Men's Suit Size Chart: Jacket, Pants and Length

A men's suit size chart matches your chest measurement to a jacket size, your height to a length letter, and your waist to a pant size. A 40R suit jacket fits a chest of about 40 inches (102 cm) in a Regular length. The matched pants are usually 34 inches (86 cm) at the waist. Brands draw these lines in slightly different places. Treat any chart as a starting point, then check the fit.

Key takeaways

• The number on a suit jacket is the chest size in inches. A 42 fits a chest of about 42 inches (107 cm).
• The letter is the length: S for Short, R for Regular and L for Long. Regular usually covers about 5'8" to 6'0" (173 to 183 cm).
• Suit pants are usually 6 inches (15 cm) smaller at the waist than the jacket size. This gap is called the drop, and it changes from brand to brand.
• Size charts disagree because some list body measurements and others list garment measurements.
• Between two sizes, fit the shoulders first. A tailor can fix sleeves, hems and waists, but rarely shoulders.

Men's suit size chart for jackets

The suit size chart below turns your chest measurement into a suit jacket size. Measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms, with the tape level. Your jacket size is that number in inches. Many charts list only even sizes, so a 41-inch chest falls between a 40 and a 42.

Find your chest in inches and read across. If it is 40, you wear a US 40 jacket, usually with 34-inch pants.

• A 34-inch (86 cm) chest is a US and UK size 34 and an EU size 44, usually with 28-inch pants.
• A 36-inch (91 cm) chest is a US and UK size 36 and an EU size 46, usually with 30-inch pants.
• A 38-inch (97 cm) chest is a US and UK size 38 and an EU size 48, usually with 32-inch pants.
• A 40-inch (102 cm) chest is a US and UK size 40 and an EU size 50, usually with 34-inch pants.
• A 42-inch (107 cm) chest is a US and UK size 42 and an EU size 52, usually with 36-inch pants.
• A 44-inch (112 cm) chest is a US and UK size 44 and an EU size 54, usually with 38-inch pants.
• A 46-inch (117 cm) chest is a US and UK size 46 and an EU size 56, usually with 40-inch pants.
• A 48-inch (122 cm) chest is a US and UK size 48 and an EU size 58, usually with 42-inch pants.
• A 50-inch (127 cm) chest is a US and UK size 50 and an EU size 60, usually with 44-inch pants.
• A 52-inch (132 cm) chest is a US and UK size 52 and an EU size 62, usually with 46-inch pants.

This chart uses the most common convention: the jacket size equals your body chest in inches. The last column shows the pant waist that usually comes with each jacket in a matched suit. Some brands use other conventions, which the section on why charts disagree explains.

US, UK and European suit sizes

US and UK suit sizes use the same numbers. European and Italian sizes add 10 to the US number, the rule most conversion charts follow. So a US 40 is an EU 50, and a US 44 is an EU 54.

What does the number on a suit jacket mean?

The number on a suit jacket is the chest size in inches. A size 40 jacket is cut for a man with a chest of about 40 inches (102 cm). The jacket itself measures more than 40 inches around the chest. That extra room is called ease, and it lets you move and button the jacket over a shirt.

A full suit label has three parts:

1. The number is the chest size in inches, such as 42.
2. The letter is the length, such as L for Long. So 42L means a 42-inch chest in a Long length.
3. The pant size is often printed separately as waist and inseam, such as 36/32.

Where is the size tag on a suit jacket?

The size tag on a suit jacket is usually a small label inside the inner chest pocket. If it is not there, check the lining around the pocket and the inside of the collar. Some jackets have no size tag at all. A secondhand jacket may have had its tag cut out. A custom jacket is cut for one person, so it carries no standard size. In both cases, measure the jacket instead, as shown below.

What do S, R and L mean on a suit?

S, R and L on a suit stand for Short, Regular and Long. The letter after the size number gives the length of the jacket body and the sleeves. A 40S, a 40R and a 40L have the same chest size. The Long has a longer body and longer sleeves than the Regular. The Short has a shorter body and shorter sleeves. Some brands also sell Extra Long for very tall men.

Short vs. regular suit jacket

A Short suit jacket has a shorter body and shorter sleeves than a Regular with the same chest size. Shorts are made for men under about 5'8" (173 cm), and Regulars for men from about 5'8" to 6'0" (173 to 183 cm). The line between Short and Regular falls anywhere from 5'7" to 5'9" (170 to 175 cm), depending on the brand. Choose the Short if a Regular feels long in the body and the sleeves hide your shirt cuff.

Regular vs. long suit jacket

A Long suit jacket has a longer body and longer sleeves than a Regular with the same chest size. It is made for men taller than about 6'0" (183 cm). The line between Regular and Long falls anywhere from 5'11" to 6'2" (180 to 188 cm), depending on the brand. Choose the Long if a Regular stops short of your seat or shows too much shirt cuff.

How to choose S, R or L

To choose S, R or L, start with your height. Then check your arm length and torso length, which decide the letter better than height does. Brands set the height bands differently. The table shows the bands on four suit charts.

Near 5'8" or 6'0"? Brands split there, so try both lengths before you buy.

• On a US online suit shop's chart, Short is under 5'9", Regular is 5'9" to 6'0", and Long is 6'0" to 6'4".
• On a US suit outlet's chart, Short is under 5'8.5", Regular is 5'8" to 6'0", and Long is 6'0" to 6'4".
• On a UK suit brand's chart, Short is 5'7" to 5'9", Regular is 5'9" to 6'0", and Long is 6'0" to 6'3".
• On a US suit store's chart, Short is about 5'4" to 5'7", Regular is about 5'8" to 6'1", and Long is 6'2" and up.

In centimeters: 5'4" is 163 cm, 5'7" is 170 cm, 5'8" is 173 cm, 5'8.5" is 174 cm, 5'9" is 175 cm, 6'0" is 183 cm, 6'1" is 185 cm, 6'2" is 188 cm, 6'3" is 191 cm and 6'4" is 193 cm.

The bands overlap near 5'8" and 6'0" (173 and 183 cm). If you sit near one of those lines, try both lengths. Pick the one whose body covers your seat, because jacket length is hard to alter. A tailor can then set the sleeve to show about a quarter to half an inch (6 to 13 mm) of shirt cuff. A man with long arms for his height can need a Long at 5'11" (180 cm). For where the hem should fall, see the guide to how long a suit jacket should be.

Suit pants sizes and the drop

Suit pants are sized by the waist and the inseam in inches. A 34/32 pant has a 34-inch (86 cm) waist and a 32-inch (81 cm) inseam. The drop is the difference between the jacket size and the pant waist. A 40 jacket with 34-inch pants has a 6-inch drop.

A 6-inch (15 cm) drop is the usual standard for US suits, but it is not fixed. One US designer label's chart for matched suits uses a 7-inch drop for sizes 36 to 44 and a 6-inch drop for sizes 46 to 50. A UK suit brand gives a drop of 7 to 8 inches for an athletic build and 4 to 5 inches for a fuller build. The names change too: one menswear brand calls a 6-inch drop slim and a 4-inch drop regular.

Pant waist in the 4 or 8 column? Look for a suit cut with that drop, or buy the pieces as separates.

• A size 38 jacket pairs with 34-inch pants at a 4-inch drop, 32 at a 6-inch drop and 30 at an 8-inch drop.
• A size 40 jacket pairs with 36-inch pants at a 4-inch drop, 34 at a 6-inch drop and 32 at an 8-inch drop.
• A size 42 jacket pairs with 38-inch pants at a 4-inch drop, 36 at a 6-inch drop and 34 at an 8-inch drop.
• A size 44 jacket pairs with 40-inch pants at a 4-inch drop, 38 at a 6-inch drop and 36 at an 8-inch drop.
• A size 46 jacket pairs with 42-inch pants at a 4-inch drop, 40 at a 6-inch drop and 38 at an 8-inch drop.

The drop measures width, not length. It has nothing to do with S, R or L. If your own drop is far from 6 inches, buy the jacket and pants as separates. Separates let you choose each piece in its own size.

How to measure yourself for a suit

Four measurements give you a suit size:

1. Chest: measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms, with the tape level.
2. Waist: use the first number on pants that fit you well. A 34/32 pant gives a 34-inch waist. Your pant size is not the same as a tape measurement of your body waist, so read the label instead.
3. Inseam: use the second number on the same pants, here 32 inches.
4. Height: stand against a wall without shoes.

Wear a thin shirt and stand relaxed. Ask someone to hold the tape if you can. The step-by-step guide to measuring for a suit covers the shoulders, sleeves and the other measurements a tailor takes.

How to find your size from a jacket that fits

The fastest way to find your suit size is the tag on a jacket that already fits you well. If the shoulders sit right and the jacket buttons without pulling, its size is your size. If it is a little big or a little small, move one size down or up. SARTORO's online sizing tool, the Digital Tailor, uses the same shortcut: it asks for the size on a jacket that fits you.

If the jacket has no tag, lay it flat and measure four things:

1. Chest: button the jacket and measure straight across from armpit to armpit. Double the number.
2. Shoulders: measure across the back from one shoulder seam to the other.
3. Sleeve: measure from the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve.
4. Length: measure the back from the base of the collar to the hem.

Compare these numbers with a chart that lists garment measurements, not body measurements. The garment chest is always larger than your body chest because of the ease. One US online suit shop, for example, lists the garment chest of a size 40 jacket at about 41.5 inches (105 cm).

Why do suit size charts disagree?

Suit size charts disagree because they measure different things. Size labels use one of three methods: your body measurements, the measurements of the garment, or a plain code such as 40 or L. The background to the European sizing standard EN 13402 describes this split. Ease adds a second layer. Every brand builds its own amount of extra room into the jacket.

The result is three live conventions for the same size 40:

• Where the size equals your chest, a size 40 fits a chest of about 40 inches (102 cm), as on a UK suit brand's chart.
• Where the size is the top of a 2-inch range, a size 40 fits a chest of 38 to 40 inches (97 to 102 cm), as on a US online suit shop's chart.
• Where the size is your chest minus 2 inches, a size 40 fits a chest of about 42 inches (107 cm), as on a US suit rental brand's chart.

Take a man with a 41-inch (104 cm) chest. Where the size equals the chest, he falls between a 40 and a 42. Where the size tops a 2-inch range, a 42 covers a 40 to 42 inch chest, so he is a 42. Where the size is the chest minus 2 inches, he is a 38 or a 40. Before you use any chart, check whether it lists body or garment measurements. Then measure the same thing it lists.

Three worked examples

The three worked examples below show how the chart, the length bands and the drop work together:

1. 41-inch chest, 35-inch waist, 5'10" (178 cm): he sits between a 40 and a 42. The 42 is the safer choice, because a tailor can take a jacket in but can add very little room. A 42 suit comes with 36-inch pants at a 6-inch drop, and a tailor can take the waist in by an inch. Every chart in the length table puts him in Regular. His size is 42R.
2. 44-inch chest, 40-inch waist, 5'7" (170 cm): his drop is 4 inches. A matched 44 suit at a 6-inch drop comes with 38-inch pants, 2 inches too small. He needs separates or a suit cut with a 4-inch drop. All four charts in the length table call him Short. If his arms are long, he should try a Regular too. His size is a 44S jacket with 40-inch pants.
3. 42-inch chest, 32-inch waist, 6'1" (185 cm), athletic build: his drop is 10 inches, more than the 6 to 8 inches of most matched suits. A 42 jacket with 36-inch pants would need 4 inches taken in at the waist. Separates fit him better: a 42 jacket and 32-inch pants. Three charts call him Long and one calls him Regular, so his arm length decides. If his shoulders are broad, a 42 can feel tight across the back, and he may need a 44. His size is 42L or 44L with 32-inch pants.

What a size chart can't tell you

A size chart can't tell you how a suit will fit your shape. It works from two or three numbers. One number cannot describe the fit of many garments, which is one of the problems EN 13402 was written to address. Six things a chart misses:

• Shoulder width and slope: square or sloping shoulders change how the jacket sits at the collar.
• Posture: a forward stance or a very upright one changes how the front and back of the jacket hang.
• Seat and hips: two men with the same waist can need very different pants through the seat.
• Arm length: long or short arms for your height change the sleeve, whatever your letter.
• Chest and stomach: a jacket sized for the chest can pull at the button if the stomach is fuller.
• Uneven shoulders: if one shoulder sits lower, the jacket can hang unevenly.

These are common reasons a man falls between sizes. The guide to how to dress for your body type shows how each body shape changes the cut.

Between sizes: should you size up or down?

If you are between two suit sizes, you should size up when the smaller jacket is tight in the chest or the shoulders. A tailor can take a jacket in, but there is little spare fabric to let it out. The exception is the shoulders. If the shoulder seams of the larger size hang past your own shoulders, it is the wrong size, because shoulders are the hardest part to alter.

Smaller size tight in the chest or shoulders? Size up, because a jacket can usually be let out only about half an inch.

• Pants hem: Easy. A routine change at most tailors.
• Pants waist: Easy. Taking in is simple. Letting out depends on spare fabric.
• Sleeve length: Easy. A routine change at most tailors.
• Jacket waist: Easy. Taking in is simple.
• Letting out the jacket: Limited. Seams often hold only about half an inch (13 mm).
• Jacket length: Hard. Only about half an inch to an inch (13 to 25 mm), per SARTORO's jacket length guide.
• Shoulders: Hardest. The cost can approach the price of the suit, per SARTORO's alteration cost guide.

The guide to what each suit alteration costs lists typical prices.

How should a suit fit once you know your size?

Once you know your size, you should check the fit of each part of the suit. A size only gets you close. Each part has its own guide.

How should a suit jacket fit?

The shoulder seam of a suit jacket should end where your shoulder ends. The guide to how a suit jacket should fit covers the chest, sleeves and collar.

How long should suit pants be?

Suit pants should reach the top of your shoe with a small fold at the front, or none. The guide to how long suit pants should be explains the break and the hem.

How should the whole suit fit?

A whole suit should sit without pulling or sagging when you stand, sit and move. The full checklist for how a suit should fit walks through each point.

How sizing works for a custom suit

A custom suit is cut from your own measurements, so it has no size number. At SARTORO, those measurements are stored in a Fit Profile, a map of your body measurements used for every garment you order. You build it in the cart after you pick a garment. The SARTORO Digital Tailor builds it in as little as 60 seconds, and the tape measure is optional. It asks for your usual off-the-rack jacket size with S, R or L, your pant waist and your inseam, so knowing your chart size helps. If you don't know your jacket size, it lets you enter your chest measurement instead. It also asks about the things a chart misses, such as shoulder slope, stance and arm length. SARTORO's experts review the data before production. If the fit still needs work, the SARTORO Fit Promise reimburses a local alteration up to its covered limits. If the garment can't be altered, SARTORO remakes it free. The same process applies to men's custom suits, custom jackets and blazers and custom pants.

Frequently asked questions

What does 42L mean in suit size?

42L means a 42-inch chest in a Long length. It fits a man with a chest of about 42 inches (107 cm) who is taller than about 6'0" (183 cm). The matched pants are usually 36 inches (91 cm) at the waist.

Is 42R a medium or large?

A 42R falls in the medium-to-large range, and the exact letter depends on the brand. Letter sizes are not standard for suit jackets, so check the brand's own chart. The number is more precise than the letter.

What size suit am I?

On most charts, your suit size is your chest measurement in inches plus a length letter. Measure your chest, find it in the chart above, and add S, R or L for your height and arm length. Your pant waist is usually 6 inches less than the jacket size.

Do suit jackets have sizes on them?

Yes, off-the-rack suit jackets have a size on a label, usually inside the inner chest pocket. Custom jackets often have none, because they are cut for one person.

What size is 32 in suit pants?

A size 32 suit pant has a 32-inch (81 cm) waist. At the usual 6-inch drop, it comes with a size 38 jacket.

What is a drop 6 in a suit?

A drop 6 suit has pants 6 inches (15 cm) smaller at the waist than the jacket size, such as a 40 jacket with 34-inch pants. It is the usual drop for US suits.