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Guide: measuring

How to measure yourself for clothes and shoes

Size charts list body measurements. Measure the way the brand does, and the chart works.

5 numbers
Bust or chest, waist, hips, inseam, foot length
Longer foot
Measure both feet, use the longer one

Nike and Zappos measuring instructions, read Oct 2, 2026.

A woman wraps a tape measure around her waist over jeans and a white t-shirt.
On this page
  1. Measure like the brands do
  2. Body measurements (soft tape, close to the body)
  3. Foot length at home
  4. Small things that change the result
  5. Size charts to use with your numbers
  6. Sources

Measure like the brands do

Nike and lululemon publish body measurements, so your tape goes on your body, not on a garment. Use a soft tape close to the body and keep it level. The steps below follow the brands' own instructions12.

Body measurements (soft tape, close to the body)

  1. Step 1

    Bust or chest

    Around the fullest part, keeping the tape horizontal1.

  2. Step 2

    Waist

    Around the narrowest part, typically where your body bends side to side, tape horizontal1.

  3. Step 3

    Hips

    Around the fullest part of the hips, tape horizontal2.

  4. Step 4

    Inseam

    From the top of the inner leg to the bottom of the leg2.

  5. Step 5

    Underbust (bras)

    Snug around the band just under the breast; round up. String and a ruler work if you have no tape3.

Foot length at home

  1. Step 1

    Paper on a hard floor

    Tape a sheet of paper to a hard, flat surface so it cannot slip4.

  2. Step 2

    Stand and mark

    Stand with your weight even; have someone mark the tip of the big toe and the back of the heel4.

  3. Step 3

    Measure both feet

    One foot is often slightly longer; use the longer measurement with the chart4.

  4. Step 4

    Wear the right socks

    Zappos says to measure standing, in the socks you will wear with the shoes5.

Small things that change the result

Between two sizes, Nike suggests the smaller size for a tighter fit or the larger for a looser one in clothing1, and sizing up in shoes4.

For children, Zappos' printable chart must be printed at 100% scale; check the scale with a quarter, a soda can or a credit card before measuring6.

Zappos also cautions that two-dimensional tools, a ruler or a foot-measuring device, only approximate shoe size, because the foot is three-dimensional and brands build on different lasts5.

Size charts to use with your numbers

How these links work: each button opens the merchant's own product page. We are not paid for these links today; we may earn a commission from purchases in the future.

Good for waist and hip, numeric 0 to 20

lululemon size guide

Measures
Waist and hip; chest for tops
Try-on
30 days at home
Open lululemon's guideOpens lululemon's site. Not a referral link.

Good for bust, waist and hip in inches, XXS to 4X

Nike size charts

Measures
Bust, waist and hip (body)
Tie-break
Bust for tops, hip for bottoms
Open Nike's chartOpens Nike's site. Not a referral link.

Sources

  1. Women's tops size chart (how to measure)Nike, read Oct 2, 2026
  2. Men's bottoms size chart (how to measure)Nike, read Oct 2, 2026
  3. Sports bra size finderNike, read Oct 2, 2026
  4. Men's footwear size chart (how to measure foot length)Nike, read Oct 2, 2026
  5. Shoe size conversionZappos, read Oct 2, 2026
  6. Kids' shoe size chartZappos, read Oct 2, 2026

About this page

We do not earn anything from purchases today. Every product link is a plain link to the merchant's own page, without an affiliate code. We may join merchants' affiliate programs in the future, and this notice will say so before that changes.

Size charts, prices and availability belong to each brand and can change. The brand's own page is the final word.

Charts give body measurements, and fit also depends on fabric and cut. FitCut Guide does not sell clothing or shoes.