Belt Size Chart

The general belt size chart

Use this chart as a starting point, not as a promise from any brand. Each row shows the broad range of waists that usually fits that belt size, with the matching trouser size and the waist in centimetres beside it. The ranges are deliberately wide because waists vary in shape and because brands grade their sizes differently. If your waist sits near the edge of a row, read the next sections before you settle on a size.

Measure your waist first, then look at the chart, rather than starting from the size you usually wear. A waist that has changed by a small amount can move you into a different row, and a different outfit can do the same even when your waist has not changed, because a belt worn over a thick jumper sits further out than one worn over a thin shirt. Fresh numbers keep the chart honest and stop you ordering the same wrong size twice. Our how to measure belt size guide walks through the steps.

Chart table in inches and centimetres

The table above lists belt sizes from 28 to 50, with the waist each size fits in inches and centimetres and the trouser size it usually matches. Read the waist column as a band, because a single waist can fall near the boundary between two sizes. When that happens, the belt use and the material will help you choose between the two rows. These are broad general ranges, and brands grade differently, so always check the brand chart for the belt you are buying.

How to read the chart when your waist falls between rows

Most people find that their waist falls neatly inside one row, but some fall on the boundary between two rows. When that happens, think about the material first. A leather belt gives a little with wear, so it can start snug and ease into place, while a fabric belt stretches more through the day, so it often needs the larger row to stay comfortable by the afternoon.

The use of the belt matters too. A dress belt should fasten on the middle hole with a short tail, which is easier in the larger row when you are on a boundary, while a casual belt can sit one hole either side of the middle without looking wrong. If you are choosing between two rows, lean toward the larger row when the belt is fabric or the outfit is casual, and check the return policy before you commit.

The centimetre column

The centimetre column gives the same waist band in metric units, so you can use the chart without converting first. A waist of 81 to 86 cm matches belt size 34, and a waist of 91 to 97 cm matches belt size 38, as a broad general guide. If your tape reads in centimetres, use this column directly rather than converting and rounding, because rounding can push you onto the wrong row.

Watch the edges of the centimetre bands as well as the inch bands. The bands are rounded to whole centimetres, so a waist of 86 cm sits at the top of the 34 row and a waist of 87 cm sits at the bottom of the 36 row. A centimetre either way is a small difference on the body, so treat the boundary as a nudge toward the larger row rather than a hard line.

What the chart cannot tell you

The chart cannot tell you how a belt will feel after hours on your waist, since strap width, buckle shape and material all shape comfort. A wide strap spreads pressure better than a narrow one, a heavy buckle can drag the front down, and a stiff strap can dig in when you sit. Keep the chart as a map for size, and let the buckle, the width and the material guide the rest of the choice.

If you want a starting size worked out from your own numbers, use the belt size calculator and compare its result with the chart here. The calculator asks for belt use and material as well as waist, so its guidance covers the choices the chart leaves out.