How to Measure Your Belt Size

Belts are one of the most popular accessories out there. It’s a tool with a two-fold purpose. It can make a statement if you let it, and it holds up your pants! Your belt ties your whole outfit together, centering itself at your midsection, drawing the eyes to it and you. Because of this you would think most people would know their belt size or, at least, how to find it.

Instead, most people struggle to find their ideal belt because they don’t know how to measure their belt size. Many brands have different methods to find belt sizes, which makes things even more confusing. Additionally, your dress or pant size is not the same as your belt size.

You might find yourself wondering, what size belt do I need? How do I measure my belt size? Here’s how you can find your belt size, how belts are sized, what belt sizes look like for men versus women, and more!

How Are Belts Sized?

Belts are sized based on the measurement from the point where the buckle and strap meet to the middle fastening hole. Usually, there are 15 to 20 centimeters from the edge of the belt to the middle hole that is not used for the belt’s measurement this extra section is the part that sticks out after you finish fastening your buckle. The standard width for a belt is 1 to 1 ½. These sizes are great for casual wear, while anything wider than that pairs better with suit pants. The width of a belt is measured from the last belt hole to the end of the belt below the last hole.

How to Measure Your Belt Size?

There are a few different ways that you can measure your belt size. Check them out below.

Measure Your Waist with a Soft Tape Measure.

A soft tape measure, like the ones used by seamstresses and tailors, is the best way to find your belt size. Slide a soft tape measure through your pant loops and make a noticeable spot on the area where the soft tape measure reaches around your hips only one time. That’s it!

You may find that your hip circumference doesn’t precisely match a belt size. If that’s the case, choose a belt size that’s not far from your measurement. It’s often best to go up one size rather than down.

If you don’t have a soft tape measure, no worries! You just have to get a little creative. Cord, cable, ribbon, or thread can also work. Thread your material of choice through the loops of your pants, make a noticeable spot on the area where the thread or cord reaches around your hip once, and then measure that distance with a standard tape measure.

Use an Old Belt

If you have an old belt that still fits, you can use it to get your belt size. We would like to mention that the old belt doesn’t have to fit perfectly. It can be a little small or a little big. All you have to do is use a folding ruler or a measuring tape to measure the length from the hole that fits you the most comfortably to the inner end of the buckle. For reference, you’ll most likely want to measure to the hole with the most wear and tear.

Can I Find My Belt Size Based on My Pant Size?

We want to stress that pant size IS NOT the same as belt size. This is a very common mistake that people make when looking for a new belt. The general rule of thumb is actually to add two inches to your pant size to get your belt size.

To clarify, if you have a pant size of 32, add 2 to 32, and that’s your belt size. So your belt size would be 34. If your pant size is 36, add 2 to 36, your belt size is 38, and so on. This is not the ideal choice for finding your belt size, but it’s a quick method for those who don’t have the ability or time to measure themselves.

Still, measuring is the best method because the perfect belt size will fit comfortably when initially bought on the middle hole. This is because if you fluctuate in weight or the material stretches, you’ll have additional holes to work with.

Belt Sizes for Men

Here is a chart with the most common belt sizing metrics for men.

Belt Sizes for Women

Here is a chart with the most common belt sizing metrics for women.

Wrapping Up

Measuring your belt size can seem intimidating, but once you know the process behind it and how to find your perfect belt size, it becomes a lot easier. With these tips, you can be sure that you’ll always have a good quality belt that fits perfectly!

Here on the Doshi Blog, we want to encourage and support people in buying and wearing vegan and ethical products. Vegan belts are just as timeless as genuine leather belts, and they also have price advantages! When you compare vegan belts to ones made of genuine leather, you’ll often find that vegan options are cheaper.

Interested in purchasing a vegan belt? We offer handmade, designer vegan belts for men and belts for women.