Where should a long sleeve end on a tall woman?

A long sleeve should reach your wrist bone when your arms are relaxed, and still cover your wrist when you reach forward.

What is torso length on a bodysuit or swimsuit size chart?

It's the full loop from the top of your shoulder, down the front, through the legs and back up to the same shoulder.

Is it better to measure my body or my clothes?

Both help. Measuring a piece that already fits you well is often the most accurate way to find the length you like.

November 3, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Measure Yourself for Clothes That Actually Fit (Tall Woman's Guide)

By Michelle, Founder of Finally TALL

Before you start

Use a soft tape measure, the kind used for sewing. Wear thin, fitted clothing. If you can, have a friend help with your sleeve and torso, it's much easier.

1. Inseam

Take a pair of pants that fit you well and lay them flat. Measure from the crotch seam down the inside of the leg to the hem.

2. Sleeve length

Stand with your arms relaxed at your sides. Measure from the top of your shoulder, where a shirt's shoulder seam would sit, down the outside of your arm to your wrist bone. This is the number that explains why your sleeves always ride up.

3. Torso length (for bodysuits and swimsuits)

Bodysuits and one piece swimsuits are some of the hardest things to find when you're tall, because they're never long enough in the body. To find your torso length, start at the top of one shoulder, go down the front of your body, between your legs, and back up to the same shoulder. That full loop is your torso length.

4. Rise

Rise is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband. Measure it on the front of a pair of pants that sits where you like it. Taller women often need a longer rise than regular pants offer, which is why "high rise" can land at mid rise on us.

5. The basics

Also note your bust (around the fullest part), waist (your natural waist, the narrowest part) and hips (around the fullest part). These are what size charts use.

Keep your numbers handy

Save them in a note on your phone. When a brand lists the real measurements of a piece, compare them to yours. It takes ten seconds and can save you a return.

Answers to common questions

Where should a long sleeve end on a tall woman?: A long sleeve should reach your wrist bone when your arms are relaxed, and still cover your wrist when you reach forward.
What is torso length on a bodysuit or swimsuit size chart?: It's the full loop from the top of your shoulder, down the front, through the legs and back up to the same shoulder.
Is it better to measure my body or my clothes?: Both help. Measuring a piece that already fits you well is often the most accurate way to find the length you like.