Kurta sizes come as letters (S, M, L) or numbers (36, 38, 40), and the number is simply the bust or chest in inches: a women's M is a 36 or 38, a men's 40 fits a 40 inch (102 cm) chest. The letter-to-number table is first below, then the full women's and men's charts, kurta length by height, and every measurement a tailor asks for in the order they ask for it.
No measuring tape? Prop your phone, turn around twice, and the Silai scanner takes every measurement on this page in about two minutes, free, for men and women. Try the scanner
| Letter | Women's kurta number (bust) | Men's kurta number (chest) | Body measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 32 | 34 | 81 to 86 cm (32 to 34 in) |
| S | 34 | 36 | 86 to 91 cm (34 to 36 in) |
| M | 36 (some brands 38) | 38 | 91 to 97 cm (36 to 38 in) |
| L | 38 (some brands 40) | 40 | 97 to 102 cm (38 to 40 in) |
| XL | 40 (some brands 42) | 42 | 102 to 107 cm (40 to 42 in) |
| XXL | 42 (some brands 44) | 44 | 107 to 112 cm (42 to 44 in) |
| 3XL | 44 | 46 | 112 to 117 cm (44 to 46 in) |
| 4XL | 46 | 48 | 117 to 122 cm (46 to 48 in) |
The number on a kurta label is the bust (women) or chest (men) in inches that the kurta is cut for, with the ease already added by the maker. Women's kurtis use 32 to 44; men's kurtas use 36 to 48. Brands drift by a size, so when a label shows both, trust the number over the letter.
| Size | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 81 cm (32 in) | 66 cm (26 in) | 89 cm (35 in) |
| S | 86 cm (34 in) | 71 cm (28 in) | 94 cm (37 in) |
| M | 91 cm (36 in) | 76 cm (30 in) | 99 cm (39 in) |
| L | 97 cm (38 in) | 81 cm (32 in) | 104 cm (41 in) |
| XL | 102 cm (40 in) | 86 cm (34 in) | 109 cm (43 in) |
| XXL | 107 cm (42 in) | 91 cm (36 in) | 114 cm (45 in) |
Typical ready-made kurta chart. A custom kurta uses your exact numbers instead.
| Size | Chest | Shoulder | Kurta length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 (S) | 91 cm (36 in) | 44 cm | 96 cm (38 in) |
| 38 (M) | 97 cm (38 in) | 45.5 cm | 99 cm (39 in) |
| 40 (L) | 102 cm (40 in) | 47 cm | 101 cm (40 in) |
| 42 (XL) | 107 cm (42 in) | 48.5 cm | 104 cm (41 in) |
| 44 (XXL) | 112 cm (44 in) | 50 cm | 106 cm (42 in) |
| 46 (3XL) | 117 cm (46 in) | 51.5 cm | 109 cm (43 in) |
Men's ready-made kurtas are usually labelled by chest size in inches. Measure the chest at its widest, tape level under the arms, and the shoulder seam to seam across the back. As with every chart on this page, a tailor working from your own numbers beats the nearest label.
| Your height | Knee-length kurta (women) | Men's kurta |
|---|---|---|
| 150 to 160 cm (4'11" to 5'3") | 90 to 95 cm | 92 to 97 cm |
| 160 to 170 cm (5'3" to 5'7") | 95 to 100 cm | 97 to 102 cm |
| 170 to 180 cm (5'7" to 5'11") | 100 to 107 cm | 102 to 107 cm |
| Above 180 cm (5'11") | 107 to 112 cm | 107 to 112 cm |
Typical knee-length numbers; check where the hem lands on you in a mirror before ordering. Kurtis run 60 to 80 cm regardless of the chart.
Use a soft tape over thin clothing. Give body measurements only; the tailor adds ease for the style you choose.
Step one, the girth that sets the size: measure your bust (women) or chest (men) level around the fullest part, over thin clothing, tape snug but not tight. That single number places you on the size chart above: for women 86 cm (34 in) is an S, 91 cm (36 in) an M, 97 cm (38 in) an L; for men 97 cm (38 in) is an M and 102 cm (40 in) an L.
Step two, check the hip against the chart in the same row. A hip that sits one size larger than the bust means a ready-made kurta will pull at the side slits; order stitched, or size up and have the shoulders taken in.
Step three, choose the length from the height table below rather than from the size, and decide sleeve length by taste: size charts stop at the girths, and the two numbers people most often regret are length and sleeve.
Scan yourself with your phone camera on Silai: about 2 minutes, free, no tape and no second person. You get every measurement on this page, and you can see your own sheet right now, no account needed.
Measure your bust (women) or chest (men) level around the fullest part, then read the size chart above: for women a bust of 86 cm (34 in) is an S, 91 cm (36 in) an M, 97 cm (38 in) an L; for men a chest of 97 cm (38 in) is an M and 102 cm (40 in) an L. If you sit between two sizes, or your hips are a size larger than your bust, order stitched to your own numbers instead of a label: length, sleeve and flare are set by you, not the chart.
Knee length is roughly 60 percent of your height minus a few centimetres. Around 5'4" (163 cm) that lands near 98 to 102 cm. Give the tailor your height and where you want the hem, and they do the rest.
The body measurements stay the same; the tailor changes the ease. A fitted kurta carries roughly 5 to 8 cm over the body, a straight cut 10 to 15, and an A-line flares from the bust or waist regardless. Say which style you want when you order and let the tailor translate.
About 2.5 metres of standard-width fabric for a knee-length kurta, 2 metres for a kurti, plus whatever the bottoms and dupatta need. Long sleeves, extra flare or pattern matching add a little; the safe move is to tell the tailor the planned length and let them quote metres before you buy.
No new numbers are needed beyond the standard list; the flare is a cutting decision. What helps is saying where you want the flare to start, bust or waist, because that line changes the whole silhouette.
For women a kurta or kurti size M is a 36 on most Indian labels and a 38 on some, meaning it is cut for a bust of 91 to 97 cm (36 to 38 in). For men an M is a 38, cut for a 97 cm (38 in) chest. S is one number down (34 women, 36 men) and L one number up (38 women, 40 men); the full letter to number table is at the top of this page.
A men's kurta size 40 is cut for a chest of 40 inches, about 102 cm, measured level around the fullest part under the arms. The kurta itself measures more than 40 inches around because the maker adds 4 to 6 inches of ease. In letters a 40 is usually an L; a 38 is an M and a 42 an XL.
A standard women's knee-length kurta is 95 to 105 cm (38 to 41 in) from the shoulder beside the neck to the hem; kurtis are 60 to 80 cm (24 to 32 in). Men's kurtas run 96 to 109 cm (38 to 43 in) by size, or roughly 60 percent of your height. Pick the length from your height, not the size label; the height table above gives the usual range.
Men's ready-made kurtas are labelled by chest size in inches: a 40 fits a chest of about 102 cm. For a stitched kurta a tailor wants chest, waist, shoulder, sleeve and kurta length, taken the same way as the women's list above; the men's chart on this page shows what each label usually assumes.
Saree blouse measurements · What does blouse length 0.8 metre mean? · 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 · Is bust the same as chest? · How to measure your waist · How to measure your hips · How to measure your inseam and trouser length