Measuring guide

Nine measurements, not a size letter

Get these right once and you can order from any latex maker without arguing about what a size "L" means. Most of the work is in three numbers that almost everybody takes wrong.

Tape

Use a soft tailor's tape, not a builder's tape and not a piece of string. String stretches and lies.

Clothing

Wear as little as possible — thin underwear at most. Clothes add a centimetre or more in the wrong places.

Tension

Stand relaxed and breathe normally. Never pull the tape tight enough to dent the skin.

Units

Write everything in centimetres. If a measurement sits near a boundary, take it again.

Step by step

The nine measurements

1. Chest: Around the fullest part of the bust or chest. Tape level and snug, but not compressing. Keep your arms down.
2. Underbust: Directly under the bust, around the ribcage, tape level. This tells us how much support the garment needs.
3. Waist: The narrowest point of the torso, usually just above the navel. Breathe out normally — do not pull the stomach in.
4. Hip: Around the fullest part of the hips and seat, roughly 20 cm below the waist. Keep your feet together.
5. Thigh: The widest point of the upper thigh, immediately below the crotch. Measure both legs and send the larger number.
6. Upper arm: Relax your arm at your side and measure around the widest part, normally near the bicep.
7. Neck: Around the base of the neck. Add nothing — a latex collar should sit snug without pressing.
8. Torso length: Hold the tape at the side of your neck, level with the top of the shoulder, and let it fall straight down your front to the point between your legs where the catsuit seam would sit. Do not follow the curve of the body.
9. Height: Optional but useful for sleeve and leg length. Measure without shoes, standing against a wall.

The usual mistakes

Three measurements people get wrong

Torso length

The classic mistake. It has to run straight down from the side of the neck, passing over the bust, to the crotch point. If you follow the curve of your body the number comes out short — and a catsuit that is short in the torso cannot be corrected later.

Thigh

Usually taken too low, where the leg has already narrowed. It should be at the widest point, immediately below the crotch. Measure both legs and send the larger.

Upper arm

Often measured flexed, or with the arm pressed against the chest. Keep the arm hanging relaxed at your side and measure the widest part.

What to do with the numbers

Put them into the latex size calculator. It applies the reduction for your sheeting thickness and produces a measurement sheet showing both your body measurements and the finished sizes to cut — which is exactly what a maker needs. Then paste that sheet into your order notes, or reply to the order confirmation email with it.

Can I measure myself for latex clothing?

Yes, and most makers expect it. Self-measurement is usually accurate to within 1–2 cm, which the reduction absorbs. Measure twice, keep the tape level, and never pull it tight enough to compress the skin.

Which measurement do people get wrong most often?

Torso length, followed by the thigh. Torso length is usually measured along the curve of the body instead of straight down, which shortens it. Thigh is often measured too low, where the leg has already narrowed.

Why have I been asked for a measurement I have never heard of?

Because latex patterns are drafted from body measurements rather than from a size letter. Torso length, upper arm and thigh are normal in this trade but almost never appear in high-street sizing.

Should I measure over clothing?

No. Measure against bare skin or over the underwear you would wear under the garment, and always with the same tape.