How to Measure Your Sleeve Length (Without Getting It Wrong)

Of all the measurements we ask for, sleeve length causes the most trouble. Not because it's difficult — it's genuinely simple — but because people try to do it alone, and that's where things go sideways. This is a two-person job. Grab a friend.

How to do it

Stand naturally. Arms relaxed at your sides — not ramrod straight, not slouched, just how you stand when you're not thinking about it. Your helper places the end of the tape measure at the centre of the back of your neck, runs it over your shoulder, and down your arm to the wrist bone. That little bony bump on the outside of your wrist? That's the target.

The tape should follow the natural line of your arm. Don't pull it tight — it should rest against the sleeve of whatever you're wearing, not dig in. And wear a shirt, not a bare arm. You're measuring for a jacket sleeve, so measure over what you'd actually wear underneath it.

The mistakes everyone makes

Measuring alone. We've said it, but it bears repeating — you cannot accurately measure your own sleeve. Your shoulder shifts the moment you reach across your body, and the number you get will be wrong. Every time.

Bending the elbow. Keep it natural. A bent elbow shortens the measurement, and you'll end up with sleeves that ride up every time you move. Stand like you're waiting for a coffee, not like you're posing.

Measuring to the wrong spot. The wrist bone, not the knuckles, not the middle of the hand. When the jacket is on, you want about half an inch of shirt cuff showing. The wrist bone is the landmark that gets you there.

Whoops! Something seems off? Double-check with the tape next to your body — not too loose, not too tight.

One last thing: measure both arms. Most people have one arm slightly longer than the other, and it's not always the one you'd expect. We take the longer of the two — it's far easier to shorten a sleeve than to wish it were longer.