How to Measure for a Kilt

To measure for a kilt, you need three numbers: your kilt waist, taken snugly around your belly button; your seat, taken around the widest part of your hips and bottom; and your kilt length, from your belly button to the middle of your kneecap. Take them in inches with a soft tailor's tape, and ask someone to help with the length.

It takes about five minutes, and it is the most important part of buying a kilt. A made-to-measure kilt is cut and pleated to these numbers, so a mistake of an inch or two shows. Below we go through each measurement, the mistakes that cause most fitting problems, and what to do if you are buying a full outfit.

What You Need Before You Start

• A soft tailor's tape measure. Not a metal DIY tape. If you don't have one, use a piece of string and measure it against a ruler.
• A helper. You can take your own waist and seat, but you cannot measure your own length accurately. The moment you look down, the number changes.
• Light clothing. Measure over a thin shirt or underwear only. A jumper or thick jeans can add half an inch or more.
• Inches. Most kilt makers work in inches, so use that side of the tape.

Stand relaxed, feet together, looking straight ahead. Breathe normally. Holding your stomach in is the quickest way to end up with a kilt that pinches by lunchtime.

The 3 Kilt Measurements at a Glance

How to Measure Your Kilt Waist

A kilt sits much higher than trousers. It is worn at your natural waist, which for most men is level with the belly button. Wrap the tape around your body at that height, keep it level all the way round, and pull it snug. You should just be able to slide one finger under the tape.

Don't use your trouser size. Jeans sit on the hips, and the size on the label is often smaller than your real measurement. Most men find their kilt waist is 2 to 4 inches bigger than their trouser size. That is normal, and it is the number the kilt maker needs.

If you carry weight around your middle, measure at the widest point of your stomach, close to the belly button. A kilt worn below the stomach tends to slide down, which is why where a kilt sits matters as much as its size.

How to Measure Your Seat (Hips)

Empty your pockets, stand with your feet together, and measure around the widest part of your hips and bottom. Keep the tape level, front and back. This one should be relaxed, not tight, so the pleats can hang straight and open when you walk.

The seat matters more than people think. The straps at the waist can be adjusted by an inch or so, but the hips of a kilt can't. A kilt that is too tight across the seat pulls the pleats open at the back, which looks untidy and wears the cloth.

How to Measure Your Kilt Length

Length is where most mistakes happen. A traditional kilt finishes at the middle of the kneecap. There are two ways to measure it, and both need a helper.

The Standing Method

Stand straight, feet together, looking ahead. Your helper holds the end of the tape at your belly button and runs it straight down the side of your leg to the middle of your kneecap. Don't look down while they do it, because tilting your head drops your waist and shortens the number.

The Kneeling Method

Kneel upright on a hard floor (not carpet), with your back straight. Your helper measures from your belly button straight down to the floor. Then take off about 1 inch. When you stand up, a kilt this length will finish around the middle of the knee, and its hem will just brush the floor when you kneel. Many kilt makers prefer this method because it is easier to keep the tape straight.

Which Length Is Right for You?

For most people, mid-knee is right. Pipers and military-style kilts are often worn a little shorter, at the top of the knee. If you are unsure, go with mid-knee: a kilt that is slightly long looks fine, but one that is too short looks like a mistake.

Some kilts also have a rise, a strip of cloth above the buckles that sits higher on the body. If you are ordering a kilt with a rise, tell the maker, because it changes where the length is measured from.

Height and Weight: Why Kilt Makers Ask

Many makers ask for your height and weight as well. They use them as a sense check. If your length doesn't match your height, they will usually get in touch before cutting the cloth. Measure your height barefoot, standing against a wall on a hard floor.

6 Common Measuring Mistakes

1. Giving your jeans size. Your kilt waist is almost always bigger.
2. Holding your stomach in. You will be wearing the kilt for hours. Measure relaxed.
3. Measuring your own length. You will lean or look down. Get a helper.
4. Measuring over thick clothes. A jumper or belt adds bulk.
5. Measuring at hip height. That is where trousers sit, not kilts.
6. Measuring once. Do it twice. If the numbers differ by more than half an inch, measure a third time.

Measuring for a Full Kilt Outfit

If you are buying a complete kilt outfit, you will need a few more measurements for the jacket, shirt and hose.

A Prince Charlie jacket is cut short at the front so it sits above the sporran, so measure your chest carefully rather than guessing from a suit size.

Measuring From a Kilt You Already Own

If you have a kilt that fits well, use it for the length. Lay it flat and measure down the front apron, from the top edge to the hem. Length is the hardest number to get right on yourself, so this is a handy shortcut.

Take your waist and seat on your body instead. A kilt you bought years ago may have been made for a different waist, and the straps may have stretched.

Women's and Children's Kilts

Women measure the same three points, but many women's kilts sit a little lower, and the length can be anything from above the knee to the ankle. Tell the maker where you want the waist to sit and measure from there. Kilts for women also fasten on the opposite side to men's.

For children, measure the waist at the belly button with one finger inside the tape for room. Children grow fast, so many parents choose a kilt with extra length in the hem or adjustable straps. Kids' kilts also come in standard sizes, which saves measuring every year.

Made to Measure, Ready Made or Hire?

Once you have your numbers, you can compare them with a standard kilt size chart. If you fall between sizes, or your waist and seat are quite different, made to measure is worth it. An 8 yard kilt in particular is usually made to your exact measurements. For a single wedding, kilt hire might suit you better, and hire shops still need these same three numbers.

When you are ready, you can order made-to-measure tartan kilts using the measurements above.

Kilt Measuring FAQs

What measurements do I need for a kilt?

You need your kilt waist (at the belly button), your seat (the widest part of your hips) and your kilt length (belly button to mid-knee). Many makers also ask for height and weight as a check.

Is my kilt size the same as my trouser size?

No. A kilt is worn higher than trousers, at the natural waist, so most men's kilt waist is 2 to 4 inches bigger than their trouser size.

Can I measure myself for a kilt?

You can measure your own waist and seat, but you need a helper for the length. Looking down or bending while you measure makes the length too short.

How long should my kilt be?

A traditional kilt finishes at the middle of the kneecap. A quick check is to kneel upright: the hem should just touch the floor.

Should the waist measurement be tight or loose?

Snug. The straps hold the kilt up, so the waist should be as tight as you want the kilt to be, with room for one finger under the tape.

Do I measure in inches or centimetres?

Most kilt makers work in inches, so measure in inches if you can. If you only have centimetres, say so clearly when you order.

What if my waist and hip measurements are very different?

That is exactly why a kilt maker asks for both. A made-to-measure kilt is tapered between the waist and seat to fit your shape.

How much adjustment do kilt straps give?

Usually an inch or two at the waist. That helps if your weight changes a little, but it can't fix a kilt that was ordered in the wrong size.

What if I measure wrong?

Measure twice before ordering, and use your height as a check on your length. If anything looks odd, contact the maker before the cloth is cut, as made-to-measure kilts are hard to alter afterwards.

Do I need different measurements for a utility kilt?

Usually just waist and length. Many utility kilts are worn a little lower, so measure where you plan to wear it and check the maker's guide.