Dress Shirt Sleeve Length

Although it is not difficult to find the right sleeve length for your shirt, many people ignore this detail when putting on a suit. Maybe they just don’t know how the suit should fit, but it’s also possible that they don’t know how to measure sleeve length.

This can come even after doing a Google search. Although this might sound like your exact situation, I won’t let you go out in clumsy sleeves. Regardless of whether you have actually measured the appropriate size, I encourage you to continue reading. Here, you will learn all about dress shirt sleeve lengths to ensure an appropriate fit. 

 

Shirt Sleeve Sizes

Before you learn how to measure sleeve length, you need to know some information about reading formal shirt sizes. The size label on the formal shirt will contain 2-3 numbers. The first number, which is usually between 13 and 20, is the neck size. 

These are usually whole numbers, but some brands do offer half-size formal shirts. The next number is the sleeve length. When the size covers multiple sleeve lengths (for example, 32 to 33), it is usually formatted with a dash. 

Most brands of formal shirts offer sleeve lengths between 31 and 39. Finally, you may see “Slim” or “Cut” on the size label of a formal shirt. 

 

Finding Your Sleeve Length

As long as you understand how a formal suit should fit, trying on a formal shirt is an easy way to determine sleeve length and size. Make sure you wear a light T-shirt and try on as many formal shirts as you need until you find the right style. You may still want to visit a showroom or store (or try on at home), but you don’t need to measure.

After finding the right size, write it down. Remember to pay attention to the “slim fit” or “classic” on the size label. If you cut it wrong in the future, you will notice the difference. Check out our article on shortening dress shirt sleeve length and sleeve garters for more information. 

Unfortunately, the days of using the Internet to teach your dog how to measure sleeve length are coming to an end. Proprietary fitting and sizing technology (like many clothing brands) makes it easier than ever to find your formal shirt sleeve size.

For lots of people, their suit size is a bit mysterious. It doesn’t matter-we will ask simple questions that most people already know the answers to height, weight, age, body shape, and shoe size. 

If you know your fit preference (slim fit, classic, etc.) or formal size, we will also use it. (If not, that’s great.) Then, we use data collected from hundreds of thousands of customers to calculate the size that is most likely to suit you.

 

Measuring Your Sleeve Length

If you need to rent from a traditional physical evening dress shop, measurements are essential. Fear not, for I have you covered. Below, you will find instructions for measuring sleeve length and formal shirts as accurately as possible to get the best results. We have a full guide on measuring sleeve length separately.

 

Sleeve Measurement

Keep your shoulders relaxed and your arms at your sides. Place the tape measure on the edge of the shoulder (armhole) and measure straight down to the point where the wrist meets the hand.

It is important to choose sleeve length correctly, but if you don’t want to learn how to measure sleeve length, find a tailor in your area who can do the work for you. This way, you are sure to get precise measurements.

If you’re doing it on your own, you’re going to need to measure other parts of your dress shirt to ensure proper sleeve length. Let’s briefly go over them below.

 

Neck Measurement

When you lay the shirt flat, the neck circumference measures in inches, from the buttonhole to the button. This range of measurement is usually 14 to 18 inches. When you have the right measurement, the collar should be easy to close, leaving room for two fingers. If you can fit any more fingers, the neck is too loose. If you can’t fit at least two fingers, the neck is too tight.

With that said, you can get away with having an imperfect collar size if you don’t plan on buttoning the top button. The neck is really only of absolute import if you wear a tie or bowtie.

To ensure that you buy a dress shirt with the kind of collar you need, I recommend that you measure your actual neck size. To do this, simply use a fabric tape measure while standing in front of a mirror. 

 

Shoulder Measurement

The seam between the sleeve and the body of the dress shirt should reach the upper shoulder area. Brands that produce mass selections tend to cut their shirts too large, which they do to ensure that they can accommodate more people. The problem with this practice, however, is that you often see seams slip down the arms. A full guide on how to measure shoulder width here.

If the shoulder seam reaches the neck area, it means the shirt is too tight. This problem is often due to the shape of the armholes. 

 

Chest Width Measurement

A tight chest width makes it difficult to move comfortably, whereas a loose chest width looks baggy and unappealing. Remember, the key is to eliminate restriction while looking good at the same time. If you’re wearing a dress shirt, it’s safe to assume that you are in some degree of a formal setting.

As such, you want to make sure that you look your best at all times. Having a partially untucked dress shirt is not the look you’re going for. 

 

Yoke Measurement

The seam that runs between your shoulder blades is called the yoke; from one shoulder to the other. The reason this seam needs to be measured correctly is so that you have just the right amount of range for comfortable movement. Too much, and you will have a sagging yoke. Too little, and it’s hard to bend or stretch.

 

Armholes

Let’s start with the often overlooked armholes on dress shirts. Ideally, they should be as small as possible without restricting your arm movement. As such, you should be able to straighten your arms slightly. Therefore, you need to leave a little space in the armholes so that there is really no restriction when you pull it forward with the ability to move freely.

So, why is this type of fit important? If the armhole is too big, raising your arm will cause you to pull on shirt fabric around the waist, thereby untucking your shirt. If you’re wearing a jacket and decide to take it off, your dress shirt will look unattractive. Here's also a guide on how to measure your waist, as well as a comparison between modern fit vs slim fit.

A simple remedy for this common problem is to make sure that you have proper armholes on your dress shirt. Still, there are other parts of the dress shirt that you need to account for, and in doing so, they all come together to provide the right fit.

Sleeve Cuff

The cuffs are so wide that they can easily slide over your wristwatch. What’s more, they also have enough space to place a few fingers between the fabric and your wrist. When arms rest on a flat surface (such as a table), creases or wrinkles appear in the fabric of the cuff. This means you need to use the buttons on the cuff to reduce or expand the size.

You can’t take off the shirt sleeves without unbuttoning the cuffs (or snaps). The cuffs press on the skin around the wrist, making you feel as if they are squeezing your wrist. To fix this issue, you should choose a larger size.

The cuffs should fit snugly against the skin and leave space between the fabric and the wrist. Furthermore, the dress shirt can be easily put on and taken off without unfastening the cuffs, and there are almost no wrinkles. If you often wear a watch, it is best to adjust the cuff size to match your watch.

 

Valuable Tips for Measuring Sleeves

It is good to take measurements professionally, and expert guidance can really help. If you are not confident in your ability to measure yourself and cannot choose a fit technique, please use the following tips to make the most of your fit:

Have a Photo Handy

If you have a specific look and you want to-slim, etc.-bring a photo for reference. If you don’t, you have to trust the eyes of the person who measures your jacket.

Wear a Dress Shirt

Let the person measuring you know how well you like formal wear.

Listen to the Experts

If they make suggestions that you did not expect, please ask a few questions and seek their opinions before you are fully released on bail.

In Closing

You are sure to get proper sleeve length when you measure each part of your dress shirt accordingly. Remember, you can always go to an experienced tailor if you’d rather leave it to a professional. Yes, it’s an extra expense, but you won’t have to worry about errors in your measuring.

 

FAQs

1. What sleeve length is 34 35?

A shirt with a 34/35 sleeve length really has a 34.5-inch sleeve. The 34/35 indicates that the shirt is suitable for people wearing a 34 or 35. Often, mass producers use combo sleeve lengths to reduce the number of separate sizes they need to stock.

2. How do I know my sleeve length?

The length of your sleeve can be determined by:

- Take a measurement from the back of your neck (at the spine) to the end of your shoulder at the top of your arm.
- To determine the length of your shirt cuff, measure the distance from your shoulder to your wrist bone.

3. What is the average men's sleeve length?

For males, the average sleeve length is 32 to 33 inches, but it does not mean that you are average. Please take a moment to determine your sleeve length.