Dress Shirt Size Calculator for Men

Find your dress shirt size from your neck and sleeve: collar and sleeve size like 15½/34, European collar size, and how to measure both.

Updated

in

Where the collar sits, with two fingers under the tape.

in

From the center back of your neck, over the shoulder, to the wrist, with the elbow slightly bent.

Your shirt size

15½/34

Enter your neck, and your sleeve if you have it, to see the collar and sleeve size to order.

A dress shirt size has two numbers: the collar and the sleeve. A 15½/34 shirt has a 15½-inch collar and a 34-inch sleeve. The collar comes from your neck measurement, and the sleeve runs from the center back of your neck to your wrist.

How to measure your neck for a shirt

  1. Stand straight and relaxed, without a shirt or with an open collar.
  2. Wrap a soft tape around your neck where a shirt collar sits, just below the Adam’s apple.
  3. Slide two fingers under the tape so it isn’t tight. That allowance is what lets you breathe and turn your head with the top button done.
  4. Read the number. Collars come in half-inch steps, so if you land between two, go up to the larger one.

No tape? Lay a shirt whose collar fits you flat, open the top button, and measure from the center of the button to the far end of the buttonhole.

How to measure your sleeve length

  1. Stand with your arm relaxed at your side and the elbow slightly bent.
  2. Put the end of the tape at the center back of your neck, at the base where the collar seam sits.
  3. Run it across the top of your shoulder, down the outside of your arm, to your wrist bone.
  4. Round to the nearest whole inch. That’s your sleeve size.

This is easier with a second person holding the tape at your neck.

Shirt collar size chart: US, UK and European

US and UK collars are measured in inches, and European collars in centimeters. Use the measurement with two fingers of room.

Neck measurement Collar (US/UK) Collar (European)
14 in 14 36 cm
14.5 in 14½ 37 cm
15 in 15 38 cm
15.5 in 15½ 39 cm
16 in 16 40/41 cm
16.5 in 16½ 42 cm
17 in 17 43 cm
17.5 in 17½ 44 cm
18 in 18 45/46 cm

Fitted sleeves vs range sizes (32/33, 34/35)

Some dress shirts list one exact sleeve length, such as 34. Others are sold in two-inch ranges, such as 34/35, made to fit both lengths. If your sleeve is 34, look for a 34 or a 34/35.

How a dress shirt should fit

  • Collar: buttoned, you can slide two fingers inside it without strain.
  • Shoulders: the shoulder seam sits at the edge of your shoulder.
  • Sleeves: the cuff reaches the base of your thumb and stays put when you reach forward.
  • Body: no pulling across the buttons and no big billows of fabric at the waist when tucked. Slim, tailored and classic fits change only the body, not the collar or sleeve.

With a suit or blazer, about a quarter to half an inch of shirt cuff should show below the jacket sleeve. The suit size calculator covers the jacket side. For what goes underneath, see what to wear under a dress shirt, and for color, what to wear with a pink shirt.

Shirt Size FAQs

What does 15½/34 mean on a shirt?

15½/34 means a 15½-inch collar and a 34-inch sleeve. The collar is measured around the neck, and the sleeve from the center back of the neck to the wrist.

Should I round my neck size up or down?

Round up. Collars come in half-inch steps, and a slightly loose collar is comfortable while a tight one can’t be fixed. If you measure 15.25 inches with two fingers of room, order a 15½.

What is a 16-inch neck in European sizes?

A 16-inch collar is a 40 or 41 in European sizes, depending on the brand. European collars are measured in centimeters.

Does slim fit change my shirt size?

No. Slim fit changes the cut of the body, not the collar or sleeve. A 15½/34 slim fit has the same collar and sleeve as a 15½/34 classic fit, with less fabric through the chest and waist.