A salwar suit needs two short lists: one for the kameez on top, one for the salwar below. The bottom is where first-timers slip, because two of its numbers have Punjabi names that charts rarely explain. Take the whole set in one session with a soft tape, or let the phone scan take it for you, and a suit stitched in any city will fit like the one your best tailor made.
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
Use a soft tape over thin clothing. Give body measurements only; the tailor adds ease for the style you choose.
| Size | Bust | Waist | Hips | Kameez length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 81 cm (32 in) | 66 cm (26 in) | 89 cm (35 in) | 95 to 100 cm |
| S | 86 cm (34 in) | 71 cm (28 in) | 94 cm (37 in) | 95 to 102 cm |
| M | 91 cm (36 in) | 76 cm (30 in) | 99 cm (39 in) | 98 to 105 cm |
| L | 97 cm (38 in) | 81 cm (32 in) | 104 cm (41 in) | 100 to 107 cm |
| XL | 102 cm (40 in) | 86 cm (34 in) | 109 cm (43 in) | 102 to 110 cm |
| XXL | 107 cm (42 in) | 91 cm (36 in) | 114 cm (45 in) | 104 to 110 cm |
Typical ready-made suit chart. Kameez length varies with height and taste far more than the girths do, which is exactly why a stitched suit from your own numbers fits better than any label.
| Dupatta style | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday dupatta | 2.25 m (2.5 yd) | 90 to 100 cm |
| Full or bridal dupatta | 2.5 m (2.7 yd) | 100 to 115 cm |
| Short chunni | 2 m (2.2 yd) | 75 to 90 cm |
A normal dupatta is 2.25 metres long, about 2.5 yards, and 90 to 100 cm wide. Go longer for double-drape styles and heavier borders; a chunni for daily wear can run shorter and narrower.
| Salwar style | Typical mohri | How it is set |
|---|---|---|
| Churidar | 18 to 22 cm (7 to 8.5 in) | Snug around the ankle bone; the tailor adds room for the foot to pass, often with a slit or loops |
| Straight or plain salwar | 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) | Ankle plus a little air so the hem clears the shoe |
| Semi-patiala | 30 to 36 cm (12 to 14 in) | Wider cuff to carry a few pleats |
| Patiala | 36 to 41 cm (14 to 16 in) | Style choice; the pleats need a wide opening |
| Dhoti or Afghani salwar | 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) | Gathered into a cuff at the ankle |
| Palazzo or sharara | 50 cm and up (20 in and up) | Not measured; the flare is the style |
Mohri is the circumference of the salwar's ankle opening, the finished cuff with ease included. Measure around the ankle bone once; after that the style, not the body, sets the number, so tell the tailor which salwar you want and use the typical figures here.
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.
Wrap a tape or a string around the ankle bone, level and snug, and read it against a ruler. That number is the body; only a churidar is cut close to it. For every other salwar the mohri is a style decision, so name the style and let the chart above set the width.
The opening at the bottom of the salwar or churidar, measured around. Churidar mohri hugs the ankle, about 18 to 22 cm around; patiala mohri is wide and relaxed.
Same waist, hip and thigh, but the length is cut longer than the leg so the extra fabric stacks in folds at the ankle; the tailor handles the extra, you just give ankle length.
Roughly 2.5 metres for the kameez, 2 to 2.5 for a standard salwar, and about 2.25 for the dupatta, so a full suit length of 6.5 to 7 metres covers most cuts. A patiala is the exception: its pleats drink fabric, often 3 metres or more for the bottom alone.
2.25 metres, which is the 2.5 yard cut most shops sell, at 90 to 100 cm wide. Bridal and double-drape dupattas run 2.5 metres, and a light chunni can be as short as 2. If you are matching a dupatta to a stitched suit, err longer; a dupatta can be shortened at home, never lengthened.
Yes. Waist, hip and length drive all of them; the difference is cut and flare, not new numbers. Name the style you want and mention the shoes you will wear, since palazzo and sharara hems sit longer than a salwar's.
For everyday cotton suits, ready-made is often fine because the cut is loose. The custom case gets stronger as the fit gets closer: fitted kameez, churidar sleeves, and anything for an occasion. Stitching costs more up front and then gets worn ten times as often, which is the cheaper mathematics in the end.
Saree blouse measurements · Kurta size chart, sizing and measurements · Lehenga 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