What belt size should I choose?
Choosing the right belt size is not as simple as it seems. How does the manufacturer measure the length of their belts: by taking only the leather, or by the total length including the buckle, or by counting from one hole to the buckle? How do you determine the belt size that will suit you? And what are the advantages of a 5-hole or 7-hole belt? Here are our tips and 3 reliable methods for choosing the best belt size.
Measure a belt that fits you well
The first and certainly most effective way to know what belt size to choose is to already have a belt that fits you. You most likely have an old belt in your drawers, the one you wore with those pants for which you want a new belt.
Let's start by establishing the objective: a well-worn belt is ideally closed on the middle hole. This is a critical moment. Don't make the mistake of measuring the total length of the belt! You need to measure the distance from the end of the buckle finger (the pin), where it closes on the belt buckle, to the hole you are using on this belt.
On a belt, the length displayed corresponds to the distance in centimeters between the end of the buckle and the middle hole (if there are 5 it is the 3rd, if there are 7 it is the 4th).
Have you ever seen belts with only one hole? Not really. Since belts are only available every 10 cm, and your waist varies from the day after New Year's Eve to the day before your beach vacation, manufacturers offer belts with multiple holes to adjust it as best as possible. QED!
Otherwise, measure over your favorite pants
We offer a second method if you don't have a belt in your wardrobe or if you want to wear your pants differently. With standard-sized and standard-cut pants, you should measure your waistline With low-slung pants, you'll need to measure your hips.
In both cases, if you already have the pants, then you can measure their waist circumference. To do this:
- Put on the pants,
- Place it on you as you wish to wear it,
- Use a soft tape measure to slip it through the belt loops,
- Take the measurement when you have completed the round.
There you have it, you have the right belt size !
As a last resort, measure on your body
Third and final method, in case you don't have a belt you like or the pants you want to wear it with. All you have to do is measure yourself. With a flexible tape measure, measure your body circumference at the height at which you want to wear your pants. Then add a few centimeters to take into account the thickness of the fabric of your pants.
It's a gift
Finally, as a bonus gift, here are two very useful tips:
- Belts generally have a gradation every 10 centimeters. And holes about every 3 cm. Since there's little chance you'll land exactly on a multiple of 10, choose your size based on the first third of the difference between two lengths. To be clear, if you're 83 cm tall, take a size 80, and if you're 84 cm tall, take a size 90.
- Not everyone has a sewing kit. DIYers often have a metal tape measure. Use it only as a last resort. It's not very flexible enough to fit your body properly. In this case, find a piece of thread, string, cable, or even cord—anything you can find that isn't elastic—to measure your waistline using a ruler, a folding rule, or even that famous metal tape measure.
Summary tables
We summarize in the following table all the methods for choosing your belt size, depending on whether you are starting from a pair of pants in US size, a pair of pants in French size, a belt that fits you well or a measurement on your body.
|
US size |
FR size |
Waist circumference |
Belt size |
|
28 |
36 |
75 cm |
80 |
|
30 |
38 |
80 cm |
80 |
|
31 |
38/40 |
82.5 cm |
80 |
|
32 |
40 |
85 cm |
90 |
|
33 |
42 |
87 cm |
90 |
|
34 |
44 |
90 cm |
100 |
|
36 |
46 |
95 cm |
100 |
|
38 |
48 |
100 cm |
110 |
|
40 |
50 |
105 cm |
110 |
Turning the tables, here are the pants you'll wear elegantly based on your belt size.
|
Belt size |
Size 1st hole |
Last hole size |
Le Beau Jean pants size |
|
80 |
72.5 cm |
87.5 cm |
28 - 30 - 31 |
|
90 |
82.5 cm |
97.5 cm |
32 - 33 |
|
100 |
92.5 cm |
107.5 cm |
34 - 36 |
|
110 |
102.5 cm |
117.5 cm |
38 - 40 |
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