Kilt measurements

If you want to measure up for your Highland, Scottish, Irish, or Cornish kilt or Welsh cilt, this page should help. Other pages on our site provide additional information useful for a grooms wedding party, for Scottish country dancers, Highland dancers and casual or formal wearers of the kilt, as well as pipers.

For KILT HIRE
we require the following measurements:

(K1)-Waist circumference at navel level.
(K2)-Overall Length from navel to no more
than 1/4 way down your kneecap.
(K3)-Your Height.

For JACKET HIRE
we require the following measurements:

(J1)-Chest circumference taken high underarm,
with arms at your side and deltoid muscles
expanded to get maximum measurement.
(J2)-Waist circumference at navel level.
(J3)-Outside arm length from shoulder seam to cuff.

For KILT MAKING
we require the following measurements:

(K1)-Waist circumference (a firm measurement) (W )
(K2)-Overall Length ( OL )
(K3)-Your Height ( H )
(K4)-Seat circumference ( S )
(K5)-Drop (or Fell) ( D or F )

JACKET TAILORING

For Jacket sizing click here.

To get these measurements follow the steps below.........
(To keep things authentic, we prefer measurements in the old system, not in metrics, but
if your tape measure can't help you, we will convert metrics to the old measurement system).

A very rough guide for the Overall Length OL is :
5'3"-4"= 20.5", 5'4"-5" = 21". 5'5"-6"= 21.5", 5'6"-7"= 22". 5'7"-8"= 22.5". 5'8"-9"= 23", 5'9"-10"= 23.5", 5'10"-11"= 24", 5'11"-6'= 24.5", 6'-6'1"= 25", 6'1"-2"= 25.5", 6'2-3"= 26". 6'3"-4"= 26.5", 6'5"-6"= 27", >6'6"= 28"..... (NB. 1"=25mm)

To get the most appropriate length for your kilt.

Method 1.
If you have a wide waist belt 2.25"-2.5" (56mm-63mm) wide, put it on. Usually the lower edge of the belt would sit at your waist, just above the pelvic hip bone. Now measure straight down from the top of the belt to the top of the kneecap and add approximately 3/8" or 6mm. This will give you a length, equal to about 1" (25mm) clear of the ground when kneeling, up to the correct level at your waist. This is the Overall Length (OL).

Note: Some people don't like wearing at kilt this high at the waist, which is OK if you will NEVER wear a Prince Charlie jacket and /or waist coat. If such is the case just put the waist belt on at the level you would wear it and repeat the process above. BUT make sure the belt does not hang under your gut. If the belt is not straight around the widest part of your belly you will not get the right measurement and the kilt will not fit you properly.

Method 2. If you need to see a diagram for the measurements, click here.

Kneel erectly on the floor.
...... Measure from the floor to your pelvic hip bone (just below the waist). ...... This is Measurement L
...... How wide is your waist Belt? Waist Belt widths may be
...... 2.5"(63mm), 2.25"(56mm), 2" (50mm). (or less for small boys)
...... The default Belt width we use is 2.5" (63mm).
Add the Belt width to measurement L
..... Overall Length OL = L + B
Finally Subtract 1" or 25mm from measurement "OL ".
...... when you kneel*
...... your kilt should be around 1" (25mm) OFF the ground

* Some people believe the bottom edge of a kilt should touch the ground when you kneel.
Wrong. It is a simple instruction but such a length unfortunately produces a dowdy, heavy looking kilt. View any of the old paintings of real highlanders in kilts and you will easily see most of, if not all, their kneecap. When a kilt brushes the ground it is nigh on impossible, once the wearer stands up, to see anything but a small part of the lower knee. If you are going to be an authentic kilt wearer, most of your kneecap will be visible - especially so when a feilidh mhor is worn. You're probably wearing a skirt or dress, not a kilt, if your kneecap or a greater part of it (at least half) cannot be seen!

However, we will make a kilt to whatever length you want.

Overall Length (OL).

Now for the remaining measurements......

Waist (W) - a firm measurement of the circumference around your waist.
(advise how much waist expansion may be necessary)
Seat/Bottom (S) - circumference of your seat at it's widest point, (not a tight fit so use a couple of fingers inside the tape when taking the measurement), and
Waist to Seat (WS or Drop [ Fell ] ) - the distance from top of waist belt, to the point at which the seat circumference was taken. This is used to determine the length of stitching required in the pleats.

and lastly Your height (H)

If you need to see a diagram of these measurements, click here.

Enter your measurements on this form

Low or High? Where on your waist would you wear your kilt?
NZ men habitually wear their trousers down on their hips, NOT up on the waist.
When a kilt is made to the appropriate overall length and if is worn at this trouser level - it will appear TOO long by up to 2.5"(68mm)!
The remedy is; either wear the kilt at the proper height on your torso, or tell us you'll wear it low and it can be made corresponding shorter.
NB. We strongly advise against this if yopu are ever likely to wear the kilt with a Prince Charlie jacket and waist coat (vest to non-NZ'rs). Why? Because there will be an unsightly (and possibly chilly) gap at the side of your waist, through which your shirt will poke out. If the kilt is hoisted to the correct position on the torso to hide the shirt and to meet the Prince Charlie jacket correctly, it will then be far too short at the knee.

Taking Measurements for Kilt making and Jacket sizing.