Knowing how to take body measurements is the foundation of good fit. Whether you are sizing a sample, building a size chart, or fitting a model, accurate measurements are what keep your garments consistent. This is how to take them properly and turn them into specs a factory can use.
What You Need
Use a soft measuring tape, the kind used for sewing. Measure over light clothing or a base layer, keep the tape snug but not tight, and keep it level all the way around. Write each number down as you go.
The Key Points to Measure
For most garments, these are the body measurements that matter:
- Chest or bust: around the fullest part, under the arms, tape level
- Waist: around the natural waistline, the narrowest part of the torso
- Hips: around the fullest part of the seat
- Shoulder width: from one shoulder point to the other across the back
- Sleeve length: from the shoulder point to the wrist, arm slightly bent
- Inseam: from the crotch to the ankle, along the inside of the leg
- Neck: around the base of the neck
Measure each point the same way every time so your numbers stay comparable across people and styles.
Body Measurements vs Garment Measurements
A body measurement is not the same as a garment measurement. Clothes need ease, extra room added for comfort and movement, so a garment is usually larger than the body at the same point. How much ease you add depends on the fit you want: close, regular, or relaxed. Your tech pack records the finished garment measurements, not the raw body numbers.
Turning Measurements Into a Size Range
Once you have a base size, you grade it: scale the measurements up and down in even steps to create your other sizes. Consistent grading is what makes a size Medium feel like a Medium across every style you release.
These measurements live in the points-of-measurement section of your spec. For how that fits into the wider document, read what a tech pack is and our spec sheets guide.
Document It Properly
Accurate measurements are only useful if they are recorded clearly for your factory. Grab our free tech pack template to lay out your points of measurement, or have Aria, Tchpack's AI assistant, build the full tech pack from your design and match you with a manufacturer to make it.