Add an additional inch to your chest measurement if you’re looking for a more casual jacket. Casual jackets tend to be more loose-fitting. [4] X Research source Make sure the tape is always being held level as you’re having your measurements taken. [5] X Research source Clothing companies will usually cut a jacket’s chest about 10. 16 cm (4. 00 in) longer than their estimate of your chest size. This is why chest size does not equal jacket size.
If your jacket has buttons, it should button neatly over your natural waist without strain or tightness. This is why it’s crucial to get your waist measurement right. [8] X Research source
This measurement is important because — especially with a suit or formal jacket — you’ll want the shoulder of your jacket to lie flat, and not to bunch up or sag down over your upper bicep. If the shoulder of a jacket doesn’t fit right, you’ll often see wrinkles or lumps in the sleeves and top areas of the jacket. [11] X Research source
This is a key measurement because, if your sleeves are too short or too long, it can make it look like the whole jacket is too small or too big for you. [14] X Research source
For men, a nice-fitting formal jacket should go past the waist and fall just over the widest curve of your hips, so this is a good measurement to know. [16] X Research source
Jacket length varies based on height and the style of the jacket. For a standard blazer or coat, a good rule of thumb is to measure down to the top of the thigh. [18] X Research source This may differ for women, though, as many women like the cropped jacket look because it can have a leg-lengthening effect. [19] X Research source
Many sites will include measurements in the product description of the specific item that you’re looking at. Regretfully, because different countries have instituted different systems of measurement for jackets, don’t rely too much on any general country-wide jacket guidelines. It’s better to compare your measurements with the specific measurements of the product you’re looking to purchase.
If you don’t have a similarly-styled jacket, ask similarly-sized friends or relatives if they have anything similar to what you’re looking for, and if you can try it on.
