How to Measure Dress Length Correctly
Accurate vertical measurements help a dress finish at the intended point on your body. This is especially important for made-to-order dresses because names such as midi, maxi and floor length can look different on people with different heights and proportions.
Before you begin
- Ask another person to take the measurements if possible.
- Stand naturally on a level floor without looking down.
- Wear the underwear and shoes planned for the dress.
- Keep the measuring tape straight and vertical.
- Do not stretch the tape or follow the curve of a full skirt.
Waist to hem
Measure vertically from the natural waist to the exact point where you want the finished hem. This is the most useful measurement for mini, knee, tea, midi, ankle and high-low dresses.
Your natural waist is usually the narrowest part of your torso. Bend gently to one side; the crease that forms helps identify it. Keep the starting point consistent at the front, side or back when comparing lengths.
Waist to floor
Measure from the natural waist straight down to the floor while wearing the intended shoes. This determines the skirt length of a long dress. If you measure barefoot, record the heel height separately and tell the maker that the waist-to-floor measurement was taken without shoes.
Hollow to floor
Place the tape at the hollow at the base of the neck and measure vertically down the front of the body to the floor. Wear the planned shoes. This measurement helps establish the full front length of a gown.
Total height
Measure from the top of the head to the floor while standing straight. Unless the maker requests otherwise, take total height without shoes. Height helps the patternmaker check whether the other vertical measurements are proportionally consistent.
Heel height
Measure the vertical height of the heel. Provide it separately even when waist-to-floor and hollow-to-floor were measured in the intended shoes. This makes the intended finished clearance clear.
Front and back waist to hem for a high-low dress
Measure from the natural waist to the desired front hem, then repeat from the natural waist to the desired back hem. Record both values separately. The difference between them is the high-low drop, but the maker still needs both finished lengths.
Which measurements should I provide?
| Dress type | Recommended vertical measurements |
|---|---|
| Mini, knee, tea or midi | Waist to hem |
| Ankle length | Waist to hem, total height and heel height |
| Floor length | Waist to floor, hollow to floor, total height and heel height |
| High-low | Front waist to hem, back waist to hem and heel height; add floor measurements if the back reaches the floor |
| Floor length with a train | Waist to floor, hollow to floor, total height, heel height and requested train extension |
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring from the waistband of low-rise trousers instead of the natural waist.
- Following the body or skirt curve instead of measuring vertically.
- Adding heel height twice after measuring in shoes.
- Giving only the word “midi” or “maxi” when a precise hem position is required.
- Using one overall length for a high-low dress instead of separate front and back measurements.
Compare the approximate ranges in the complete dress length guide, or read the dedicated high-low dress measurement guide.