Coat Size Chart: Sizes, Lengths by Height and Fit Over Layers
Coats are sized by chest like jackets, but two extra questions decide the fit: how long the coat should be for your height, and whether it has to go over a suit jacket or a thick sweater. Both are answered here with numbers.
Coats use the same chest sizes as jackets: a men's 40R (medium) fits a 40 in (102 cm) chest, and a women's US 8 (medium) fits about a 35 to 36 in (89 to 92 cm) bust. Length depends on height: a knee-length coat measures about 57% of your height from collar seam to hem, which is roughly 39 in (99 cm) for someone 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) tall.
- Knee length at 5'8"
- About 39 in (99 cm)
- Knee length at 6'0"
- About 41 in (105 cm)
- Men's M
- 38-40 chest, EU 48-50
- Women's M
- US 8-10, UK 12-14
On this page
Coat length by height
Coat length is measured at the back, from the seam where the collar joins the body down to the hem. Because body proportions are similar from person to person, the length that reaches a given point on the leg is a near-constant fraction of height. The table uses average proportions; people with longer or shorter legs than average should adjust by 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm).
| Height | Covers seat | Mid-thigh | Knee | Mid-calf | Ankle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in 152 cm | 25 in 62 cm | 29 in 73 cm | 34.5 in 88 cm | 40 in 101 cm | 49 in 123 cm |
| 5 ft 4 in 163 cm | 26 in 67 cm | 31 in 78 cm | 37 in 93 cm | 42 in 107 cm | 52 in 132 cm |
| 5 ft 8 in 173 cm | 28 in 71 cm | 32.5 in 83 cm | 39 in 99 cm | 45 in 114 cm | 55 in 140 cm |
| 6 ft 0 in 183 cm | 29.5 in 75 cm | 34.5 in 88 cm | 41 in 105 cm | 47.5 in 121 cm | 58 in 148 cm |
| 6 ft 4 in 193 cm | 31 in 79 cm | 36.5 in 93 cm | 43.5 in 111 cm | 50 in 127 cm | 61.5 in 156 cm |
To use it with a product listing, find the listed back length (sometimes called "length" or "back length from HPS"; measured from the high point of the shoulder beside the neck, it reads slightly longer than from the collar seam). Compare it with the row for your height to see where the hem will land.
Stand straight, and have someone hold the end of a tape at the base of your collar at the back of your neck and run it down your spine to the point where you want the hem. That single number is more reliable than any height rule.
Coat types and their usual lengths
| Coat | Usual length | Fit notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peacoat | Covers the seat | Double-breasted; sits close, so check it closes over a sweater |
| Car coat | Mid-thigh | Single-breasted, roomy enough over a jacket |
| Duffle coat | Mid-thigh to above the knee | Cut loose with toggles; often runs large |
| Topcoat / overcoat | Just above to just below the knee | Tailored to go over a suit jacket |
| Trench coat | Knee to mid-calf | Belted; size so the belt closes over a jacket without straining the buttons |
| Parka | Mid-thigh | Insulated and roomy; hood sized for a hat |
| Long puffer / maxi coat | Mid-calf to ankle | Check walking room: a side vent or two-way zip is needed below the knee |
Shorter outerwear that ends at the waist or hip is covered in the jacket size guide. Sleeveless wraps worn over the shoulders follow the length logic in the cape size guide.
Men's coat sizes
Tailored men's coats use the same chest-and-length labels as suit jackets: a number for chest in inches, plus S, R or L. Casual coats and parkas use letters.
| Letter | Body chest | US / UK | EU / IT |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 34-36 in 86-91 cm | 36 | 46 |
| M | 38-40 in 97-102 cm | 38-40 | 48-50 |
| L | 42-44 in 107-112 cm | 42-44 | 52-54 |
| XL | 46-48 in 117-122 cm | 46-48 | 56-58 |
| XXL | 50-52 in 127-132 cm | 50-52 | 60-62 |
Length codes for tailored coats follow height: Short is usually for men under about 5 ft 8 in (173 cm), Regular for 5 ft 8 in to 6 ft 0 in (173-183 cm), and Long for 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) and taller. The suit size guide explains the codes in detail.
Women's coat sizes
| Letter | US | UK | EU (DE / FR) | Bust | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 0-2 | 4-6 | 30-32 / 32-34 | 31-33 in 79-84 cm | 34-36 in 86-91 cm |
| S | 4-6 | 8-10 | 34-36 / 36-38 | 33-35 in 84-89 cm | 36-38 in 91-97 cm |
| M | 8-10 | 12-14 | 38-40 / 40-42 | 35-37 in 89-94 cm | 38-40 in 97-102 cm |
| L | 12-14 | 16-18 | 42-44 / 44-46 | 38-40 in 97-102 cm | 41-43 in 104-109 cm |
| XL | 16-18 | 20-22 | 46-48 / 48-50 | 41-44 in 104-112 cm | 44-47 in 112-119 cm |
For coats that reach the thigh or below, the hip matters as much as the bust. A single-breasted coat should button over the hips without the front panels pulling apart when you sit. Petite coat ranges (for about 5 ft 4 in, 163 cm, and under) shorten the body, sleeves and the distance from shoulder to waist, which matters most in belted coats.
Sizing a coat over a suit or sweater
Tailored overcoats are usually cut to fit over a suit jacket at the same label size: a man who wears a 40R suit takes a 40R overcoat. Casual coats and parkas are graded for a sweater underneath. To check either one:
- Wear the layer you will wear under the coat when trying it on or measuring.
- Check the shoulders. The coat's shoulder seam should extend just past the jacket's shoulder, with no ridge where the jacket shoulder pushes against the coat sleeve.
- Button it and sit down. Buttons should not strain, and the vent should not gape open widely.
- Cross your arms and reach forward. The coat's back should not pull tight across the shoulder blades.
- Check the sleeves. They should hide the jacket and shirt cuffs, ending around the base of the thumb, about 0.5 to 1 in (1 to 2.5 cm) longer than a suit sleeve.
Coats sold as part of a seasonal fashion collection are often cut to wear over a thin knit only. If the product description mentions a slim or tailored fit and you plan to wear a blazer underneath, size up or check the garment chest measurement. The blazer size chart gives typical blazer measurements to compare.
How to measure for a coat
- Chest: around the fullest part, over a shirt for tailored coats or over a sweater for winter coats.
- Hip: around the fullest part of the seat, for coats longer than the hip.
- Sleeve: from the center back of the neck, over the shoulder, to the base of the thumb with the arm slightly bent. That point is where a coat sleeve should end.
- Back length: from the base of the collar down the spine to the desired hem point; compare with the length table above.
Knitwear worn underneath is covered in the sweater size guide, and international size labels in the clothing size chart.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy a winter coat one size bigger?
Not if the coat is designed as outerwear: overcoats and parkas are graded to go over a suit jacket or sweater at your normal size. Size up only if you will wear an unusually thick layer underneath, or if the coat is a fashion piece cut close to the body. Try it on over that layer, or measure your chest over it.
How long should a coat be for my height?
Measured from the collar seam at the back of the neck, a coat reaches the mid-thigh at about 48% of your height, the knee at about 57%, mid-calf at about 66% and the ankle at about 81%. For a 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) wearer that is about 31, 37, 42 and 52 in respectively.
What does 40R mean on a coat?
40 is the chest size in inches and R means regular length, for men about 5 ft 8 in to 6 ft 0 in (173-183 cm). S (short) is for shorter men and L (long) for taller men; the chest is the same, but the body and sleeves are shorter or longer.
How should coat sleeves fit?
A coat sleeve should cover the shirt cuff and any jacket sleeve underneath completely, ending around the base of the thumb with arms relaxed. That is usually about 0.5 to 1 in (1-2.5 cm) longer than a suit-jacket sleeve.
What size coat should a woman wear over a blazer?
Her usual dress size, if the coat is a tailored coat meant for layering. Try the shoulders over the blazer: if the coat's shoulder seam sits inside the blazer's shoulder, or the back pulls when crossing arms, go one size up.