How to measure a blouse
Every point, drawn on the garment so there is no guessing where the tape goes.
Quick answer
Lay the blouse flat and measure ten points in fit order: bust, length, shoulder, upper sleeve, lower sleeve, arm, forearm, cuff, waist and hem. The bust leads, taken across the fullest part below the armholes, the line that decides whether a blouse pulls or sits clean. Tap each diagram step to place the tape. Sizely makes a chart buyers trust.
On a women's blouse the bust is the fit-decider, so a shopper checks it before anything else, then reads down to waist and sleeve. A blouse that gaps at the bust is the most common return, which is why this point comes first. Generic guides show three or four numbers. This page draws all ten on the real garment, the sleeve and forearm runs included.
- A
Chest
Listed as the bust, the number a shopper checks first. With the front fastened, run the tape straight across the fullest part, just below the armholes, edge to edge. Tap this step for the exact line. It decides whether the blouse buttons clean or gaps.Double it for the full bust circumference.
- B
Length
A single vertical run from the high shoulder point down to the bottom hem. Tap the step to see where the line starts, so you follow the garment and not a curved hem.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- C
Shoulder
Across the back from one shoulder seam to the other, where each sleeve sets in. On a blouse this sets how the neckline and bust sit before the sleeves take over.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- D
Sleeve A
The upper sleeve run, from the shoulder seam toward the elbow. Splitting the sleeve keeps a long bell or fitted sleeve from disappearing into one rounded total.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- E
Sleeve B
The lower sleeve run, from where the upper sleeve ends to the cuff. On a long-sleeve blouse this is usually the longer of the two.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- F
Cuff
Across the very end of the sleeve, the opening the hand passes through. On a buttoned cuff measure it closed, since that is the size the wrist actually meets.Double it for the cuff circumference.
- G
Waist
Across the body at its narrowest, usually mid-torso on a blouse. A shaped or darted blouse pulls in here; a boxy one reads close to the bust.Double it for the full waist circumference.
- H
Hem
Across the bottom opening, edge to edge. A wide hem reads relaxed, a narrow hem tapers toward the body. On a tunic hem measure the straight part, not the curve.Double it for the full hem circumference.
- I
Arm
Across the widest part of the sleeve near the top, the bicep line. A shopper with fuller arms reads this before trusting a fitted-sleeve blouse.Double it for the full arm circumference.
- J
Forearm
Across the sleeve lower down, toward the wrist. Tap the step to find the spot. It shows whether the sleeve narrows to the cuff or stays loose.Double it for the full forearm circumference.
Measure flat and never stretched. Smooth the blouse on a hard surface, close any front placket so the bust reads as a full layer, and keep the tape relaxed against the fabric. The across points, bust, waist, hem and cuff, double for a body circumference; length, shoulder, the two sleeve runs, arm and forearm are recorded exactly as measured.
Blouse size reference
| Size | Bust | Length | Shoulder | Sleeve | Waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 16.5 | 24 | 14 | 22.5 | 15 |
| S | 18 | 24.5 | 14.5 | 23 | 16.5 |
| M | 19.5 | 25 | 15 | 23.5 | 18 |
| L | 21.5 | 26 | 15.5 | 24 | 20 |
| XL | 23.5 | 27 | 16 | 24.5 | 22 |
Frequently asked
Where exactly is the bust measured on a blouse?
Straight across the fullest part of the chest, just below where the sleeve seams meet the body, with the blouse laid flat and the front fastened. Measuring higher catches the armhole and reads too wide; measuring lower drifts toward the waist. The bust is the single best predictor of whether a blouse fits, so it is worth getting the line right.
Do I double the bust measurement on a blouse?
For the flat chart number, no, record it as measured. To estimate the body circumference, double the across points: bust, waist, hem, arm, forearm and cuff. Length, shoulder and the two sleeve runs are single passes, so the flat number is already the real one. Most charts list the flat number because a buyer can check it against a blouse they own.
What size am I in a blouse?
Women's blouse sizing varies widely by brand, so the tag size is a weak guide on its own. Measure the bust of a blouse that fits you well and match it to the seller's flat bust number instead. For converting between US, UK and EU labels, see our women's international size chart or the international dress size chart.
Why does my blouse gap at the bust even in my usual size?
Tag sizes do not account for bust shape, and two blouses labeled medium can differ by two inches across the bust. Gapping at the placket usually means the flat bust is too small for the body it is going over. Compare the seller's flat bust to your own measurement rather than the letter on the tag, and the gap is easy to predict before you buy.
Should I measure a blouse in inches or centimeters?
Either works, as long as you stay consistent and label the unit. Sellers shipping internationally do best showing both, since a buyer in one market thinks in inches and another in centimeters. Sizely lists both on every chart so no buyer has to convert in their head.
Related size charts & tools
Women's international size chart
International dress size chartSources: Sizely garment engine, spec #8 (Blouse), ten named measurement points. ISO 8559 body-measurement reference (representative ranges only). Last verified June 2026.
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