’ll help you stand out for your next formal event.)
Measure Your Chest Size
I’ve always found your chest size to be trickier and more important than your sleeve length but that just comes from my personal experience. When I wear a shirt with a small chest, I feel constricted and I lose all sense of mobility.
On the other hand, when I wear a shirt with a larger-than-needed chest, I feel like I’m wearing a paper bag over my body which is also less than ideal. Fortunately, I’ve also found it easier to measure out your chest size properly.
How to Measure Your Chest Size
Here’s how you measure out your chest size:
- Lay the shirt
- Pull the fabric apart so there aren’t any wrinkles but don’t stretch it.
- Place the measuring tape in a straight line just above the armpit
- Measure across so that the measuring tape starts one armpit and ends at the other
In most cases, you’ll measure a little beyond the side seam of the shirt. However, this doesn’t really affect the fit of your dress shirt.
Measure Cuff Size
The last area of a shirt that I believe to be crucial to your fit and comfort is the cuffs located at the end of each sleeve. A tightly wound cuff will cut circulation at the wrists, limiting mobility in your hand movements.
Meanwhile, a loose cuff will leave something to be desired. You want to be able to feel the shirt against your skin, but not to the extent where you can’t move your hands around.
How to Measure Your Cuffs
Here’s how you can measure the cuffs of your shirt to ensure maximum comfort and a desired fit:
- Unbutton the shirt cuff and lay it flat out across the surface
- Place one end of the measuring tape at the button stitching that comes through to the inside of the cuff.
- Measure to the far end of the inside button hole.
- Take your measurements and round to the nearest quarter-inch.
Final Thoughts
Having a properly measured shirt in your wardrobe can do wonders for your appearance and comfort. Not only will measuring out your body allow you to buy shirts that actually fit you, but you’ll also spend less time and money buying clothes you need.
I’d rather have two well-fitting dress shirts to rotate through than five, decent-fitting shirts that need alterations done to the chest or the cuffs.
Now that you know how to measure sleeve length, your neck, chest, and cuffs, I recommend taking some time out of your day to get your measurements done with a friend and record them before you go shopping for your next shirt. It’ll do you wonders.