Shoulder width measurement is commonly used when designing or tailoring shirts, blazers or other tailored tops. Measuring the width of the shoulders requires a rather simple procedure.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Measuring the Back (Standard) Shoulder Width
Step 1. Ask someone for help
Since the standard shoulder width measurement is normally taken on the upper back, you will need another person to take the measurement for you.
If, however, you cannot find someone to help you, use the method of "Measuring the width of the shoulders on a shirt". You can use this method on your own and usually the measurement is quite accurate
Step 2. Wear a shirt that fits well
Although not strictly necessary, a tailored shirt is ideal since you can take advantage of the seams of the same as a reference point for taking the measurement with the tape measure.
If you don't have a made-to-measure shirt, any shirt that fits your shoulder area might be right for you. There is no need to measure your shirt when using this method, but a good shirt can provide you with some useful guidelines
Step 3. Stand with your shoulders relaxed
The back should be straight, but the shoulders should be relaxed and in a natural position.
Step 4. Find the tips of the shoulders
It is recognizable by the acromion, a bony part of the shoulder blade visible at the top of the shoulders.
- It also represents the meeting point between the shoulder and the arm, or the point where the shoulder begins to curve towards the arm.
- If you wear a shirt that fits you perfectly, you can take advantage of it and take it as a guide. The shoulder seams on the back of the shirt should match the tip of your shoulders.
- However, if your shirt doesn't fit, pay attention to how wide or how tight it fits over your shoulders. Then make adjustments to both ends of the shoulders to find the perfect fit.
Step 5. Measure the space between the tips of the two shoulders
The person who will help you should place the end of the measuring tape on the tip of the first shoulder, resting it. Then, maintaining the position, he must extend the tape across his back along the curve of the shoulders until he reaches the tip of the other shoulder.
- Keep in mind that the measurement should be taken at the fullest part of the shoulders. This means that, as a rule, the measurement should be taken approximately between 2, 5 and 5 cm below the neckline.
- The tape measure will not be perfectly horizontal when taking this measurement. Instead, it will have to take a slight curvature following the line of the shoulders.
Step 6. Make a note of the measurement
Here is your shoulder width measurement. Write it down so you can use it later.
- The standard shoulder width can be used for both men's and women's suits, but is mostly used for men's tailored shirts and blazers.
- The shoulder width measurement essentially represents the width that your ideal shirt size should have across the shoulder area.
- You will also need this measurement to determine the perfect sleeve length for a shirt or blazer.
Method 2 of 3: Anterior Shoulder Width Measurement
Step 1. Ask someone for help
While this measurement is taken on the front of your body, effectively making it easier for you to measure yourself, your shoulders and arms should still go down as naturally as possible during this process. Hence, it is advisable to ask someone to help you take the measurement for you.
- Remember that if you are asked to take "shoulder width measurement" and "front shoulder width" is not specified, it refers only to "back shoulder width measurement". The latter is in fact the standard size, while it is less common that the earlier one is required.
- The front width of the shoulders is usually very similar, if not quite the same, to the back one, but there may be slight differences depending on age and weight. Some conditions, such as scoliosis or osteoporosis, could cause quite noticeable differences.
Step 2. Wear a suitable shirt
To take front shoulder width measurements, look for a tailored shirt that has a wide neckline, or consider wearing a shirt with suspenders.
This measurement has to do with the support area of your shoulders, rather than the actual width of the shoulders. This way a shirt that shows the real distance between these two points is better than a fitted shirt with a standard or high neckline
Step 3. Stand with your shoulders relaxed
The back should be straight and the chest out. Keep your shoulders relaxed, with your arms hanging free at your sides.
Step 4. Find the tips of the shoulders correctly
With your fingers, press gently on the top of the shoulders and look for the point where the shoulder bones come together. Here is the front tip of the shoulder. Repeat the same process for the other shoulder.
- Ideally, the anterior tip of the shoulder should correspond, like the posterior tip, to the point from which the arm begins to descend. However, weight and age can alter this position, so the tips may not match.
- The front tip of the shoulder will actually be the outermost solid point of the shoulder, where it is still able to support the neckline or straps.
- You could use the shirt as a guideline. If the straps or neckline of the shirt are wide enough but not too wide that they come down from the shoulders, then they will be roughly aligned with the front shoulder width. The inside point of each shoulder strap or each side of the neckline will thus match the front tip of the shoulders.
Step 5. Take the measurement across the front of your body
Ask the person who will help you to place the end of the tape measure on the tip of the first shoulder by resting it. Then he must maintain the position and stretch the tape across the body along the natural curve of the shoulders until it reaches the tip of the other shoulder.
The tape measure will not be horizontal or parallel to the floor. Rather, it will have to curve slightly to follow the natural curve of the shoulders
Step 6. Make a note of the measurement
Here is the measurement of the front width of your shoulders. Write it down so you can use it later.
- Technically, the front shoulder width can be used for both men's and women's suits, but is mostly used for designing and tailoring women's suits.
- This measurement is typically used to design or tailor necklines. The front width of the shoulders is the maximum width that a neckline can take in order not to fall off the shoulders. This size also makes it easier to place the straps on the corsets, so they don't slip off the shoulders.
Method 3 of 3: Measuring the Shoulder Width on a Shirt
Step 1. Find a shirt that fits perfectly
A tailored shirt is the ideal choice, but any shirt that fits well over your shoulders will work as long as it has sleeves.
- The accuracy of your measurement completely depends on the shirt you choose to measure, so make sure you get the right one. Just to be thorough, choose a shirt that fits you as best as possible in the shoulder area. If you want a more comfortable fit, you can always add about 2.5 cm to the measurement you took earlier.
- This measurement can replace the standard back shoulder width measurement. Do not use it as a substitute for anterior shoulder width measurement instead.
- Since this measurement is not as accurate as the one you take directly on your shoulders, you should only use it if you are unable to use the traditional method of measurement.
Step 2. Straighten the shirt
Place the shirt on a table or other flat work surface. Spread it out well so that the fabric is as taut as possible.
You may feel that it is more comfortable to hold the side of your back up while taking the measurement. In reality it doesn't change much, since the position of the shoulder seams is almost always the same on both the front and back of the shirt
Step 3. Find the shoulder seams
They represent the point where the sleeves join the body of the shirt.
Step 4. Take the seam-to-seam measurement
Place the end of the tape measure over the top of one shoulder seam. Then stretch the tape measure across the shirt, until you reach the top of the seam on the other shoulder.
When crossing the shirt, the tape measure must be straight and horizontal. It must also be aligned, parallel, to the bottom of the shirt
Step 5. Make a note of the measurement
Here is your shoulder width measurement. Write it down so you can use it later.
- While not as accurate as the measurement you would get using real shoulders, this measurement will almost always be a very close approximation to actual shoulder width.
- This measurement is most often used for making men's clothing, but can be fine for making clothes for both genders.
