How to Tell if a Suit Fits You Just Right

The ideal suit fit for a professional, polished look

Co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: July 1, 2024 Fact Checked

When it’s time to get dressed up for a formal occasion, having a suit that fits correctly ensures you look your best. We’ll walk through how all the pieces of a men’s suit should look, from the collar of the jacket to the hem of the pants. Stick around to get our top tips on how a women’s suit should fit, as well!

Proper Suit Fit

The jacket collar should lie flat against the back of your neck.
The shoulder seams should be on top of your shoulders without wrinkles or divots.
The sleeves should look crisp and end just above the cuffs of your dress shirt.
The jacket should be free of creases when you button it and end just above your first thumb knuckle.
The pants should fit comfortably around your waist and rear, and the hems should rest on top of your shoes.

1

Jacket Collar

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With a proper suit jacket fit, your collar should lie flat against your dress shirt. Both collars should hug tightly against the back of your neck, but not so tight that they dig into your skin.^{[1]
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- Your suit is too big if there’s a gap between your shirt collar and the back of your neck or if the fabric bunches up.
- Your suit is too small if your collar presses into your skin or if the fabric bunches up on the back of your neck.

2

Jacket Shoulders

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When you have a jacket that fits perfectly, the seams should sit on top of your shoulders and stop right where your shoulder meets your arm. The fabric should lay flat so that you can comfortably move your arms around without resistance.^{[2]
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- Your suit is too big if divots or wrinkles form on the shoulders or if the seams are not lined up with the tops of your shoulders.
- Your suit is too small if the seam comes closer to your neck and ends before your arm.

3

Jacket Sleeves

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When you put on a suit jacket, the armhole should end just below your armpit.^{[3]
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- Your suit is too big if your sleeves extend past your wrist or hands.
- Your suit is too small if there are angled creases in the sleeves when you relax your arms or if your dress shirt’s cuffs are completely exposed.

4

Jacket Closure

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When you button your suit jacket, wardrobe specialist Chloe Ohayon-Crosby says, “You should be able to lift your arms without it being too tight and…without the buttons pulling.” The fabric on the front and back of your jacket should lay smooth and flat.^{[5]
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- Your suit is too big if there is baggy or excess fabric, or if there is space between your dress shirt and your jacket lapels.
- Your suit is too small if the fabric forms X-shaped creases across the front or back of the jacket.

5

Jacket Length

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When you have your jacket on and your arms at your sides, the bottom of the jacket should line up with the first knuckle of your thumb.The back of the jacket should also cover the seat of your pants while you’re standing.^{[6]
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- Your suit is too big if the jacket extends past the ends of your fingertips or if the fabric bunches up.
- Your suit is too small if the jacket stops at your wrist or higher.
Michael Kors, Fashion Designer

Invest in a suit that fits perfectly. "A man in a well tailored suit will always shine brighter than a guy in an off-the-rack suit."

6

Pants Waist

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When your waistband is just below your belly button, your suit pants should feel snug against your stomach after you tuck in your dress shirt.^{[7]
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- Your pants are too big if the waistband sags or your pants feel loose.
- Your pants are too small if you feel uncomfortable pressure on your stomach.
- Some suit pants have adjustable waistbands or belt loops so you can make small changes to the size.^{[8]
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7

Pants Seat

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The seat of your pants should fit snugly but still allow you to move comfortably. The fabric should lay smooth so it doesn’t have any creases or folds along the back or bunch up along your upper thigh.^{[9]
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- Your pants are too big if the fabric bunches up along your upper thigh or the seat of your pants sags.
- Your pants are too small if the pockets bulge out from your sides or if the fabric pulls tightly when you move around.

8

Pants Length

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If your pants fit correctly, they should rest on top of your shoes to form a trouser break, or a slight wrinkle right above the hem. The break size on your suit depends on your personal style, but slimmer suits look better with a smaller break and wide-leg suit pants work best with a larger break.^{[10]
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- Your pants are too big if the fabric extends past the tops of your shoes, looks baggy, or forms multiple wrinkles above the hem.
- Your pants are too small if they end above your ankle or if the fabric bunches up tightly on your legs.

9

Dress Shirt

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The shirt collar should hug your skin without being too tight. The shoulder seams should follow the top of your shoulder and the sleeves should be wrinkle-free and end at your wrist. Button up the shirt and make sure the front and back of the shirt look crisp. Move your arms around to check that your shirt doesn’t pull.^{[11]
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- Your dress shirt is too big if your shirt balloons out above your waistband, the fabric bunches up, or the sleeves extend past your wrist.
- Your dress shirt is too small if the buttons form creases across your torso or the shirt limits your mobility.

10

How should a suit fit for women?

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While women’s suits can vary a little more in how they look, follow these basic fit tips:^{[12]
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- Jacket Sleeves: The bottom of the jacket and the ends of the sleeves should not end at the widest points of your body, such as your bust, stomach, or hips.
- Jacket Shoulders: The jacket shoulder seams should end where your shoulder meets your arm.^{[13]
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- Jacket Closure: You should be able to comfortably cross your arms without the fabric pulling or feeling tight.^{[14]
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- Pants Waist: The pants waist should fit snugly below your belly button without sagging. Your jacket should cover your waistband when you raise your arms.
- Pants Length: The hems of your pants should end on top of your shoes with a small break (or crease) at the front of each leg if you’re wearing straight- or slim-leg pants. The hem should be about ¹⁄₄–¹⁄₂ inch (0.64–1.27 cm) from the ground if you're wearing wide-leg or boot-cut pants.
- Skirt: Pencil or A-line skirts for suits should end just above or just below your knees.

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Tips

Ohayon-Crosby recommends getting a suit fit by a tailor so you take the correct measurements. She mentions that “if you're going to a department store, it's a complimentary service for them to measure you.”

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