How to Determine Your Dress Shirt Size

Things You Need:

* Tape measure

Dress shirt sizes for commercial clothes are fairly standardized, although there is some variation among specific brands. Generally, dress shirts will be sized by the neck and sleeve measurements, and some companies also include measurements for the waist or list the shirt's body-cut type. This sizing system exists so that customers do not have to rely on general men's dress shirt sizes and can instead purchase a dress shirt that separately fits the neck, arm and body. This guide will help you to determine your dress shirt size and find the perfect fit.

Sizing for a Dress Shirt:

1. Take your neck circumference measurement. Place the tape measure around the base of your neck, where your shirt collar would normally sit. Add one-half inch to this measurement so that the collar of your new shirt is not too snug.

2. Round your neck measurement up to the nearest whole or half size. For example, a neck measurement of 18.3 inches would round up to 18.5 inches. Commercial dress shirt collar sizes increase in increments of one-half inch only, so you may not get an exact fit.

3. Take your full sleeve-length measurement. Have a friend help you measure your arm while you are standing with your arm slightly bent at your side. Measure from the nape of the neck to the wrist, making sure that the tape measure lays flat across the shoulder. Add one inch to the sleeve-length measurement and round up to the nearest even number.

4. Measure your waist size. This is only required if you are purchasing a shirt with waist measurements on the tag. Take this measurement at the level you normally wear the waistband of your trousers. Add one-half inch to the number.

5. Determine the body fit you would like your dress shirt to have. In men's dress shirt sizes, an athletic cut is slim and tapered while a regular cut is looser. Full-cut shirts give you a lot of room in the body.

Sizing Tip:

1. You may also want to convert your neck, sleeve and waist measurements to generalized sizing, like small, medium and large, as some companies do not give specific measurements on the shirt tag. See Overstock.com's sizing chart to find your comparable size.

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