You need five measurements to order a leather jacket online: chest, shoulder, sleeve, waist and body length. Take them over a t-shirt with a soft tape measure, write them down once, and you will never guess at a size again.
Most returns on leather jackets happen because someone ordered the size they wear in cotton shirts. Leather sizing does not work that way, and it varies between makers. Five minutes with a tape measure removes the problem entirely.
What You Need
A soft fabric tape measure, not a metal builder's tape. If you do not have one, a piece of string and a ruler works fine. Wear a t-shirt only. Measuring over a jumper will give you numbers a full size too large. It is easier with someone helping, especially for the shoulder and back measurements.
The Five Measurements
1. Chest
Stand relaxed with your arms at your sides. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, passing under both armpits and straight across your shoulder blades at the back. Keep it level all the way round.
Do not pull tight and do not hold your breath. Breathe normally and read the number on the out breath. This is the single most important measurement, because chest size drives which size you order.
2. Shoulder
Measured across the back, not the front. Find the bony point where each shoulder ends and the arm begins. Run the tape from one point to the other, following the natural curve of your back rather than cutting straight across.
This measurement decides whether a jacket will ever look right on you, because shoulders cannot be altered on a finished leather jacket.
3. Sleeve
Bend your arm slightly, as if holding a cup. Start at the same shoulder point you used above, run the tape down the outside of your arm over the elbow, and stop at the wrist bone where your hand begins.
Measuring with a straight arm is the most common mistake. It gives a sleeve that pulls short every time you bend your elbow.
4. Waist
Around your natural waist, roughly level with your belly button. This is usually the narrowest point of your torso, above the hip bones. Again, relaxed and level, not pulled in.
Waist matters most on fitted styles such as biker and cafe racer jackets, and on women's jackets that are shaped through the middle.
5. Body Length
From the base of your neck, where the collar sits, straight down your spine to where you want the jacket to end. For a standard men's jacket that is the belt line. For most women's jackets it is the hip bone.
How to Use Your Numbers
Compare your chest measurement against our Size Guide first, then check that the shoulder and sleeve numbers for that size are within about half an inch of yours.
Three outcomes are possible:
- All five line up with one size. Order it. This is the common case.
- Chest fits one size, shoulders fit another. Go with the shoulder size. Chest can be adjusted by a tailor, shoulders cannot.
- Nothing lines up cleanly. Use the custom option and send us your five numbers. We will build to them.
If you land exactly between two sizes, the answer depends on the style of jacket rather than on your body. Our guide on whether to size up or down in a leather jacket gives the rule for each cut.
Sizes We Make
Every jacket at Leather Outlet is made to order in XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL and 5XL. There is also a custom option on every product, which costs the same as a standard size. Because nothing is pulled off a warehouse shelf, building to your measurements is part of the normal process rather than a special request.
Measuring an Existing Jacket Instead
If you already own a jacket that fits you well, measuring it flat is often more accurate than measuring your body. Lay it on a flat surface, buttoned or zipped, and take these numbers:
- Chest. Across the jacket from armpit seam to armpit seam, then double it.
- Shoulder. Seam to seam across the back.
- Sleeve. From the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff.
- Length. From the base of the collar at the back down to the hem.
Send us those numbers and tell us whether you want the new jacket to fit the same, slightly closer or slightly roomier.
Three Mistakes That Ruin the Numbers
Measuring over thick clothing. A jumper adds one to two inches to the chest. Always measure over a t-shirt.
Pulling the tape tight. The tape should sit flat against you without compressing. A tight tape gives you a jacket you cannot zip.
Rounding up to a familiar number. If the tape says 41.5, write 41.5. Rounding to 42 because that is your shirt size defeats the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure my chest for a leather jacket?
Wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of your chest, under both armpits and level across your shoulder blades. Wear a t-shirt, breathe normally, and do not pull the tape tight.
What measurements do I need to order a leather jacket?
Five: chest, shoulder, sleeve, waist and body length. Chest decides the size, shoulder confirms it, and the others fine tune the fit.
Should I measure myself or an existing jacket?
Either works. If you own a jacket that already fits you well, measuring it flat is often more accurate. Take chest armpit to armpit and double it, plus shoulder, sleeve and length.
What if my chest and shoulder measurements point to different sizes?
Go with the shoulder size. A tailor can take in the chest and waist of a leather jacket, but the shoulders cannot be reworked without rebuilding it.
Do you offer custom sizes?
Yes. Every product has a custom option at no extra cost. Send us your five measurements and we will make the jacket to those numbers.
Should I measure over a jumper if I plan to wear one underneath?
No. Measure over a t-shirt and tell us if you want extra room. Measuring over thick layers usually adds one to two inches and gives a jacket that looks oversized most of the time.
How accurate does the tape need to be?
Within half an inch is fine. Write down exactly what the tape says rather than rounding to a size you already know.
Next Step
Take the five measurements once and save them in your phone. Then check them against the Size Guide and browse Men Leather Jackets or Women Leather Jackets. If you want to understand how fit differs between a biker jacket and a Bomber Leather Jacket, that is worth reading before you choose a style. Free worldwide shipping on every order.
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