How to Measure for a Jacket Size

To measure your jacket size, wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms and level across your shoulder blades, while breathing normally. That chest number is what jacket sizes are built on. Then take your waist, sleeve and back length so you can confirm the row on any size chart.

This page is part of our jacket fit and size guide.

Key takeaways- Chest is the primary jacket measurement for men, bust for women.- Measure sleeve from the shoulder point down the outside of a slightly bent arm to the wrist.- Jacket length is measured down the back from the base of the collar.- Measuring a jacket that already fits you, laid flat, is a good cross-check.

What you need

• A soft, flexible tape measure, cloth or plastic.
• A helper. Leather Collection's measuring tips say a second person should take the measurements.
• Paper or your phone to write each number down straight away.
• A thin shirt or bare skin. Sources disagree here: the store's measuring tips say bare skin, while its biker jacket page says a thin shirt.

Stand tall with your muscles relaxed and feet together. Keep the tape flat and snug: no sagging, no pinching.

Step 1: Measure your chest (or bust)

Pass the tape under your armpits, over your shoulder blades and across the fullest part of your chest, keeping it level. This is how the European sizing standard, EN 13402, defines chest girth. Breathe normally while you read it.

Women take two numbers on many leather charts: bust (breast) at the fullest point, and chest just under the bust.

Step 2: Measure your waist

Waist placement varies by chart, and Leather Collection's own pages give three versions: about 2 in (5 cm) below the navel, your natural waist, or level with the top of the hip bones. Use whichever point the chart you are ordering from names, and breathe out normally.

If your belly measures more than your chest, size the jacket for the belly. Our full guide on how to measure your waist for a jacket goes deeper.

Step 3: Measure sleeve length

Let your arm hang relaxed with the elbow slightly bent. Measure from the point of the shoulder, down the outside of the arm, past the elbow, to the wrist. You should only just feel the tape.

Some brands use a different method: from the center base of the neck at the back to the wrist. The two methods give different numbers, so check which one a chart uses before comparing.

Step 4: Measure shoulder width

Measure across your back from one shoulder tip to the other. A wall helps: stand against it, mark both shoulder tips, step away and measure between the marks. Shoulders matter because a shoulder seam in the wrong place cannot be fixed by a tailor.

Step 5: Measure jacket length

For back length, measure down your back from the base of the collar to where you want the jacket to end. For a bomber, Leather Collection measures from the base of the neck to where the hem should sit.

Decide the end point first. A bomber ends around the waistband or hip, while a riding jacket should reach your belt line standing.

Step 6 (made-to-measure only): Extra measurements

Leather Collection's custom form includes shoulder width from sleeve joint to sleeve joint and bicep at its widest with the muscle taut. Neck is taken about 0.8 in (2 cm) below the Adam's apple.

These come from a custom order form, so take them only if your order asks for them.

Cross-check: measure a jacket that fits you

Lay a jacket you like flat and zipped. Measure width from armpit to armpit, and length from the high point of the shoulder to the bottom of the hem. Compare these with a brand's garment chart if it gives one.

Do not compare a flat jacket number with a body chart. A body chart lists your measurements, so a jacket's own measurements will be larger because they include room to move.

Turning your numbers into a size

Find your chest on the brand's chart, then confirm waist and sleeve on the same row. Do not rely on the letter alone; sizes differ between brands.

Sources: Leather Collection men's jacket chart; EN 13402 letter codes.

For a full chart, see the motorcycle jacket size chart and measuring guide. Buying a bomber? Our bomber jacket sizing guide shows how to choose between two sizes, and how a bomber jacket should fit covers the try-on.

Common measuring mistakes

Send your numbers for a custom fit

Once you have your numbers, you can order a standard size or have a jacket cut to them. Leather Collection custom leather jackets take your chest, sleeve, waist and length, and a consultant checks the measurements before the leather is cut.

FAQ

What is 42R vs 42L?

Both are a size 42; the number relates to chest size. The letter is the length: R is regular and L is long, usually chosen by your height.

What number corresponds to a jacket size XL?

It depends on the brand. On the leather chart above, XL is US 46 or 48 (EU 56 or 58). The European standard defines men's XL as a 110-118 cm (43-46 in) chest.

How do I measure chest width?

For sizing, measure chest girth all the way around, not width. To check a jacket's width, lay it flat and measure armpit to armpit.

What is the correct size for a men's jacket?

The one whose chest row matches your chest girth, with waist and sleeve close on the same row.