Tool
Kilt Size Calculator
Enter the measurements a kiltmaker asks for and see them in both units, with a starting range for length. It is not a size chart.
Enter your waist and seat to see your measurements in both units. Adding height gives a starting range for length.
What this calculator does
A kiltmaker does not ask for a size such as “medium” or “36”. They ask for measurements and make the kilt to them. This page checks that your numbers are plausible, shows them in inches and centimetres, and gives a starting range for length if you have not measured it yet.
It does not predict a size from a brand’s chart, and it does not estimate how much cloth you need. Fabric depends on the width of the cloth, the size of the sett and how the maker pleats it, so only the maker can quote it. Makers also differ in how they cut and fit, so use your own measurements rather than a number from another shop. They are not the same thing as a trouser or jeans size.
How to measure
Stand upright and relaxed, in thin clothing or underwear, with a flexible tape measure. Keep the tape snug but not tight, and level all the way round. Breathe out normally before you read it. Ask someone to help with the length. Doing it alone tends to tilt the tape.
1. Natural waist
The natural waist is where your body bends when you lean to the side. For most people it is roughly at the navel, above where trousers sit. A traditional kilt is worn at this point, not at the hips, so the figure is usually smaller than your trouser waist. If you are unsure where it is, lean to one side and find the crease. Measure round the body at that point.
2. Seat
The seat is the fullest part of the hips and buttocks. Stand with your feet together and pass the tape round at the widest point, keeping it parallel to the floor. Check it in a mirror or with a helper, because a tape that rides up at the back reads short.
3. Length
Kilt length is measured from the natural waist down to the middle of the knee. Run the tape down the side of the body to the centre of the kneecap. This is a different measurement from a trouser inseam. Some makers ask for the length to the top of the kneecap or to the bottom edge, so check which one your maker wants and say which you used.
Height
Height is optional here. Stand against a wall without shoes, with your heels back and your head level, and mark the top of your head. The calculator uses it only to suggest a range for length.
Where the length range comes from
The range is a simple estimate. For average body proportions, the distance from the natural waist to the middle of the knee is roughly a third of standing height, so the calculator shows about 31% to 35%. That is a rule of thumb from general body proportions, not a figure taken from a kiltmaker’s chart, and it will not suit every build. If you enter a length of your own, the calculator compares it with the range and tells you if it is well outside. That is a prompt to measure again, not a judgement. Your own measurement is the one to use.
Rounding
Results are rounded to a quarter of an inch or half a centimetre. A home tape measure cannot justify finer figures, and a kilt is pleated and adjusted at the straps, so a fraction of a centimetre does not matter in practice. You can type a measurement as a decimal, with a comma for the decimal point, or as a fraction such as 34 1/2.
Before you order
- Measure twice, and measure again if the two readings differ by more than a small amount.
- Give the maker the raw measurements and say which units you used.
- Ask what length reference the maker uses and how much adjustment the straps allow.
- Allow for a change in weight if your measurements are old.
The same steps are set out with more detail in the guide on how to measure for a kilt. If you are choosing a style, types of kilts compares the main options.