How to Measure Yourself for Clothes
To measure yourself for clothes you need a soft tape measure, a mirror and about five minutes: measure your chest or bust, natural waist, hips and inside leg, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight. Wear thin clothing or underwear, stand relaxed and breathe normally. Then compare your numbers with the size chart on each product page.
How to Measure Your Bust or Chest
- Stand straight with your arms relaxed by your sides.
- Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust or chest, under the arms and across the shoulder blades.
- Keep the tape level all the way round; check it in the mirror.
- Read the number where the tape meets, without pulling it tight.
How to Measure Your Waist
- Find your natural waist: the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button. Bend to one side and the crease that forms is your waist.
- Wrap the tape around it, keeping it parallel to the floor.
- Breathe out normally and read the measurement. Do not hold your breath or pull in your stomach.
For trousers and jeans that sit lower, measure where you actually wear the waistband, often 3 to 5 cm below the natural waist.
How to Measure Your Hips
- Stand with your feet together.
- Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and bottom.
- Keep it level and read the measurement.
How to Measure Your Inside Leg
- Stand straight in socks with your feet slightly apart, ideally against a wall.
- Measure from the top of your inner thigh, at the crotch, straight down to the floor or to where you want the trousers to end.
- It is easier with a helper. Alternatively, measure the inside seam of trousers that fit you well, from crotch seam to hem.
How to Measure Your Foot
Stand on paper against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe and measure the length in centimetres. Use our shoe size converter to find your UK, EU and US size.
Common Measuring Mistakes
- Measuring over a thick jumper adds several centimetres.
- Pulling the tape tight gives a size that feels too small.
- Letting the tape drop at the back makes the number too large.
- Guessing from the size of another shop's clothes: sizes differ between brands, so always compare with the chart.
Tip The quickest way to choose a size is to measure a garment you already own and love across the chest and length, then compare it with the product's size chart.
Next step: compare your measurements with our UK size guide.