“I'm 1.72 m tall and weigh 68 kg, so is that a size M or L?” It's a fair question, but not a complete one. A size is only a label, and every brand has its own. What really tells you whether a jacket fits is its finished measurements: how wide across the shoulders, how many centimetres around the chest, how long the body. This article gives a reference men's suit jacket size chart for sizes S to XXL, along with how to compare it against the jacket you currently wear well, so you can choose the right size, or know when it is time to move on to made-to-measure.
The Short Answer
By the men's suit jacket size chart below, a size M has shoulders of about 44.5 cm, a chest of 104 cm, a waist of 96 cm, a jacket length of 72 cm and a sleeve length of 60.5 cm. Each size steps up by about 1.5 cm at the shoulder and 4 cm at the chest. Compare it with the jacket that fits you well.
How Finished Measurements Differ from Body Measurements
This is the point where most people get confused. Body measurements are the dimensions of you. Finished measurements are the dimensions of the completed jacket, measured lying flat. Between the two there is always a gap called ease, so that you can move.
- A suit jacket's chest circumference is usually about 8 – 12 cm larger than the wearer's chest. A slim cut has less ease, a classic cut more.
- A jacket's shoulder width is roughly equal to the wearer's shoulder width, differing by no more than 1 – 1.5 cm. The shoulder seam must sit right at the tip of the shoulder bone.
- Sleeve length should show about one to one and a half centimetres of shirt cuff when your arms hang naturally.
That is why the chart below is meant for comparing with the suit jacket you currently wear well (measured lying flat), not for comparing directly with your body measurements.
Men's Suit Jacket Size Chart: Finished Measurements by Size
The chart is a reference, based on common ready-to-wear measurements. Each brand has its own cut, so it may be off by 1 – 2 cm.
| Size | Shoulder width | Finished chest | Finished waist | Jacket length (back) | Sleeve length | Suitable body chest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 43 cm | 100 cm | 92 cm | 70 cm | 59 cm | 88 – 92 cm |
| M | 44.5 cm | 104 cm | 96 cm | 72 cm | 60.5 cm | 92 – 96 cm |
| L | 46 cm | 108 cm | 100 cm | 74 cm | 62 cm | 96 – 100 cm |
| XL | 47.5 cm | 112 cm | 104 cm | 76 cm | 63.5 cm | 100 – 104 cm |
| XXL | 49 cm | 116 cm | 108 cm | 78 cm | 65 cm | 104 – 108 cm |
Conventions used in the chart:
- Finished chest and waist are the flat width doubled.
- The chest-to-waist difference in the chart is 8 cm, corresponding to a regular fit. A slim fit usually differs by about 10 – 12 cm, a classic fit by about 6 cm.
- Jacket length is measured down the back, from the base of the rear collar seam to the hem.
Size M Suit Jacket Measurements: How to Compare
Many people search for exactly this: size M men's suit jacket measurements. By the chart above, size M suits a chest of about 92 – 96 cm and shoulders of about 43 – 45 cm. But remember: if the jacket you wear has a 46 cm shoulder width and fits well, then even if the label says M, you are really a size L by this chart.
Reference Trouser Measurements
A suit also comes with trousers. A reference chart by size:
| Size | Trouser waist | Hip | Outseam |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 76 cm | 98 cm | 100 cm |
| M | 80 cm | 102 cm | 102 cm |
| L | 84 cm | 106 cm | 104 cm |
| XL | 88 cm | 110 cm | 106 cm |
| XXL | 92 cm | 114 cm | 108 cm |
Trousers are easier to alter than the jacket: they can be hemmed, and the waist taken in or let out within limits. That is why, when choosing a ready-to-wear suit, you should choose by the jacket first.
How to Compare the Jacket You Wear with the Chart
- Measure the suit jacket that fits you most comfortably, lying flat. Step-by-step instructions are in the article how to measure an existing suit jacket.
- Write down five measurements: shoulder, chest, waist, jacket length, sleeve length. Remember to double the flat measurements for the chest and waist.
- Compare with each row in the chart. Shoulder width decides first, then the chest.
- If your measurements fall between two sizes, choose by the shoulder, because it is the hardest to alter.
- Note your preferences: whether you want the jacket slimmer or more relaxed than your sample jacket.
If you are interested in converting size by height and weight, the article men's suit size chart by height and weight adds that part.
When Your Measurements Fall Between Two Sizes
This is a very common situation, and the trade's rule is very clear:
- Choose by the shoulder. Shoulders that are too tight make the jacket pull and restrict movement. Shoulders that are too wide make the jacket sag, and even a tailor can't rescue it.
- Go slightly looser at the waist and chest, then ask the tailor to take in the waist. Taking in is much easier than letting out.
- Jacket length and sleeve length can be altered within limits, but shortening is easy and lengthening is hard unless there is spare fabric.
If you regularly find yourself in the situation of “a size M in the shoulders, a size L around the middle”, that is the clearest sign that ready-to-wear no longer works for you. At that point made-to-measure is the sensible choice.
Common Mistakes When Using a Size Chart
- Confusing body measurements with finished measurements. The two differ by 8 – 12 cm at the chest.
- Forgetting to double the flat measurement when comparing chest and waist.
- Choosing a size by weight and ignoring the shoulders.
- Measuring a jacket that has stretched or whose shoulders have drooped over the years, which gives measurements that are no longer accurate.
- Trusting the size label absolutely. Two jackets both marked M from two different brands can differ by 2 – 3 cm.
Tips from Mon Amie's Master Tailors
- A men's suit jacket size chart is only a starting point. In bespoke tailoring, the artisan takes more than 30 measurements of your own body, keeps them for life, does a baste fitting and adjusts until it fits perfectly. There is no more choosing between two sizes.
- If you live far away, you can use online tailoring: book a video call with a stylist and be guided step by step through measuring, or use your saved measurements.
- If you can visit a showroom, book a measuring appointment. Fifteen minutes of in-person measuring usually gives far better results than measuring yourself at home, especially at the shoulders and back. You can also explore the complete bespoke tailoring experience at Mon Amie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What measurements does a men's suit jacket include?
Five main measurements: shoulder width, chest, waist, jacket length and sleeve length. You can also measure the bicep width, sleeve opening and hem circumference. For trousers there are the waist, hip, rise and trouser length.
What are the measurements of a men's size M suit jacket?
By common reference values: shoulder width of about 44.5 cm, finished chest of about 104 cm, waist of about 96 cm, jacket length of 72 cm and sleeve length of 60.5 cm. Each brand may differ by 1 – 2 cm, so you need to compare against a jacket that fits you well.
How do suit measurements differ from body measurements?
Body measurements are your own dimensions, while suit measurements are the finished size of the jacket, usually 8 – 12 cm larger at the chest so that you can move comfortably. When using the chart, measure a jacket that fits you well; don't use your body measurements directly.
Should I choose a suit jacket size by the shoulder or the chest?
By the shoulder. The shoulder is the hardest detail to alter. The chest and waist can be adjusted within certain limits, but if the shoulder is wrong, the jacket will always have odd creases no matter how much it is altered.
Can suit measurements be used when ordering online?
Yes. You send the finished measurements of a jacket that fits you well together with a photo of it laid flat, or use the measurements already saved at Mon Amie. A stylist will guide you over a video call so the measurements are accurate.
A Final Word
A good size chart is like a map: it helps you know where you are, but it cannot replace a guide. When you find yourself always between two sizes, that is the time to let a master tailor measure you personally.