How to Measure Your Shoulders

Shoulder width determines how a shirt or jacket sits at the top — get this wrong and nothing above the chest looks right.

Steps

1. Wear a well-fitting shirt, or measure directly on bare skin with a helper.
2. Locate the bony point at the edge of each shoulder (where your arm meets your shoulder).
3. Measure straight across your back from one point to the other, letting the tape follow the natural curve of your shoulders — don't pull it flat and taut.
4. Read the measurement.

Why it's hard to measure alone

Shoulder measurement is genuinely difficult to do accurately on yourself, since you can't see your own back. If possible, ask someone to help, or use a shirt that already fits well as a reference instead.

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