How Long Should a Belt Be? The Right Tail Length

Fastened on the middle hole, a belt's tip should pass the first belt loop and stop before the second. That leaves a tail you can see and keep tidy. If the tip doesn't reach the first loop, the belt is too short. If it flops past the second, it's too long.

The short version

• Fasten on the middle hole.
• The tip should clear the first loop.
• It should not reach the second.
• Several holes should remain on both sides.
• The size is the issue, not the tail alone.

The test

Put the belt on and fasten it on the middle hole. Look at the tail:

• Tip passes the first loop, stops before the second: right.
• Tip doesn't reach the first loop: too short.
• Tip passes the second loop: too long.

The belt should also have holes on both sides of the one you use, so it can adjust.

Why the middle hole

A belt sized for you fits on the center hole with room on either side. That gives you a spot to go tighter and a spot to go looser. If you sit on the last hole, the size is wrong.

Which way it points

On a man's belt, the tail usually points to the wearer's left. See how to wear a belt.

If the length is wrong

1. Too long. Go down a size, or have it shortened. Many makers can cut it.
2. Too short. Go up a size.
3. It fits on the last hole. The size is off. Re-measure.

For the process, see belt sizes.

Length and size are different

"Size" is the distance from the buckle to the center hole. "Length" is the full strap. A size 36 belt is longer than 36 inches in total because of the tail and buckle.

Try it on first

A customer once ordered a radio strap a size too large and never tried it on. That is when you can fix it for free, so I ask people to check the fit before they exchange anything for color, buckle or damage. A fit check takes two minutes.

Measure first with the size chart, then pick from all belts.

Straight answers

How much should a belt stick out?

Past the first loop, not the second.

Which hole should I use?

The middle one.

Is a belt too long if it passes the second loop?

Yes.

Can a belt be shortened?

Often, yes.

What if I'm between sizes?

Measure again. Size up if you're unsure.

Reference: Belt (clothing) on Wikipedia.