How to Measure

Bust

Place the end of the measuring tape on the front of your chest at the widest point. Going under your arms, wrap the measuring tape around your back, making sure it doesn’t twist up. Pull it taut so it’s horizontal around your body. Try to pull your arms down over the tape and take the measurement.

Waist

Your natural waist is the smallest part of your waist, usually just above your belly button and under your rib cage. Make sure the tape measure is flat around your body, and then take the measurement in front.

If you normally wear pants lower, take a measurement there, too, just in case.

Hip

Determine your hip measurement at the widest point. Wrap the tape around your body, ensuring you go over the widest part of your buttocks, too. Keep the tape horizontal and flat against your body, and then take the measurement in front where the measuring tape meets itself.

Check in a mirror to see if the tape measure is flat against you.

Stand with your legs about 6 inches (15.2 cm) apart.

Shoulder Width

Place one end of the measuring tape on the tip of one shoulder and draw it across your back. Find the measurement at the tip of the other shoulder, making sure the tape measure is flat across your back first.

Sleeve Length

Women’s clothing doesn’t often use sleeve measurements, but it can be helpful to have the information if you’re shopping online. Place the end of the tape measure at the tip of your shoulder and measure down to your wrist.

Measure to where you want the sleeve to fall.

Extra Detailed Measurements

Shoulder to Nipple

Measure from the middle of your single shoulder to your nipple. Keep tape vertical to the floor.

Shoulder to Waist

Measure from the middle of your single shoulder, go down over your nipple to the waist. Keep tape vertical to the floor.

Upper Bust

Measure around the upper breast, across your shoulder blades and under your armpits. Keep the tape parallel to the floor.

Under Bust

Measure around your under bust, where your bra band would sit.Keep tape straight and parallel with the floor.

Armhole

Draw tape from your shoulder to armpit, and back up behind your shoulder until it meets the starting end. Keep tape vertically straight along the back and front of your shoulder. Make sure that it also lies flat against your body

Biceps Girth

Let your hands and arms drop naturally to your side.Measure around the fullest part of your upper arm. Keep the tape taut, but do not let it dig into your skin.

Over Arm Circumference

Let your arms drop naturally to your side. Draw tape around outer upper arms, across your upper bust and back until it meets the starting end. Keep tape vertically straight along the front and back.