What is the average shoulder width for men?

In US active-duty adults (ANSUR II, 2012), the average (mean) shoulder width is about 41.6 cm, with a standard deviation of 1.9 cm. Source: ANSUR II — 2012 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel (NATICK/TR-15/007).

How do I know if my shoulder width is small, average, or large?

Enter your measurement above and the tool places it on the bell curve for US active-duty adults (ANSUR II, 2012), returning an exact percentile (the share of people whose shoulder width is smaller than yours). It is a fitting reference, not a judgement — every result is handled the same way.

Does my shoulder width affect how a suit fits?

Yes — and that is the point. Off-the-rack clothing is graded around the middle of the curve, so any distance from average makes mass-produced garments fit worse. A custom suit from Nathan Tailors in Hoi An is drafted to your actual shoulder width, so your proportions become the pattern.

Average shoulder width for men

Enter your measurement to see exactly where you land — and what it means for how a suit should be cut for you.

Quick answer

The average shoulder width for men is 41.6 cm, and most fall between 39.7 and 43.5 cm (US active-duty adults (ANSUR II, 2012)). Enter yours below to see your exact percentile.

Free · No sign-up · Public anthropometric data · A tailoring reference, not health advice.

Your shoulder width

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The average

41.6cm

average shoulder width for men*

Enter your measurement above to see where you land.

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“This was my first time buying suits online so I was a bit apprehensive. However, the online order form was both easy to use and very thorough, and they did a video call with me to make sure of a couple of measurements that were out of the normal range. Two suits and a shirt arrived here in New Zealand in less than two weeks, are well-made, and fit perfectly. I'm thrilled with the service.”

* ANSUR II, n=4,082 · a tailoring reference, not health advice.

Method & download the data yourself

Average shoulder width 41.6 cm (SD 1.9). We rank you by the normal curve: percentile = Φ((your value − average) ÷ SD).

Method: Average and standard deviation computed directly from the published per-person data.

Note: Measured on U.S. service members, who tend to run leaner and more muscular than the general public — read this as an active-adult reference, not the "average American".

License: Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Download the full reference table (CSV)View as JSON Original source & raw data

Shoulder width: common questions

What is the average shoulder width for men?: In US active-duty adults (ANSUR II, 2012), the average (mean) shoulder width is about 41.6 cm, with a standard deviation of 1.9 cm. Source: ANSUR II — 2012 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel (NATICK/TR-15/007).
How do I know if my shoulder width is small, average, or large?: Enter your measurement above and the tool places it on the bell curve for US active-duty adults (ANSUR II, 2012), returning an exact percentile (the share of people whose shoulder width is smaller than yours). It is a fitting reference, not a judgement — every result is handled the same way.
Does my shoulder width affect how a suit fits?: Yes — and that is the point. Off-the-rack clothing is graded around the middle of the curve, so any distance from average makes mass-produced garments fit worse. A custom suit from Nathan Tailors in Hoi An is drafted to your actual shoulder width, so your proportions become the pattern.

Other measurements

Average chest size · 105.9 cm Average waist size · 103 cm Average neck size · 39.8 cm Average bicep size · 35.8 cm Average forearm size · 31 cm Average shoulder circumference · 117.9 cm Average thigh size · 62.5 cm Average hip size · 105.6 cm Average calf size · 39.2 cm Average arm / sleeve length · 89.6 cm Average wrist size · 17.6 cm Average height · 175.1 cm Average weight · 90.3 kg

How to measure your shoulder width · All body-measurement percentiles · What suit size am I?