Saree blouse measurements: complete guide with size chart

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The measurements, and how to take them

Use a soft tape over thin clothing. Give body measurements only; the tailor adds ease for the style you choose.

Bust: Around the fullest part of the chest, tape level front and back, wearing the bra you will wear with the blouse. Do not pull tight; the tape should sit flat with room for one finger. Breathe normally and take the number mid-breath, not after inhaling. Check in a mirror that the tape has not dipped at the back; a drooping tape adds 2 to 3 cm and the blouse comes back loose at the exact place it should fit closest.
Upper chest: High on the chest, just under the armpits and above the bust, tape level. Tailors use it to keep wide or deep necklines sitting flat against the chest instead of gaping when you lean forward.
Underbust (band): Around the ribcage directly under the bust, snug but not digging in. For women this is the number on your bra label, usually 70 to 100 cm. The bust-to-underbust difference tells the tailor how much shaping the front needs, so both numbers matter even for a simple blouse.
Shoulder width: Across the back, from one shoulder seam point to the other, where a set-in sleeve would start. Find the point by raising your arm slightly: a small dent appears at the joint. Stand naturally while a helper measures; hunching forward widens the back and the sleeves end up sitting off the shoulder.
Blouse length: From the highest point of the shoulder, right beside the neck, straight down over the bust to where you want the hem. Most saree blouses run 35 to 40 cm; crop styles shorter, princess-cut longer. Decide against the saree you will wear: a blouse that ends above the petticoat line flashes skin at the side with every arm lift.
Sleeve length: From the shoulder seam to the desired end: cap sleeves about 10 cm, elbow sleeves about 30 cm, full sleeves to the wrist bone. Measure with the elbow slightly bent so the sleeve does not pull short when you move, and note the girth at the point where the sleeve will end.
Armhole: Around the shoulder joint: under the armpit and back over the top of the shoulder. Measure with the arm relaxed at your side, tape close but never tight. This is the number that decides whether you can raise your arms at a wedding, so if in doubt, measure twice.
Bicep: Around the fullest part of the upper arm, arm relaxed and hanging. Critical for fitted elbow and full sleeves; a sleeve cut to a flexed or squeezed bicep number will not let the arm bend.
Front neck depth: From the base of the throat straight down to where you want the neckline to sit. Hold a tape vertically in the mirror and look at where the number lands on you rather than guessing: 15 cm reads modest, 20 cm is noticeably deep on most torsos.
Back neck depth: From the prominent bone at the base of the back of the neck down to the deepest point of the back design. Deep backs, 25 cm and beyond, look striking but need the blouse cut closer through the band to stay in place, so mention the depth to your tailor rather than springing it on them with a photo.

Size chart

Blouse size	Bust	Underbust	Shoulder
32	81 cm (32 in)	69 cm (27 in)	34 cm
34	86 cm (34 in)	74 cm (29 in)	35 cm
36	91 cm (36 in)	79 cm (31 in)	36 cm
38	97 cm (38 in)	84 cm (33 in)	37 cm
40	102 cm (40 in)	89 cm (35 in)	38 cm
42	107 cm (42 in)	94 cm (37 in)	39 cm

Typical ready-made blouse size chart. Brands vary by 2 to 3 cm, and a custom-stitched blouse beats any chart.

What does blouse length 0.8 metre mean?

On a saree listing, blouse length 0.8 metre (or 0.80 m, or 80 cm) is not the length of a stitched blouse. It is the length of the unstitched blouse fabric that comes attached to or with the saree, measured along the border. Standard blouse pieces run 0.8 to 1 metre; 0.8 m is enough for a regular sleeveless or short-sleeve blouse up to about a 40 bust, while long sleeves, a deep back or a bust above 42 usually need the full metre, and a lining needs fabric of its own.

A stitched blouse, by contrast, is 14 to 16 inches (35 to 40 cm) from the shoulder to the hem for most women, which is the length in the chart on this page. So when a listing says 0.8 metre, ask yourself whether your usual blouse needs more than 80 cm of fabric; when a tailor asks for blouse length, they mean the finished garment.

Mistakes that ruin the fit

Measuring over a padded bra you will not actually wear with it, or over a thick kurta; every layer adds centimetres the blouse then hangs by.
Pulling the tape tight; a blouse cut to squeezed numbers will not close.
Guessing the armhole from an old blouse that has stretched.
Skipping the bicep on fitted sleeves; it is the number one reason sleeves will not go on.
Measuring yourself in a slouch. Stand as you would for a photograph; posture changes the shoulder and back numbers by 2 cm or more.
Sending a mix of old and new numbers. Measure everything in one session so the blouse is cut for one body, not two.

Or skip the tape entirely

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Common questions

What does blouse size 34 mean?

A ready-made size 34 is cut for a bust of about 86 cm (34 inches). It says nothing about your shoulder, armhole, or sleeve, which is why ready-made blouses so often need alteration.

What does blouse length 0.8 mean on a saree listing?

That the saree comes with an unstitched running blouse piece 0.8 metres long, about 80 cm of fabric. It is enough for a standard short-sleeve blouse on most sizes; full sleeves, a collar or a longer line want closer to a metre, so check before planning the design.

How much looseness does a tailor add?

You give body measurements; the tailor adds 2 to 4 cm of ease depending on the fit you ask for. Never add ease yourself, or it gets added twice.

Can I just give my bra size?

It gets close: the band is your underbust and the cup hints at the difference to your bust. But a measured bust beats the estimate, and the Silai scan uses your band number to calibrate itself.

How much fabric does a blouse take?

About 80 cm to 1 metre of standard-width fabric for a simple blouse; full sleeves, a collar or a longer line push it toward 1.25 metres. Buy a little extra if the fabric has a border or a large motif the tailor must place.

Should the blouse be lined?

Line anything sheer, anything heavily embroidered, and any silk you want to keep its shape. Lining adds cost and a little warmth but doubles the life of the blouse and lets sweat be washed out of the lining rather than the shell.

Can an old well-fitting blouse replace measurements?

It helps as a reference for style, but fabrics stretch and bodies change, so a tailor copying an old blouse copies its age too. Fresh numbers from a tape, or from the Silai scan, give a cleaner starting point.

More garment guides

Kurta size chart, sizing and measurements · Lehenga measurements · Salwar kameez measurements · Gown and anarkali measurements · What measurements does a tailor need? · Men's kurta pajama measurements · Punjabi suit measurements, with the Punjabi and Hindi terms

Measuring the body itself? Body measurement chart: what size am I? · How to measure your bust or chest · How to measure your waist · How to measure your hips · How to measure your inseam and trouser length · How to measure sleeve length and arm length