Suit Size Chart: How Jacket and Trouser Sizes Work Together
A suit is two garments sold as one size, linked by a fixed difference called the drop. These charts show which trousers come with each jacket size, how European suit sizes convert, how to measure for a suit, and which parts a tailor can change.
A suit size such as 40R names the jacket: a 40 in (102 cm) chest in regular length. The trousers come in a waist that is smaller by the suit's drop, which is 6 in on most suits, so a 40R suit has 34 in (86 cm) trousers. Athletic or slim cuts use a 7 to 8 in drop, giving 32 to 33 in trousers with a 40 jacket.
- 40R jacket chest
- 40 in (102 cm)
- Standard drop
- 6 in (15 cm)
- 40R trousers
- 34 in waist
- EU size
- US chest + 10
On this page
Suit size chart: jacket and matching trouser waist
A suit's label gives the jacket size. The trouser waist follows from the drop the maker uses. This table covers the three common drops so you can see which suits come closest to your own chest and waist.
| Jacket | Chest | EU / IT | Fuller cut (4 in drop) | Standard (6 in drop) | Athletic (8 in drop) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 36 in 91 cm | 46 | 32 | 30 | 28 |
| 38 | 38 in 97 cm | 48 | 34 | 32 | 30 |
| 40 | 40 in 102 cm | 50 | 36 | 34 | 32 |
| 42 | 42 in 107 cm | 52 | 38 | 36 | 34 |
| 44 | 44 in 112 cm | 54 | 40 | 38 | 36 |
| 46 | 46 in 117 cm | 56 | 42 | 40 | 38 |
| 48 | 48 in 122 cm | 58 | 44 | 42 | 40 |
| 50 | 50 in 127 cm | 60 | 46 | 44 | 42 |
Trouser waists in this table are trouser sizes in inches (34 in is 86 cm). Suit trousers are sized at the waistband, which sits near the navel, so they usually match your belt size rather than a lower-rise jeans size. The pants size guide explains rise and waist placement.
How to work out your drop
- Find your jacket size. Measure your chest around the fullest part, under the arms, over a dress shirt. Round to the nearest even number: 41 in means trying both 40 and 42.
- Find your trouser waist. Measure where you wear dress trousers, around the navel. Do not use your jeans size, which is often 1 to 2 in smaller because jeans sit lower.
- Subtract. Chest minus waist is your drop. A 42 in chest and 35 in waist give a 7 in drop.
- Choose the cut. A drop of 5 to 7 in suits most standard suits, with the trouser waist adjusted by a tailor. For 8 in or more, look for athletic-fit suits or buy separates. For under 4 in, look for fuller-fit or separates.
When your drop is far from the maker's, buy jacket and trousers as separates from the same fabric. A 44 jacket with 34 trousers (a 10 in drop) is impossible in a standard suit but easy as separates.
Length codes: short, regular, long
The letter after the size changes jacket length, sleeve length and, in some makers, trouser inseam. The chest is the same.
| Code | Height | Jacket length vs regular |
|---|---|---|
| S (short) | 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in 163-170 cm | About 1-1.5 in shorter |
| R (regular) | 5 ft 8 in to 6 ft 0 in 173-183 cm | Base length |
| L (long) | 6 ft 1 in to 6 ft 3 in 185-191 cm | About 1-1.5 in longer |
| XL (extra long) | 6 ft 4 in and taller 193 cm and up | About 2-3 in longer |
The full explanation of jacket length by height, and of German short and long suit sizes (25 and 98 for a 50), is in the blazer size chart, since blazers and suit jackets share the same patterns.
Suit trousers: inseam and break
Suit trousers are usually sold with unfinished hems so they can be cut to length. The length you want depends on how much "break" (the fold where the trouser meets the shoe) you prefer.
| Break | Where the hem sits | Look |
|---|---|---|
| No break | Just touches the top of the shoe, no fold | Modern, suits slim trousers |
| Slight (quarter) break | Rests on the shoe with a small fold at the front | The most common choice |
| Medium (half) break | One clear fold at the front | Traditional business |
| Full break | Deep fold, covers most of the shoe laces | Classic, wider trousers |
Inseam is measured from the crotch seam to the hem. Bring the shoes you will wear to the fitting, because heel height changes where the break falls. Inseam lengths and conversions to centimeters are in the pants size guide.
How to measure for a suit
- Chest: around the fullest part, under the arms and over the shoulder blades, wearing a dress shirt.
- Overarm: around the chest and both arms at the widest point of the shoulders, arms relaxed. Rental shops use it to choose between two jacket sizes for men with broad shoulders or large arms.
- Waist: where the trousers will sit, around the navel.
- Seat: around the fullest part of the buttocks, feet together. Decides whether trousers of the right waist will be comfortable when sitting.
- Sleeve: from the shoulder bone to the wrist bone, arm relaxed. A suit sleeve should end there so 0.25 to 0.5 in (6 to 13 mm) of shirt cuff shows.
- Inseam: from the crotch to the floor, without shoes, then subtract for the break you want.
The shirt underneath sets the sleeve check and collar fit; see the shirt size chart. A matching waistcoat for a three-piece suit is sized as explained in the vest size guide, and tie length in the tie size guide.
What a tailor can and cannot alter
Routine alterations
- Trouser length and hem style
- Jacket sleeve length (best on sleeves without working buttonholes)
- Taking in the jacket waist
- Trouser waist in or out by about 1 to 2 in (2.5-5 cm), depending on seam allowance
- Tapering trouser legs
Hard or impossible
- Shoulder width
- Jacket length, beyond about 0.5 in
- Letting out the jacket chest more than a small amount
- Fixing a collar that stands away from the neck
- Lengthening sleeves with working buttonholes
This is why the rule is: buy the jacket that fits your shoulders, then tailor everything else.
Women's suits, tuxedos and boys' suits
- Women's suits use dress sizes for both pieces and are usually sold as separates, so jacket and trousers or skirt can differ by a size. Size the jacket by shoulders and bust; conversions are in the clothing size chart.
- Tuxedos follow the same chest, drop and length codes as suits. Rental shops typically ask for chest, overarm, waist, seat, height, weight and shoe size.
- Boys' suits come in numeric children's sizes (8, 10, 12, 14 and so on) and in husky cuts with a smaller drop. Buying one size up leaves room to let out the trouser hem as the child grows.
To keep a suit pressed on the move, a full-length garment bag needs to be longer than the jacket and folded trousers; see the garment bag size guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does 40R mean on a suit?
40 is the jacket chest size in inches and R is regular length, for men roughly 5 ft 8 in to 6 ft 0 in (173-183 cm). A 40R suit with a standard 6 in drop comes with 34 in waist trousers.
What is a suit drop?
The difference in inches between the jacket chest size and the trouser waist. A 6 in drop is standard (42 jacket, 36 trousers); 7-8 in is athletic or slim (42 jacket, 34-35 trousers); 4 in or less is a fuller cut for a larger waist.
What suit size is a European 50?
A US and UK 40. European suit jackets are sized by half the chest in centimeters, conventionally the inch size plus 10. Italian sizes are the same as European.
Can I buy a suit jacket and trousers in different sizes?
Yes, if the suit is sold as separates, which many retailers offer. It is the best option when your chest-to-waist difference is far from 6 in. Buy both pieces from the same fabric lot so the color matches exactly.
How much can a tailor alter a suit?
Trouser length and jacket sleeve length are routine. Trouser waists can usually be let out or taken in by about 1 to 2 in (2.5-5 cm), and the jacket waist can be taken in. Shoulders and jacket length are very hard to change, so choose the jacket by shoulder fit.