How to measure a polo shirt
Every point, drawn on the garment so there is no guessing where the tape goes.
Quick answer
Lay the polo flat and measure eight points: chest, length, shoulder, sleeve (upper, lower and cuff), waist and hem, in that order of fit-impact. Chest leads, taken one inch below the armhole, and the cuff is the ribbed band most guides skip. Tap each step on the diagram to see where the tape sits.
A polo shopper reads chest first, then length, because a knit polo clings closer than a woven shirt and an inch of chest changes how it drapes. Eight points define the fit. Plenty of listings stop at chest and length, which leaves the sleeve band and hem a guess. Here every point is drawn on the garment itself.
- A
Chest
The measurement a buyer trusts most, taken straight across the body one inch below where the sleeve meets the side seam. Tap this step to see the exact line. On a piqué knit the chest reads close to true, so do not tug the fabric wide.Double it for the full chest circumference.
- B
Length
A single run from the high shoulder point down to the bottom hem. Tap the step to find where the line begins, following the garment rather than the placket. Length decides whether the polo sits at the belt or rides above it.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- C
Shoulder
Seam to seam across the back. This sets how wide the polo sits before the short sleeves begin, and it is the first thing a buyer notices on the hanger.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- D
Sleeve A
The upper run of the short sleeve, from the shoulder seam toward the band. Splitting the sleeve keeps a short polo sleeve from disappearing into one rounded number.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- E
Sleeve B
The lower sleeve run, from where the upper sleeve ends to the ribbed cuff. On most polos this is short, but it tells a buyer exactly where the sleeve stops on the arm.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- F
Cuff
Across the ribbed band at the sleeve opening, measured relaxed. This band hugs the arm, so tap the step to see the precise span and resist stretching the rib flat.Double it for the cuff circumference.
- G
Waist
Across the body at its narrowest point below the chest. A slim polo pulls in here; a classic-cut polo runs nearly straight from chest to hem.Double it for the full waist circumference.
- H
Hem
Across the bottom opening, often where a side vent sits. A straight hem reads casual and boxy; a tapered hem suits a tucked look.Double it for the full hem circumference.
Lay the polo flat and smooth, never stretched, and let the ribbed collar and sleeve bands relax before you read them. Chest, waist, hem and cuff are across measurements that double to a body circumference. Length, shoulder and the two sleeve runs are single passes recorded as taken. With a stretchy knit, an honest relaxed number beats one pulled tight.
Polo shirt size reference
| Size | Chest | Length | Shoulder | Sleeve | Waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 19.5 | 27.5 | 17 | 8 | 18.5 |
| M | 21 | 28.5 | 17.5 | 8.5 | 20 |
| L | 22.5 | 29.5 | 18.5 | 9 | 21.5 |
| XL | 24.5 | 30.5 | 19.5 | 9.5 | 23.5 |
| 2XL | 26.5 | 31.5 | 20.5 | 10 | 25.5 |
Frequently asked
Do I measure a polo shirt stretched or relaxed?
Relaxed, every time. A piqué or jersey knit gives under tension, so a stretched reading inflates the chest and waist and the polo arrives tighter than the chart promised. Lay it flat, let the ribbed collar and cuffs settle, then take each number against still fabric. That relaxed figure is the one a buyer can repeat at home.
Which polo measurements double and which stay the same?
Chest, waist, hem and cuff are taken across one flat layer, so you double each for the body circumference. Length, shoulder and the two sleeve runs are single passes along the garment and stay exactly as measured. A 21 inch flat chest, doubled, is roughly a 42 inch body chest.
What size polo shirt am I if my chest is 40 inches?
A 40 inch body chest usually lands at a medium in standard men's polos, near a 20 to 21 inch flat chest on the garment. Knit polos vary with fabric weight and cut, so a slim medium can feel a size tighter than a classic medium. For the full US, UK and EU breakdown see our men's international size chart.
How is measuring a polo different from a t-shirt?
The flat points are nearly identical, chest, length, shoulder, sleeve, waist and hem, but a polo adds a structured collar and ribbed sleeve bands that should be read relaxed, not flattened. The placket also makes the front slightly less flexible than a plain tee, so smooth it straight before measuring the length.
Should I list polo measurements in inches or centimeters?
List whichever your buyers use, but stay consistent and label the unit. A seller shipping across borders does best showing both, since one market reads inches and another centimeters. Sizely puts both units on every chart so no buyer has to convert in their head.
Related size charts & tools
Men's international size chart
Women's international size chartSources: Sizely garment engine, spec #108 (Short Sleeve Polo Shirt), eight named measurement points. ISO 8559 garment-measurement reference (representative ranges only). Last verified June 2026.
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