How to measure a tank top
Every point, drawn on the garment so there is no guessing where the tape goes.
Quick answer
Lay the tank top flat and measure four points in fit order: chest, waist, length and hem. Chest leads, taken across just under the armholes where the strap meets the body, the line that sets how snug a sleeveless top sits. Tap each step on the diagram to place the tape. Sizely turns the numbers into a chart buyers trust.
A tank top has no sleeves, so the fit lives in the chest and the armhole opening the strap frames. A buyer checks the chest first to know if it hugs or skims. Because there is nothing to hide behind, a snug knit tank shows every inch, which is why an honest flat chest number matters more here than on a loose tee. Generic listings give one number. This page draws all four.
- A
Chest
The first thing a buyer checks, so it leads. Lay the tank flat and run the tape straight across just below the armholes, where the strap joins the body. Tap this step for the exact line. On a fitted tank this number decides the whole look.Double it for the full chest circumference.
- B
Length
A single vertical run from the top of the strap, or the high shoulder point, straight down to the bottom hem. Tap the step to see where the line begins, since a tank measured from the strap reads longer than one measured from the underarm.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- C
Waist
Across the body at its narrowest, usually mid-torso. On a bodycon tank the waist pulls in well below the chest; on a relaxed tank it reads close to it.Double it for the full waist circumference.
- D
Hem
Across the bottom opening, edge to edge. A wide hem skims the hip, a narrow one hugs it. On a cropped tank this and the length together tell a buyer exactly where it lands.Double it for the full hem circumference.
Measure flat and never stretched, which matters most on a stretchy ribbed tank that wants to spring back narrow. Let it settle, smooth it without tugging, and read the relaxed width. The chest, waist and hem are across points that double for a body circumference; length is a single run recorded exactly as measured.
Tank top size reference
| Size | Chest | Waist | Length | Hem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 14 | 13 | 23 | 14.5 |
| S | 15.5 | 14.5 | 24 | 16 |
| M | 17 | 16 | 25 | 17.5 |
| L | 19 | 18 | 26 | 19.5 |
| XL | 21 | 20 | 27 | 21.5 |
Frequently asked
How do I measure the armhole and strap on a tank top?
The Sizely tank spec carries the four core points (chest, waist, length and hem), and the armhole reads directly off the chest line, since the chest is taken right where the strap meets the body. To capture the opening separately, lay the tank flat and run the tape along the curved armhole edge from the strap down to the side seam. For strap drop, measure from the top of the shoulder strap to the underarm. List those as extra notes when a fitted style needs them.
Do I double the chest measurement on a tank top?
For the flat chart number, no, record it as measured. To estimate the body circumference, double the across points: chest, waist and hem. Length is a single vertical pass, so the flat number is already the real one. On a stretchy tank the relaxed flat number matters most, because the buyer can reproduce it by laying their own tank down.
What size am I in a tank top?
Tank sizing runs close to the body, so match by chest rather than the tag letter. Measure the flat chest of a tank that fits you well and compare it to the seller's flat chest, then double both to think in body terms. For converting between US, UK and EU labels, see our women's international size chart or the men's international size chart.
Why does a ribbed tank measure smaller than it wears?
Ribbed knit contracts at rest and opens up on the body, so the relaxed flat width can sit several inches under the worn fit. Always measure it relaxed, never pre-stretched, and note that it is ribbed on the listing. That tells a buyer the tank will give, instead of leaving them to guess whether the small flat number means a tight top.
Should I measure a tank top in inches or centimeters?
Either is fine, 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
Men's international size chartSources: Sizely garment engine, spec #363 (Bustier Tank Top), four named measurement points. ISO 8559 body-measurement reference (representative ranges only). Last verified June 2026.
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