Creating a size chart for men’s dress shirts can seem a daunting task, mostly due to the fact that the measurements required for this garment type are more than those used for a simpler item, and to the fact that dress shirts can have different fits (regular, slim, XXX).
For an overview on how to take body measurements for a dress shirt, you can refer to this article.
Usually when it comes to shirt sizing there is no simple indication as with the classic sizing provided by the Alpha sizing system M, L or XL. Instead, the size of a men’s shirt is defined by very precise measurements. Let’s find out which ones.
Men’s Shirt Size chart – Primary measurements
As previously mentioned, when it comes to creating a men’s shirt size chart we need to take into consideration more measurements than for other, simpler garments.
Here an overview of the most common measurements to be added to a men’s shirt size guide:
Neck circumference: the measurement has to be taken with the measuring tape parallel to the floor and across the point of maximum width of the neck.
Chest circumference: the circumference of the chest, measured at the widest point.
Waist circumference: the circumference of the waist, measured at the narrowest point of the trunk.
Arm length, this measurement refers to the length of the arm measured from the end of the collarbone down until the wrist.Not be confused with sleeve length, which is a finished garment measurement and is taken from the half of the back, down along the arm and until the cuff.
In the men’s shirt size chart below, built with Sizefox, we are using the most common measurements for dress shirts.
Men’s Shirt Size chart – Secondary measurements
To better support your shoppers in choosing the right size, you might want to add more measurements to your size chart.
Here an overview of the secondary measurements for men’s dress shirts, less commonly used but still relevant depending on the model of the shirt:
Cuff circumference: useful to make sure the sleeve of the shirt closes comfortably.
Back length: the length of the back, taken from the base of the collar until the end of the shirt. This is especially relevant to guarantee a proper fit of the shirt. A shirt has to be long enough to fit inside the pants, and not too short as to risk coming out of the pants.
Bicep and forearm circumference: useful for styles which are supposed to fit tight around the body.
Men’s Shirt Fit Style
There are three main styles of men’s shirts, defined according to their fit. This allows the shoppers to avoid mistakes in choosing what is the most appropriate size, thus ensuring maximum comfort and greater ease in wearing it.
Classic fit: these models indicate regular men’s dress shirts, the most classic of all. They are characterized by a comfortable fit, a wide cut, soft armholes, absence of seams and darts on the back. Given these characteristics, the classic fit shirts are the most suitable for men with a strong build as they allow to hide rounded shapes.
Slim fit: the tight shirt for the most “fashionable”shoppers.
The slim fit shirt is usually tight on the body and arms, has narrow armholes and darts on the back. The slim fit makes this model more suitable for those who have a slim and athletic physique.
Regular fit: the regular fit men’s shirt, finally, has a slightly tighter cut than the classic fit, but not as tight as the slim fit. It is therefore more formal than the slim fit, a peculiarity that makes it suitable for any kind of look.
Tips for building Men’s clothing size charts
- Make sure to add the basic measurements we proposed above in your size chart and if possible, add as many measurements as needed to provide your shoppers with clearer indications.
- Always specify the fit of the shirt.
- Add a unit conversion chart if you are selling on several different markets.
Building Men’s shirt size charts with Sizefox
With Sizefox you can easily and quickly create Shopify size charts for men’s shirts to add in your fashion ecommerce.
It also offers a size recommender, to support shoppers in getting the right size, every time.
Distributed free of charge, Sizefox has a sleek and intuitive interface and a 15-minutes integration time.
Try Sizefox for free
