How to Measure Yourself
Young Mens covers a mix of sizing systems: letter sizes (XS through XXL) for most casualwear and activewear, numeric neck/sleeve sizing for dress shirts, and waist-inch sizing for pants and denim (28, 29, 30, 32…). Because the same brand can use two or three systems, the body measurements below are a more reliable guide than the label. Measure over a lightweight shirt with the tape level and snug but not pulled tight.
Chest: Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, keeping it level under the arms. Primary measurement for tees, polos, button-downs, jackets, and outerwear.
Waist: Find your natural waistline — usually an inch above your hip bones — and measure there. This is the number that matches the inch-sized waist label on pants and denim (30, 32, 34…), not your belt size or the number on a pair of pants that have stretched out.
Hip / Seat: Stand with feet together and measure around the fullest part of your seat. Used for slim-fit and tailored pants where the seat fit matters as much as the waist.
Inseam: Measure the inseam of a pair of pants that fit you well — from the crotch seam to the bottom hem. Pants are usually listed as waist × inseam (e.g., 32 × 32). If you're tall or short, this is the number that makes or breaks the fit.
Neck: For dress shirts, wrap the tape around the base of your neck, where the collar would sit, and add about half an inch for comfort. Dress shirt sizes are listed as neck × sleeve (e.g., 15.5 × 33).
Sleeve: For dress shirts, stand with your arm slightly bent. Measure from the center back of your neck, across the shoulder, down the outside of the arm to the wrist bone. Use this for the second number in dress shirt sizing.
Height: Stand barefoot against a wall and measure from the top of your head to the floor. Relevant for long-torso pieces and for choosing Tall variants when brands offer them.
Pro tip: Size down if you're between two letter sizes and want a modern, tailored fit. Size up if you prefer a relaxed or classic fit. The size chart's chest column is your anchor either way.
Pro tip: Athletic and performance brands (Under Armour, Adidas, Nike, Rhone, Johnnie-O) cut slim through the chest and shoulders. If you lift or prefer extra room, size up one.
Pro tip: Denim brands often “vanity size” — the label may read one inch smaller than the actual waist. Trust your tape measure, not the label on your old jeans.
