How to Fit a Tie

Co-authored by Candace Hanna

Last Updated: October 26, 2020 References

A tie is a perfect accessory to pull together a formal outfit, but it has to fit right. A good fitting tie will complement your body and should typically fall right above your belt or waist. If you're purchasing a bow tie, the selection is more based on your neck size and face shape. If you follow some simple guidelines and are able to measure yourself, fitting a tie is a breeze.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Selecting a Traditional Tie Length

1
Measure your height. If you’re unsure of your height, you can look at your driver's license or ID to get your last recorded height. If you don't have an ID or driver's license, you'll have to measure yourself. Knowing how tall you are will help you determine how long your tie should be.
2
Measure your neck’s circumference. You can measure your neck with a tape measure or go to a tailor to get it measured for you. Wrap the tape measure around your neck to get its circumference. The average neck size is between 14-20 inches (35.56-50.8 cm) in circumference. If your neck is on the larger side and you're tall, consider getting a longer tie.^{[1]
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- If you have a neck that's larger than 20 inches (50.8 cm) and you are over 6 feet (182.88 cm) tall, you should purchase a tie that's between 61-63 inches (155-160 cm) long.
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3
Get a short tie if you’re shorter than 5 ft 9 in (175 cm). A short tie is around 53-55 inches (135-140 cm) long and fits well on people who are shorter than 5 ft 9 in (175 cm). If you get a longer tie as a shorter person, it will fall too low and will look unprofessional.^{[2]
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- If you have a thicker neck but are short, you may be able to use a standard-sized tie.
- If you are 5 ft 8 in - 5 ft 9 in (168-175 cm) you may be able to get away with purchasing a standard sized tie and using a larger knot, like the Windsor knot. A large knot will cause your tie to hang higher.^{[3]
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4
Purchase a standard tie if you’re average height. If you're between 5 ft 9 in and 6 ft 3 in (175-190 cm) tall, you should purchase a standard tie. Standard ties are between 57-58 inches (145-147 cm) long.^{[4]
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5
Get a longer tie if you’re taller than 6 feet (1.8 m) 3 in (190 cm). A long tie is approximately between 61-63 inches (155-160 cm) long. If you’re a taller person, then you’ll have to compensate by buying a larger tie so that it doesn’t look too short when you wear it.^{[5]
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6
Try your tie on to see if it's too short or long. The tie should come right at the top of your belt buckle.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Candace Hanna
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 12 April 2019.} Try the tie on and see where the bottom of the tie falls. Wearing a tie that’s too short or too long looks unprofessional.^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Choosing a Tie Width

1
Get a wider tie if you’re broader or larger than average.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Candace Hanna
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 12 April 2019.} Larger and broader people usually look good in ties that are 3.25 to 3.75 inches (8.25-9.52 cm) wide. If you’re a very broad person, get a tie on the wider end at around 3.75 inches (9.52 cm) wide.^{[9]
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Research source} The average medium shoulder width for a man is 19.25 inches (48.89 cm). You can measure your shoulder width to determine if you're broader than average.
2
Buy a skinny tie if you’re shorter or thinner. If you're on the thinner side and are shorter than 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall you should consider purchasing a skinnier tie for a trendy look. Usually, skinnier and shorter people look good in ties that are 2–2.75 inches (5.08-6.98 cm) wide. Measure your shoulder width to see if the measurement is smaller than the average shoulder width, or 19.25 inches (48.89 cm) wide.^{[10]
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- Skinny ties can also look good on thin people who are of average height or taller.
3
Choose a tie width that corresponds with your jacket’s lapel. Use a ruler or tape measure to measure the top of your lapel, at the widest point. This measurement should be close to the width of your tie at its widest point. Keep the tie width and the lapel width close.^{[11]
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- For example, if the widest part of your lapel is 3 inches (7.62 cm) wide, you should get a tie that is also 3 inches (7.62 cm) wide.
- Sometimes the numbers won’t match up exactly. In this case, it’s okay to go up or down a fraction of an inch to match your lapel width.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Getting Fitted for a Bow Tie

1
Measure the circumference of your neck. Getting a measurement of your neck will also determine what sized bow tie is appropriate for you. A bow tie should be around 14-15 inches (35.56-38.1 cm) longer than the circumference of your neck.^{[12]
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- Small bow ties fit 14-15 inch (35.56-38.1 cm) necks and are 36 inches long.
- Medium bow ties fit 15-16.5 inch (38.1-41.91 cm) necks and are 37 inches (93.98 cm) long.
- Large bow ties fit 17-18.5 inch (43.18-46.99 cm) necks and are 39 inches (91.44 cm) long.
- Extra large bow ties fit 19-20 inch (48.26-50.8 cm) necks and are 41 inches (104.14 cm) long.^{[13]
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2
Get a larger bow for a larger build and round face. Small bows on people with large builds and round faces look too small and unprofessional. If your face is as wide as it is long, you have a round face. Usually, people with round faces have small foreheads and a small, curved jawline. Compare the bows while you're looking for bow ties and choose one that is larger. Search for bow ties that have a larger bow on them.^{[14]
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- Read how to determine your face shape for more guidance in figuring out your face shape.
- You can see if the bow is larger on self-tie bow ties by taking a look at the width of both ends of material on the bow tie.
3
Purchase a smaller bow for slimmer faces and small builds. Large bows will put additional attention on your small build and make you look younger and smaller. If your face is longer than it is wide, you have a slim face. Look for bow ties with slim bows and compare them with other bows that you can purchase. Choose the bow tie with a smaller bow.^{[15]
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4
Try the bow tie on and see if it lines up with the sides of your face. Look in the mirror and determine if the bow tie looks good on you. If the bow tie extends past the edges of your face, it may look too big. This is a general guideline that can help you choose a bow tie that complements the size and shape of your face.^{[16]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

Where should a tie hang?

Candace Hanna
Professional Stylist
Candace Hanna is a stylist and style expert based in Southern California. With 16 years of experience in the corporate fashion and personal styling realms, she runs Style by Candace, a personal styling agency that focuses on helping individuals find their personal expression through clothing. Her work has been featured in magazines such as Shoutout LA and VoyageLA.

Candace Hanna

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Your tie should end just above the top of your belt. If it's any longer or shorter, try adjusting it.
Question

When should I wear a skinny tie?

Candace Hanna
Professional Stylist
Candace Hanna is a stylist and style expert based in Southern California. With 16 years of experience in the corporate fashion and personal styling realms, she runs Style by Candace, a personal styling agency that focuses on helping individuals find their personal expression through clothing. Her work has been featured in magazines such as Shoutout LA and VoyageLA.

Candace Hanna

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Skinny ties work best if you have a narrower frame. If you have a broad frame, go with something wider.