Education
Belt Sizes: How to Measure and Pick the Right One
ยท Trevor Wing
The short answer
Your belt size is the length from the buckle to the hole you use most, rounded to the nearest inch. If you don't have a belt that fits, add 2 inches to your pant waist size. A 34 waist wears a size 36 belt.
Three ways to get there, best first:
- Measure a belt that already fits you
- Measure around your waist through the belt loops of your pants
- Take your pant size and add 2 inches
How to measure your belt size
- Measure a belt that fits. Lay it flat. Measure from the fold behind the buckle to the hole you use most, not the whole length. Round to the nearest inch. That's your size.
- Measure through your belt loops. Put on the pants you'll wear the belt with. Thread a tape measure through the loops, snug but relaxed, without sucking in. Round to the nearest inch. No extra inches to add.
- Use your pant size. Add 2 inches to the size on the tag. Add 3 or 4 for low-rise pants or jeans.
Measure a belt you already own if you can. Pant size plus 2 works as a rough guide, but a belt that fits beats a number on a tag.
Belt size chart: pant size to belt size
| Pant size (tag) | Belt size | Low-rise or jeans | Belt size in cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 32 | 33-34 | 81 |
| 32 | 34 | 35-36 | 86 |
| 34 | 36 | 37-38 | 91 |
| 36 | 38 | 39-40 | 97 |
| 38 | 40 | 41-42 | 102 |
| 40 | 42 | 43-44 | 107 |
| 42 | 44 | 45-46 | 112 |
| 44 | 46 | 47-48 | 117 |
Between sizes, stretch, and centimeters
- Which hole should you use? Aim for the middle hole when the belt is fastened. That leaves room to go tighter or looser, and a couple of inches of tail past the buckle.
- If you're between sizes, go up. Belts come in whole inches. A belt that's slightly big can take an extra hole. A belt that's too small can't be fixed.
- Leather gives a little. A new leather belt can feel snug at first and settles in with wear. Don't size up a full inch to fix that.
- Centimeters. One inch is 2.54 cm, so a size 36 belt is about 91 cm. Brands measure differently, so check a belt you own against the brand's chart before you order.
Straight answers
What size belt do I need?
Measure from the buckle to the hole you use most on a belt that fits, and round to the nearest inch. No belt to measure? Add 2 inches to your pant size.
Is belt size the same as pant size?
No. A belt is usually 2 inches bigger than the tag on your pants, because the belt wraps around the outside of the waistband. A 34 waist wears a 36 belt.
What size belt for a 34 waist?
A 36 for regular pants. For low-rise pants or jeans, a 37 or 38.
How do you measure a belt?
Lay it flat and measure from the fold behind the buckle to the hole you use most. Don't measure the full length of the strap, tail included.
What if I'm between sizes?
Go up to the next size. A belt that's slightly big can take an extra hole, and a belt that's too small can't be fixed.
How do belt sizes in cm work?
Multiply the inch size by 2.54. A size 36 belt is about 91 cm. Brands measure differently, so check against a belt you own.