How is shoulder width measured?
Start the end of the tape on the outside edge of the shoulder where you want the yoke of the shirt to start. This is where the horizontal part of the shoulder meets the vertical part of the arm. Measure up over the curve of the shoulders and to outside edge of the other shoulder.
Shoulder-Span-To-Pelvis Ratio Guide
Narrow Shoulders: 1.27 and below. Normal Shoulders: 1.32. Broad Shoulders: 1.38.
17″ is about average for a 6′ man.
Shoulder width is an estimate away
Still, based on biacromial measurements taken in years passed and trends observed by researchers, it's probably safe to say that in the United States average shoulder width is at least 16 inches (41 cm) for men and 14 inches (36 cm) for women.
The average shoulder width for 18-year-old people assigned female at birth is about 14 inches or 35 centimeters. For the average 18-year-old female, the bicacromial or shoulder width is about 14 inches or 35 cm. For comparison, the average biacromial width is about 15 inches or 39 cm. for males of the same age.
If you consider absolute size, then broad shoulders start at 130 cm (50–51 inch) depending on the size of the frame. That is the circumference of the shoulders.
An easy way to tell is you have broad shoulders is to look at your shoulder width relative to the rest of your body's proportions. Take a look at your upper body without a top on, if it looks like your upper body is a well-defined V silhouette then it's likely you would be considered to have broad shoulders.
Yes, if your shoulders are wide due to the increased amount of fat or muscles. You can't lose weight only in one particular part of your body. So, when you lose weight, you burn fat from all over your body, which eventually makes your shoulders, along with the other parts of your body, slimmer.
The closer you can get your waist/shoulder ratio to 1/1.61, the more aesthetically pleasing your body will be. To find out your ratio, measure around your waist, then the circumference your shoulders, (You're probably going to need some help with this part) then divide shoulders/waist to get your ratio.
SIZE | L | XL |
---|---|---|
inch | inch | |
SHOULDER WIDTH | 18 | 18 1/2 |
BODY WIDTH | 20 1/2 | 21 2/3 |
SLEEVE LENGTH | 8 | 8 1/2 |
Is 18 inches wide for shoulders?
18″ shoulders, if you are measuring like garment makers do, is an XXL size. It is quite possible for a woman/girl to have an XX-large frame that is excessively thin. It is also possible for the upper back to be deeply rounded/humped, making the measured shoulder width a larger number without any extra visual width.
It varies from person to person as far as bone structure goes. Short person can have wide shoulders also. But there are generalized proportions as far as the body goes. Depends on your health and diet and genetics.

V shape: Males tend to have proportionally smaller buttocks, bigger chests and wider shoulders, wider latissimus dorsi and a small waist which makes for a V-shape of the torso.
Bottom hourglass shape: Has the general hourglass shape, but the bust is visibly smaller than the hips. Hourglass measurements: E.g. 36-24-36, 38-28-38, 34-25-35.
Usually, we consider hip sizes above 36 or 37 inches curvy and hip sizes below 34 to be a slim silhouette. Also, the waist-to-hip ratios of curvy individuals are often in the range of 0.7 to 0.8.
Men should have a waist to hip ratio slightly under a 1.0 - a . 99 according to this study. Women should have a waist to hip ratio under 1.0 - a . 90 or lower.
Multiple studies confirm that women are more attracted to men with large, muscular shoulders — perhaps because they're indicative his status and potential to become a dad. These studies explain why men have to carry the weight of the world—well, you know where.
The span of your shoulders is equivalent to one fourth of your total height.
Shoulder width can be changed to a certain degree. You can't change your bone structure, which is determined mostly by genetics. This includes the width of the collarbones, an important part of shoulder width. However, you can build up and develop muscular shoulders.
Nope, but having a smaller head or longer legs does. In terms of height perception, generally the thinner and smaller your body parts are with the same height will make you seem (in a vacuum) taller, since we tend to associate those features with ectomorphs, who are the tallest of the three main human morphologies.
What does a broad shoulder look like?
What is considered broad shoulders? Having broad shoulders means that your clavicle, otherwise known as your collarbone, is long when compared to how wide your waist is. The clavicle is a bone that lies horizontally that connects your chest (sternum) to your shoulder blade.
Your ears should line up with the middle of your shoulder. Both your upper and lower back should be straight. Slight curves in the small of your back and at your shoulder blades are normal.
Your shoulder and hip measurements are about the same. Your waist is narrower than your shoulder and hips, but it isn't overly-defined and looks more straight up and down.
Even so, our overall muscularity is seemingly more important than how long our collarbones are, so it's unclear if that would even help. There are plenty of naturally skinny “ectomorphs” with broad shoulders compared to their waists.
Shoulder Width Too Narrow: Fabric pulled tight across upper arms. An obvious sign that the jacket Shoulder Width is too narrow is fabric pulled tight on the upper arms.
The two adjectives, WIDE and BROAD, are synonymous to an extent, but they are not completely interchangeable. As a rule of thumb, WIDE is usually used in physical meaning and BROAD in figurative meaning.
Measure across the front of your body.
Ask your helper to lay the end of a tape measure flat against one shoulder point. Your helper should then extend the tape measure across the front of your body, following the natural curve of your shoulders, until it reaches the opposite shoulder point.
SIZE [US] | 2 | 10 |
---|---|---|
Waist | 61 | 79 |
Hip | 87 | 103 |
Shoulder Width | 37 | 41 |
Sleeve Length | 57 | 59 |
...
Shirt Size Converter (Letter to Number)
Letter (means) | Number | Neck |
---|---|---|
M Size (Medium) | 41 Size | 41 cm |
L Size (Large) | 42 Size | 42 cm |
L Size (Large) | 43 Size | 43 cm |
XL Size (Extra Large) | 44 Size | 44 cm |
Inches | ||
---|---|---|
T-Size | Width | Length |
M | 15-17 | 23-25 |
L | 16-18 | 24-26 |
XL | 18-20 | 24-26 |
How do you measure your shoulder for a jacket?
Shoulder Width
Lay the jacket face down. Use your hands to smooth and flatten out the body of the jacket. Measure from where the shoulder seam meets the sleeve on one side of the jacket straight across to where the shoulder seam and sleeve meet on the other side.
If majority rules, a size 10 has a 36″ bust, 28″ waist and a 40″ hip. She's five foot five or six inches tall and weighs 140 pounds.
Size | Bust | Waist |
---|---|---|
S (4-6) | 34-35″ | 27½-28½″ |
M (8-10) | 36-37″ | 29½-30½″ |
L (12-14) | 38½-40″ | 32-33½″ |
XL (16-18) | 42-43½″ | 34-36″ |
Both the Hourglass and Trapezoid are fortunate to naturally have broad shoulders and chest, which means you don't need any of the extra embellishments or construction details like shoulder pads and wide V-necks to strengthen this area.
Women typically have wider hips than shoulders, while the reverse is true for men.
Inverted triangle body shape - Also known as V shape – broad shoulders that are wider than your waist, hips, and legs.