How to Measure Yourself for a Bespoke Suit at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
One of the biggest concerns people have about ordering a bespoke suit online is measurements. How do you make sure the suit will actually fit? The good news is that with a tape measure and a friend to help, you can take all the measurements you need at home â and NAAMS will use them to create a pattern unique to your body.
Here's exactly how to do it.
What You'll Need
- A flexible tape measure (the fabric kind used for dressmaking â not a rigid DIY tape)
- A friend to help (most measurements are impossible to take accurately on yourself)
- Fitted clothing â wear a fitted shirt and trousers, not a bulky jumper
- Good posture â stand naturally, don't hold your breath or puff out your chest
The Key Measurements
1. Chest
Wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest, passing it under your arms and across your shoulder blades. Keep it level and snug but not tight â you should be able to breathe normally. Record the measurement in centimetres.
2. Waist
Measure around your natural waist â this is typically the narrowest part of your torso, roughly 2â3 cm above your belly button. Don't suck in! This should be your true, relaxed waist measurement.
3. Hips / Seat
Stand with your feet together. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and seat â usually about 20 cm below your natural waist. Keep the tape level all the way around.
4. Shoulders
This is the trickiest measurement. From the outer edge of one shoulder (where the shoulder naturally ends, not where a too-large shirt sits) to the outer edge of the other shoulder, measure straight across the back. Your helper should hold the tape in place while you stand naturally.
5. Chest-to-Waist Drop
Simply subtract your waist measurement from your chest measurement. A drop of 16â20 cm gives you a jacket with a well-defined waist suppression. This helps us cut the right silhouette for your frame.
6. Jacket Length
Stand straight. Measure from the top of your shoulder (the highest point, at the base of your neck) down to the knuckle of your thumb. This gives the classic jacket length â just covering the seat. If you prefer a longer or shorter jacket, note this in your order.
7. Sleeve Length
With your arm slightly bent, measure from the top of your shoulder down to your wrist bone. Bespoke sleeves are typically cut to show about 1.5 cm of shirt cuff below the jacket sleeve â we'll account for this when cutting.
8. Trouser Waist
Measure around your natural waist (same as step 2). If you prefer to wear your trousers on your hips rather than your natural waist, measure at whichever point feels comfortable for you â and note which you chose.
9. Inside Leg (Inseam)
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Measure from the top of your inner thigh, right up into your crotch, down to your ankle bone. Your helper should hold the tape at the top while you keep the bottom against your ankle.
10. Thigh
Measure around the fullest part of your thigh â usually about 5â7 cm below the crotch seam. Keep the tape horizontal and snug but not tight.
Tips for Accurate Measurements
- Measure twice. Inconsistencies happen â if two readings differ by more than 1 cm, take a third and use the most common value.
- Note your dominant side. Many people have one shoulder slightly lower or one hip slightly fuller. Let us know â a bespoke pattern accounts for this.
- Don't round up "for comfort". We build in the necessary ease (extra room for movement) during pattern cutting. Your measurements should be exact body measurements.
- Measure in cm. Our pattern cutters work in centimetres â it removes conversion errors.
What Happens After You Submit Your Measurements?
At NAAMS, our pattern cutter reviews every set of measurements individually. If anything looks inconsistent (for example, a chest measurement that doesn't align with the shoulder measurement), we'll reach out before cutting. Your pattern is then created from scratch â it belongs to you, and we keep it on file for future orders.
Our bespoke suits are delivered worldwide in 3â4 weeks. If anything needs adjusting on arrival, our 15% alteration guarantee covers you within 90 days.