The length of a shirt sleeve?
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
September 17, 2017 5:41am CST
During my 68 years I have bought countless shirts, as have most males throughout their lives. I always buy shirts according to collar size, along with the choice of slim or regular fit. All other criteria are normally visual only, such as collar style, with or without pocket etcetera. The only reference to sleeve length is usually whether it is short or long sleeved.
Recently I was looking at buying a few non iron shirts from an online store. After selecting a shirt and collar size I attempted to add this to the basket, but encountered an error message requesting further measurements. One of these measurements was sleeve length.
I have always understood that the sleeve length was proportionate to the collar size, as would be the overall length of the shirt itself. Since I cannot be certain from which point a sleeve measurement would begin, I cannot even measure one of my current shirts as a guideline.
Have you ever bought a shirt according to sleeve length?
23 people like this
21 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
17 Sep 17
Like you write, the standard sleeve length of a shirt is proportionate to the collar size, so if you have not a standard size of arms you will have a problem with a suit jacket, as the sleeves of your shirt are supposed to be a bit more longer than the sleeves of your jacket. It is why a few brands are offering different size for the sleeves, when it comes to "business" shirts (opposed to "casual" shirts) : for example, instead of a standard 40 (collar)/84 (sleeves) cm (it would be a Medium size in UK), you can find also 40/82 and 40/86.
3 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
17 Sep 17
@Mike197602 I have seen this but do not feel confident that I would measures it accurately.
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
17 Sep 17
Charles Tyrwhitt understands that everyone has varying body shapes and sizes, that's why we offer different fits to suit all.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112876)
• El Paso, Texas
17 Sep 17
I remember mom buying patterns to make blouses for us. When it came to measuring for sleeve length she always measured from my armpit to my wrist. I suppose it would be the same for men's measurements.
She also measured around the top of my arm so that it would not fit too tightly.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
17 Sep 17
Yes I have for my nephew and son. I measured from just where the top of the shoulder is to the end of the wrist..it worked. Good luck getting the right length @Asylum. I am sure it will do fine. Is it a Ben Sherman?
You could get yourself a personal tailor lol
Hope you are keeping well this lovely weekend.
You could get yourself a personal tailor lol
Hope you are keeping well this lovely weekend.1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
17 Sep 17
@Asylum Yes a lot of shirts don´t require that when you order them, though I have seen it on occasion. I did find that when they were ordered with the sleeve measurement, they fit to a tee!
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
17 Sep 17
@TiarasOceanView Assuming that the correct measurement was supplied.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Sep 17
I would think it would be from the shoulder to the cuff of the sleeve, but you're right I never heard them ask about sleeve length except for long or short.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
17 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 That would be difficult online.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Sep 17
@Asylum I never order clothes online I have to try things on.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Sep 17
Never heard of it before. Usually when you are online you see a shirt with short sleeves or long sleeves and order what you like. Never had to measure for one. I did have to measure when I was making a sweater or sewing a shirt.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Sep 17
@Asylum you taught me something I didn't know. LOL
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Sep 17
Yes, it is not uncommon in the US to also have sleeve length. Mostly, however, on what I would call a dress shirt, not a casual plaid shirt. My husband is a 32-33 sleeve length which is an average length, he is not very tall.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Sep 17
I think lots of male online buyers are buying shirts with very short sleeves. Most, if not all, of them go to the gym to work out. They love to show off their muscular arms. That must be the reason of the message.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
17 Sep 17
I was going to say "they're pulling your leg", but I thought I'd put a more 'armless response up instead... 
I seem to recall being measured of for a suit rental one time, the guy put the tape measure on the top of my shoulder joint, asked me to bend my arm a little at the elbow, and measured down the outside of my arm, over the elbow, to the back of my wrist. Hope that helps...
I seem to recall being measured of for a suit rental one time, the guy put the tape measure on the top of my shoulder joint, asked me to bend my arm a little at the elbow, and measured down the outside of my arm, over the elbow, to the back of my wrist. Hope that helps...1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
17 Sep 17
@Asylum Or you could pop into your local Burton's and be measured up (unless Grace Bros have an outlet in your vicinity...)
John Inman was my hero in the hit comedy TV show "Are you Being Served". He was so witty, warmhearted and gay *(meaning happy) he made the whole show worth w...
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
27 Sep 17
Yes, but it seems to me there are only two sleeve sizes available. I could be mistaken. It's been a long time since I've purchased a shirt for my husband with long sleeves.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Oct 17
@Jeanniemaries That would be very annoying.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
1 Oct 17
@Asylum I never noticed until I bought a couple too long many years ago.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16762)
• China
17 Sep 17
I have not bought shirt online .I just buy them from physical stores and try them on before buy them.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19942)
• United States
17 Sep 17
I'm not a man, but that's strange measurement. I guess you measure the length of your arm for long sleeves.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
17 Sep 17
I have in the past but that was tailored stuff not off the peg.
Maybe they're making it specifically for you, I have heard of a few tailors in HK doing that where you enter the measurements and they make the suit and ship it to you.
haven't heard of it for shirts very often though.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
17 Sep 17
I don't know that the length of the sleeve is proportional to the collar size.
1 person likes this
