NathanCustom Tailors
NECK MEASUREMENT GUIDE

How to Measure Your Neck Size:
For Dress Shirts & Suits

Your neck size is the single most important measurement for dress shirts. A "size 16" shirt means a 16-inch neck. Get this wrong and nothing else matters. Here is the professional method to get it right in under 2 minutes.

2 minutes
Professional accuracy
No helper needed
Save Your MeasurementsMore Guides

What Is Neck Size and Why Does It Matter?

Neck size is the circumference of your neck measured at the base, just below the Adam's apple, where a dress shirt collar naturally sits. It is the primary sizing measurement for dress shirts -- when a shirt is labeled "16," that means it has a 16-inch collar.

Getting your neck measurement right is non-negotiable. A collar that is too tight chokes you, restricts blood flow, and makes you constantly tug at your collar. A collar that is too loose gaps open, looks unprofessional, and won't hold a tie knot properly. Whether you are buying off-the-rack from a department store or ordering a custom shirt from Nathan Tailors in Hoi An, your neck measurement is where everything starts.

Key Facts About Neck Measurement

  • ✓Measure at the base -- wrap the tape around the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple, where the shirt collar sits
  • ✓Add 1/2 inch -- add half an inch (1.25 cm) to your raw measurement for dress shirt sizing; you should fit TWO fingers between collar and neck
  • ✓Primary shirt sizing -- neck size IS the dress shirt size (a "16" shirt means a 16-inch neck)
  • ✓Common range -- most men's neck sizes fall between 14" and 18", with 15" to 17" being the most common
  • ✓Correlates with jacket size -- 15" neck is roughly a 38R jacket, 16" is ~40-42R, 17" is ~44R

Average Neck Size by Frame

Use this table to see where your measurement falls. These are general ranges -- always measure yourself for an accurate fit.

Frame SizeNeck Size (inches)Neck Size (cm)
Small14" - 14.5"35.5 - 37 cm
Medium15" - 15.5"38 - 39.5 cm
Large16" - 16.5"40.5 - 42 cm
XL17" - 17.5"43 - 44.5 cm
XXL18"+45.5+ cm

Neck Size to Dress Shirt Size Conversion

This chart maps your neck measurement to standard dress shirt sizes and approximate suit jacket sizes.

Neck (in)Shirt Size LabelGeneral SizeApprox. Jacket Size
14" - 14.5"14 / 14.5S34 - 36
15" - 15.5"15 / 15.5M38 - 40
16" - 16.5"16 / 16.5L40 - 42
17" - 17.5"17 / 17.5XL44 - 46
18" - 18.5"18 / 18.5XXL48 - 50
19"+19+XXXL52+

How to Measure Your Neck: Step-by-Step

What You'll Need:

  • Flexible fabric measuring tape
  • Mirror (to check tape position)
1

Position the Tape at the Base of Your Neck

Stand in front of a mirror. Wrap a flexible fabric measuring tape around the base of your neck, just below the Adam's apple. This is the exact spot where a dress shirt collar naturally sits -- not the middle of your neck, and not up near your jaw.

Finding the right spot: If you own a well-fitting dress shirt, button it all the way up. The tape should sit exactly where that collar band rests.

2

Keep the Tape Level and Snug

Make sure the measuring tape is level all the way around your neck -- not tilted up at the back or drooping in front. The tape should be snug against your skin but not tight. You should be able to breathe comfortably while the tape is in place.

Pro tip: Use the mirror to confirm the tape is level at the back. A common error is letting the tape ride up at the nape, which gives a smaller, inaccurate reading.

3

Read the Measurement and Add Half an Inch

Read the number where the end of the tape meets the rest of the tape. This is your raw neck circumference. Now add 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) to that number -- this gives you your dress shirt collar size.

The extra half inch provides the ease you need so the collar is not pressed against your neck. The test: you should be able to fit two fingers between the buttoned collar and your neck comfortably.

Example: If your tape reads 15.5", your dress shirt size is 16". If it reads 16", your shirt size is 16.5".

Common Neck Measurement Mistakes

❌

Measuring too high on the neck

The most common mistake. Measuring at the middle of the neck or near the jawline gives a reading that is 1-2 inches too small. Always measure at the BASE of the neck, where the collar sits.

❌

Pulling the tape too tight

A tight measurement leads to a shirt collar that chokes you. The tape should rest against your skin without compressing the flesh. Remember: you still need to add 1/2 inch on top of a snug reading.

❌

Not measuring at the base (below Adam's apple)

The neck narrows significantly above the Adam's apple. Measuring here instead of below it can underestimate your collar size by a full inch, resulting in a shirt you literally cannot button.

❌

Forgetting to add the 1/2-inch ease

Your raw neck measurement is not your shirt size. You must add 1/2 inch for a comfortable collar fit. Without this, you will buy a shirt that buttons but feels like it is strangling you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure my neck for a dress shirt?

Wrap a flexible measuring tape around the base of your neck, just below the Adam's apple, where a shirt collar naturally sits. Keep the tape level and snug but not tight. Read the measurement, then add 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) for your dress shirt collar size. You should be able to fit two fingers between the finished collar and your neck.

What is the average neck size for men?

The average neck size for men is between 15" and 16.5" (38-42 cm). Most men fall in the 15" to 17" range. Small-framed men are typically 14"-14.5", medium frames 15"-15.5", large frames 16"-16.5", and XL frames 17"-17.5". Neck sizes of 18" and above are common for larger or more muscular builds.

How much space should be between the collar and neck?

You should be able to comfortably fit two fingers between the buttoned collar and your neck. This is roughly 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) of ease. A collar that is too tight restricts breathing and causes the fabric to pull at the button. A collar that is too loose gaps visibly and won't hold a tie knot properly.

Should I measure neck above or below the Adam's apple?

Always measure just BELOW the Adam's apple, at the base of the neck. This is where a dress shirt collar naturally sits. Measuring above the Adam's apple or at the middle of the neck will give you a measurement that is too small, resulting in a collar that will not button comfortably or at all.

My neck size is between sizes -- what should I order?

If your neck measurement falls between standard half-inch sizes (e.g., 15.75"), always round UP to the next half-inch size (16" in this case). A slightly loose collar is far more comfortable than a tight one and can be easily adjusted with a tie. For a perfect fit with no compromises, order a custom shirt from Nathan Tailors -- we make every shirt to your exact measurements.

Does neck size change with weight?

Yes. Gaining or losing as little as 10-15 pounds can change your neck measurement by half an inch or more. The neck is one of the first places where weight changes become noticeable in terms of clothing fit. Re-measure your neck every 6-12 months or after any significant weight change to ensure your dress shirts still fit properly.

Eight tailoring traditions, one body

On this one, every tradition agrees.

Methodology

This guide was built from published primary sources in 8 tailoring traditions — every URL is cited inline and listed in the Sources block below. If any claim doesn't match the source it's tied to, email nathantailorshoian@gmail.com and we'll fix it the same day.

Neck circumference is the rare measurement where all eight tailoring traditions surveyed converge on the same landmark and the same method. Tape at the base of the neck — just below the Adam's apple in front, around to the C7 vertebra in back — held level and parallel to the floor.

The convention varies only in where the ease is built. American shops put it at measurement ("fit two fingers between the collar and your neck before reading the tape"). British and German pattern systems put it at construction — measure tight to skin, the pattern adds 1.3 cm. Vietnamese tailors put it at fitting, adjusting on the basted shell.

All three approaches end at the same finished collar fit. They just allocate the ease to different points in the process.

đŸ‡»đŸ‡łVietnamese

Tape at the base of the neck, level all the way around. Vietnamese shops measure tight to skin and add finger-room ease at the fitting rather than at the measurement.

Sourced fromThegioivestnam ↗

🇬🇧British / Savile Row

Tape at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple, level — "exactly where your shirt collar would normally rest." British convention is to add Âœ inch (1.3 cm) for collar ease in the pattern.

Sourced fromSavile Row Co. ↗Harvie & Hudson, Jermyn Street ↗

🇼đŸ‡čItalian

Same landmark — base of neck, below Adam's apple. Italian shirtmakers tend to cut the finished collar snugger (less ease) for the open-collar Mediterranean style, but the measurement protocol itself is unchanged.

Sourced fromWikipedia ↗

đŸ‡ș🇾American

Same landmark, with the explicit two-finger rule: "fit two fingers between the collar and your neck before reading the tape." American convention builds the ease into the measurement, not the pattern. Brooks Brothers and The Tie Bar both use this method.

Sourced fromBrooks Brothers ↗The Tie Bar ↗

đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”Japanese

Base of neck, level. The JIS L4004 national standard codifies neck/collar alongside chest and height as the three primary body measurements for adult men's clothing.

Sourced fromJapan Industrial Standards ↗

đŸ‡«đŸ‡·French

"Tour de cou" — base of neck below the Adam's apple, with 1 cm of ease added at measurement.

Sourced fromLa Bonne Taille (French) ↗

đŸ‡©đŸ‡ȘGerman (MĂŒller)

MĂŒller's "Halsumfang" — taken at the base of the neck, defined as where the neck meets the shoulders, tape passing horizontally below the Adam's apple. Ease is added in the pattern, not the measurement.

Sourced fromMĂŒller & Sohn ↗

Most common self-measurement mistake

Measuring at the narrowest point (mid-neck, above the Adam's apple) under-reads collar size by up to a full inch. Every tradition agrees: the tape goes where the collar actually sits — just below the Adam's apple, around to the C7 vertebra. This is the easy one.

Anatomical anchor

The neck narrows significantly above the Adam's apple. Measuring there under-reads by 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) — which is why every tradition specifies the base-of-neck landmark explicitly.

Sources: Proper Cloth · The Tie Bar

Sources & references

Every claim above traces back to one of these

This guide was built from primary sources in 10 tailoring traditions — Vietnamese local convention first, then British, Italian, American, Japanese, Korean, French and German pattern systems, plus anthropometric standards (SizeUSA, SizeUK, JIS L4004). Click any to read the original.

đŸ‡»đŸ‡ł Vietnamese

🇬🇧 British / Savile Row

🇼đŸ‡č Italian

  • Neapolitan tailoring
    Wikipedia
    Overview of the Neapolitan tradition (Rubinacci, Attolini, Kiton lineage) and house transmission of conventions.
  • The history and anatomy of Neapolitan tailoring
    The Rake
    Neapolitan finished cut conventions: shorter sleeve so shirt cuff peeks; spalla camicia construction.
  • Come prendere le misure
    Sartoria Rossi (Italian)
    Italian-language measurement protocol — landmark conventions identical to British, finished cut narrower in shoulders.

đŸ‡ș🇾 American

đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡” Japanese

  • JIS L4004:2001 — adult men's clothing sizing
    Japan Industrial Standards
    Japanese national standard. Chest, waist, and height are primary measurements. Based on ISO 3636:1977 with Japanese modifications.
  • SOLIT! Japanese measurement guide
    SOLIT!
    Japanese precision-millimetre measurement convention — matagshita (inseam) treated as a primary measurement.
  • Yukata / yuki measurement convention
    Wikipedia (cross-reference)
    Background on yuki — the kimono sleeve-length convention measured at 45° from C7 over shoulder to wrist. Foundational to modern Japanese yƍfuku tailoring.
  • Shoulder-width protocol
    Y-Aoyama (Japanese suit chain)
    Japanese convention: tape passes through C7, not in a straight line — reads ~0.5-1cm larger than British convention for the same body.

đŸ‡°đŸ‡· Korean

đŸ‡«đŸ‡· French

đŸ‡©đŸ‡Ș German (MĂŒller)

📊 Anthropometric / Standards

  • SizeUK survey overview
    ScienceDirect
    SizeUK (2001-2002): 5,500 men scanned in 3D, ~140 measurements per subject. Foundation of modern UK anthropometric data.
  • SizeUSA — ethnicity and BMI body shape study
    Fashion and Textiles (Springer)
    SizeUSA scan data analyzed by ethnicity — chest, waist, and other regional variations.
  • Human height — global data
    Our World in Data
    Adult male average height by country (used to triangulate inseam and shoulder-width norms).
  • Body proportions
    Wikipedia
    Leg-to-torso ratio differences by population — East Asian: shorter legs ratio; Sub-Saharan African: longer legs ratio.

🌍 Cross-tradition reference

Ready for a Perfectly Fitted Dress Shirt?

Now that you know your neck size, save your measurements with Nathan Tailors and get custom dress shirts and suits tailored to your exact specifications in Hoi An, Vietnam. No more guessing between sizes -- every collar made to fit you.

Save Your MeasurementsBrowse Shirt Fabrics

Related Measurement Guides

How to Measure Shoulder Width

Get perfect shoulder fit for jackets and shirts

How to Measure Your Chest

Professional guide for shirt and suit chest measurements

How to Measure Your Inseam

Get accurate inseam measurements for pants and trousers

All Measurement Guides

Complete library of tailoring measurement tutorials

Know Your Neck Size Now?

Save it and get custom shirts from Nathan Tailors

Get Started
How to Measure Neck Size for Dress Shirts & Suits (2026 Guide)