All 11 measurements your tailor needs to stitch a well-fitted men's shirt — from collar and chest to sleeve length, cuff model, and pocket size. Use the chart below, then save your measurements as a free shareable card.
These are all the measurements your tailor needs for a custom shirt. Record them in inches (standard for Indian tailoring) or centimetres.
| Measurement | Where to Measure | Tailor's Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Back collar seam down to the bottom hem | 28–32 inches typical; 26–28 for short shirts |
| Shoulder | One shoulder seam across to the other (upper back) | Most critical measurement — defines the overall fit |
| Sleeve Length | Shoulder seam, over the bent elbow, to the wrist | Measure with arm bent at 90°; 32–36 inches typical |
| Sleeve Width | Fullest part of the upper arm (bicep) | Add 2 inches ease for a comfortable fit |
| Chest | Fullest part of the chest, tape horizontal | Formal shirts add 4 inches ease; fitted styles add 2 |
| Side Loose | Extra ease added at each side seam | 1.5 inches per side for regular fit; 1 for slim fit |
| Regal Loose | Extra ease in the back panel | Allows shoulder movement without the shirt pulling forward |
| Collar | Neck circumference at the collar point | Add 1 inch to actual measurement for collar gap |
| Cuff Width | Wrist circumference where cuff will close | Add 1 inch; French cuffs may need 0.5 inch more |
| Pocket Size | Width of the chest pocket opening | Standard dress shirt pocket is 4 × 4.5 inches |
| Cuff Model | Style of cuff (barrel, French, sport) | Barrel for everyday; French for formal with cufflinks |
Take these measurements with the customer standing straight, arms relaxed at the sides. Use a flexible tape measure.
These measurements control the fit across the most visible parts of the shirt.
Sleeve length is best taken with the arm bent at 90 degrees to allow movement ease.
These preferences affect how the measurements translate to the finished garment.
Small errors in shirt measurements cause fit problems that are hard to correct after cutting.
Create a free measurement card with all 11 shirt measurement points. Get a QR code and share it with your tailor over WhatsApp — no login, no account needed.
A custom men's shirt requires 11 measurements: Length, Shoulder, Sleeve Length, Sleeve Width, Chest, Side Loose, Regal Loose, Collar, Cuff Width, Pocket Size, and Cuff Model. The collar, shoulder, and chest measurements are the most critical for a good fit.
Side Loose is the extra ease added at each side seam of the shirt to allow comfortable movement without the shirt pulling tight. Standard is 1.5 inches per side for a regular fit, and 1 inch per side for a slim fit. Indian tailors use this as a separate measurement rather than building it into the chest measurement.
Wrap a soft tape measure around the neck at the collar point where the top button sits, keeping one finger between the tape and neck. Note this number, then add 1 inch — this becomes your collar measurement. A 15-inch neck becomes a size 16 collar.
Use TailorMan's free measurement card tool at tailorman.in/measure/?garment=Shirt. Enter all your measurements, get a link and QR code, and send the link via WhatsApp. Your tailor can open the card on any device — no account needed on either side.
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