Measure Your Body Like a Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide
Get perfectly fitted clothes, track your fitness progress, and shop online with confidence by learning how to take accurate body measurements at home. Our simple guide breaks down this essential skill into easy-to-follow steps.
Increase in garment fit precision with correct measurements
30%
Fewer Returns
Reduction in online shopping returns when using size charts
100%
Fitness Tracking
More reliable than scale weight for tracking body changes
Precise measurements create a personalized blueprint of your body that ensures better-fitting clothes, successful online shopping, and more accurate fitness progress tracking beyond what any scale can tell you.
Gather Your Tools
Flexible Measuring Tape
Choose fabric or plastic over metal for better contour accuracy (20% more precise)
Full-Length Mirror
Essential for checking posture and proper tape placement
String or Elastic Band
Helpful for marking your natural waistline
Recording Method
Either pen and paper or digital note-taking app
Prep for Success
Proper Clothing
Wear minimal, form-fitting clothes or just undergarments to avoid adding bulk to measurements (improves accuracy by 15%)
Correct Posture
Stand naturally straight with shoulders relaxed and feet hip-width apart
Natural Breathing
Maintain normal breathing; don't hold your breath or suck in your stomach
Bare Skin Contact
Place the measuring tape directly on skin when possible for most accurate results
Essential Measurements: Bust, Waist, Hips
Bust Measurement
Wrap tape around the fullest part of your bust, keeping tape parallel to the floor. Make sure it's snug but not tight, and record to the nearest 0.25 inch.
Waist Measurement
Find the narrowest part of your torso (typically above your belly button). Mark with string if needed. Measure with a relaxed abdomen.
Hip Measurement
Measure around the fullest part of your hips and buttocks, usually 8-9 inches below your waist. Keep tape parallel to floor.
Take each measurement twice for accuracy. If readings differ by more than 0.5 inch, measure a third time and take the average.
Measuring Other Key Areas
1
Shoulders
Measure straight across your back from the tip of one shoulder to the other. Have someone help for accuracy.
2
Arm Length
With arm slightly bent, measure from shoulder point to wrist bone. Expect natural variations of ±1 inch between arms.
3
Inseam
Measure from crotch seam to ankle bone, or to your desired pant length. Best done on a pair of well-fitting pants.
4
Thigh & Neck
Thigh: measure around fullest part. Neck: measure at base where it meets shoulders.