A custom tuxedo is cut from your measurements rather than matched to the closest stock size. That makes accurate tuxedo measurements essential.
Taking a few minutes to measure yourself at home can really make your jacket fit better on your shoulders. It will also make sure your shirt cuffs show nicely when you wear the jacket. Your trousers will fall nicely over your shoes.
This guide will show you how to measure your chest, your neck, your shoulders, the sleeves, your waist, how long the jacket should be and your trousers. This is so you can order a custom tuxedo that fits you well. The guide also talks about mistakes people make when they measure themselves. It tells you what to check when your tuxedo arrives to make sure it fits you the way you want your custom tuxedo to fit.
What You Need Before Measuring for a Custom Tuxedo
Prepare the following before you begin:
- A soft fabric measuring tape. Do not use a metal tape measure, as it will not follow your body accurately.
- A well-fitted dress shirt. Your tuxedo is worn over a dress shirt, so measuring over a thick T-shirt or bare skin can affect the result.
- A second person to help. You can measure your waist and neck alone, but chest, shoulder, and sleeve measurements are more accurate with assistance.
- A wall and full-length mirror to check that the measuring tape stays level and does not twist.
- Stand naturally while you measure. Do not force your posture too straight, hold your breath, or pull your stomach in. Your tuxedo should be made for the way you actually stand and move.
The 7 Measurements You Need for a Custom Tuxedo
1. Chest Measurement
To get your measurement you need to wrap the measuring tape around the part of your chest. This means the tape should go under your arms and across your shoulder blades at the back. Make sure it stays level all the way around your body.
When you do this keep your arms hanging by your sides. Breathe like you normally do. The tape should be close, to your body. Not too tight. If it is too tight your jacket might be uncomfortable when you button it up.
If you have broad shoulders or a big chest you should do another measurement. This is called an overarm measurement. You wrap the tape around the part of your chest and shoulders with your arms still relaxed. This helps the people making your jacket know how much space you need in the upper part of the jacket. They can make sure your jacket fits you really well, especially if you have shoulders, a muscular upper body or a larger chest.
2. Neck Measurement
To get the size measure around the base of your neck where the collar of your dress shirt sits. Make sure to leave space to fit one finger between the tape measure and your neck.
This is really important when it comes to a tuxedo shirt because the collar has to fit right with a bow tie. If the collar is too tight it can feel really uncomfortable. On the hand if it is too loose you will see gaps, and that does not look good. For details about tuxedo shirts, you can read our guide to tuxedo shirts.
3. Shoulder Width
Measure from the edge of one shoulder bone across the back to the outer edge of the other shoulder bone. The correct points are where your shoulder naturally ends and your arm begins.
This is difficult to measure without help so ask someone to hold the tape for you. Shoulder fit is one of the important parts of a tuxedo jacket because it affects the collar, chest, sleeves and overall shape of the garment.
4. Sleeve Length
Start at the centre of the back of your neck. Run the tape over the top of your shoulder down your arm, with the elbow slightly bent and finish at the wrist bone.
At the fitting a tuxedo jacket sleeve should usually sit short enough to show about a quarter to half an inch of dress-shirt cuff. This keeps the sleeve length balanced. Allows cufflinks to remain visible.
5. Jacket Length
This is simply your height, but it maps to a jacket length category — Short, Regular, Long, or Extra Long. Jacket length affects where the jacket hem falls relative to your hips, which changes your whole silhouette, so don’t skip reporting your height accurately even if you think “regular” obviously applies to you.
5. Waist
Measure your natural waist — about an inch above your belly button — not where your jeans lie. Many people make this mistake when ordering their first custom suit, as tuxedo pants do not have belt loops. Tuxedo pants are designed to be worn at the natural waistline with the waistband being covered by either a cummerbund or waistcoat. Measuring at your hips as you would for everyday pants may result in the trousers hanging loosely and low.
7. Inseam/Outseam
Measure for the inseam from the crotch seam along the inner leg down to the point where you’d like your trousers to break at your shoe. The outseam should be measured from your natural waistband down the outer leg to the same point. Please remember to wear the exact shoes that you will be wearing with your tuxedo when getting this measurement, because a difference of a half inch heel will determine where your satin stripe falls on your pants.
Mistakes That Throw Off Your Tuxedo Measurements
- Measuring over a t-shirt instead of a dress shirt. The fabric bunches differently and adds false bulk to your chest and sleeve numbers.
- Pulling the tape tight “to be safe.” A snug tape gives you a smaller size than you actually wear, and the jacket ends up straining across the chest.
- Measuring your waist where your jeans sit. Tuxedo trousers ride higher, at the natural waist — use that line, not your everyday pants line.
- Skipping the overarm check if you’re broad-shouldered. Chest alone won’t catch it, and a jacket that’s tight through the shoulders can’t be fixed with simple alterations later.
- Guessing your height category instead of measuring it properly. A Regular jacket on a 6’2″ frame will run short in both the body and the sleeve.
Rental Size vs Custom Sizing – What Does It Mean?
With a tuxedo for rental use, you will get a fixed increment of sizing; basically, you’ll be fitted with the closet stock size, and there you will have to make do with whatever difference there is. However, if you buy yourself a custom-made tuxedo, all of your dimensions will be precisely measured and put on the pattern. This means that even if you have a dimension which is in-between two rental tux sizes, this won’t matter anymore.
How a Well-Fitted Tuxedo Should Actually Feel
Numbers on a tape only tell half the story. Once your tuxedo arrives, here’s what to check:
- Shoulders sit flat with no divot or pulling at the seam, even when you raise your arms
- Chest buttons without gaping or straining, and you can slide a flat hand between the lapel and your chest — no more, no less
- Sleeves show a quarter to half an inch of shirt cuff
- Trousers sit at the natural waist without a belt (that’s the point of the flat, loop-free waistband) and break gently over the shoe, not bunching into folds
Find the Tuxedo Colour That Fits Your Moment
Clean black tuxedos are always the classic choice for black-tie events, weddings, and formal evening occasions. It is timeless, easy to style, and works well in almost any setting.
Custom tailoring also gives you the freedom to choose a colour that feels more personal. Blue tuxedos offer a refined alternative for weddings and evening events, while brown tuxedos bring warmth and a more relaxed formal look. For a bolder statement, explore green tuxedos, grey tuxedos, or maroon tuxedos.
Explore our collection of custom tuxedo suits for weddings, black-tie events, proms, galas, and special occasions. If you want something especially distinctive for an evening reception or formal celebration, browse our custom dinner jackets.
The same careful measurements apply whichever tuxedo colour or style you choose.
Get Your Perfect Tuxedo Fit From Home
Take your measurements with confidence using our easy step by step guide. It only takes a few minutes to get started.
View the Measurement GuideVideo Guide: Tuxedo Measurement
Frequently Asked Questions
Seven core numbers: chest, neck, shoulder width, sleeve length, jacket length based on height, waist, and inseam or outseam. Broad shouldered men should also take an overarm measurement.
Waist and neck are manageable alone. Chest, shoulder, and sleeve measurements are far more accurate with a second person holding the tape. Even a five minute favor from a friend or partner makes a real difference in the final fit.
Enough that you can button it comfortably and slide a flat hand between your chest and the lapel, not tighter and not looser. If the jacket pulls when you button it or gaps when you stand straight, the chest measurement needs adjusting.
The measuring process is nearly identical, but two things are tuxedo specific: the waist sits higher at the natural waistline since there are no belt loops, and the sleeve length is measured to leave a visible cuff for cufflinks. For general suit sizing and full US, UK, and EU size charts, see our Suit Measurement Guide.
That is exactly what custom tailoring solves. Since your tuxedo is cut to your exact numbers rather than matched to a stock size, being between sizes is not a problem. It is simply your size.
Once we receive your measurements, your tuxedo is typically ready and delivered within 14 days, with free worldwide shipping.
