The single biggest reason people hesitate to buy a leather jacket online is fit. A hoodie that runs slightly large is forgiving. A leather jacket that runs slightly large looks borrowed — and one that runs small won't close over a sweater in November.
The good news is that jacket sizing isn't guesswork. Five measurements tell you everything you need to know, and you can take all of them in about four minutes with a soft measuring tape and a shirt you already own.
What you need before you start
- A soft measuring tape (the fabric kind used for sewing, not a metal builder's tape)
- A fitted t-shirt or shirt — measure over this, not over a bulky jumper
- Someone to help, ideally, for the shoulder and back measurements
If you don't have a soft tape, use a phone charging cable or a piece of string, mark the point with your finger, then lay it flat against a ruler. It works.
The five measurements that matter
1. Chest
Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, usually right across the nipple line and under the armpits. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and snug but not tight — you should be able to slide two fingers under it.
Breathe normally. Don't puff your chest out, and don't suck in. The number you get while breathing naturally is the number that will make the jacket comfortable to wear for eight hours.
This is the most important measurement. If you only take one, take this one.
2. Shoulder width
Measure across your upper back, from the bony point where your left shoulder meets your arm, straight across to the same point on the right. This is where a jacket either looks tailored or looks like it belongs to someone else.
Shoulder seams that sit too far down your arm are the classic sign of an oversized jacket. Seams that dig into the top of your shoulder mean it's too small — and in leather, that's the seam most likely to split under stress.
3. Sleeve length
With your arm relaxed at your side and a slight bend at the elbow, measure from the shoulder seam point (same bony point as above) down the outside of your arm to your wrist bone.
A leather jacket sleeve should end at the wrist bone or just past it. Slightly long is better than slightly short — leather sleeves ride up when you raise your arms, and a sleeve that's borderline standing still becomes obviously short when you're driving or reaching.
4. Waist
Measure around your natural waist — the narrowest part of your torso, usually an inch or so above your belly button. For a cropped biker jacket this determines how the hem sits. For a longer coat it affects how the jacket drapes.
Again: breathe normally, and don't pull the tape tight.
5. Jacket length (back length)
Measure from the base of your neck — find the bony bump at the top of your spine when you tilt your head forward — straight down your back to where you want the jacket to end.
This one is a style choice as much as a measurement:
- Cropped / biker length: ends at or just above the belt line
- Standard length: ends 1–2 inches below the belt line, covering the top of the back pockets
- Long / coat length: mid-thigh or below
How to read a size chart without getting it wrong
Here's the mistake that causes most returns: size charts can list either body measurements or garment measurements, and they are not the same thing.
A body measurement chart tells you "if your chest is 40 inches, order a Large." A garment measurement chart tells you "the Large jacket measures 44 inches around the chest." That four-inch gap is deliberate — it's the ease built in so you can move, and so a layer fits underneath.
Before you order from any store, check which type of chart you're looking at. If a size chart lists a 40-inch chest for a Large and you have a 40-inch chest, that jacket will be uncomfortably tight if it's a garment chart, and correct if it's a body chart.
Our size charts are body measurement charts, listed in inches. Measure yourself, find your row, order that size.
How a leather jacket should actually fit
Leather is not fabric. It doesn't stretch back. Whatever shape you break it into over the first few months, it keeps — which means the fit you buy is close to the fit you'll have forever, with one exception: a well-made leather jacket relaxes slightly through the body and elbows as it moulds to you. It does not grow a size.
Use these checks:
- Shoulders: seams sit exactly at the edge of your shoulder. This is non-negotiable — it's the one thing a tailor can barely fix.
- Chest: you can zip it fully and still slide a flat hand between the leather and your chest. Any more and it's loose.
- Arms: you can bend your elbow fully and reach forward to a steering wheel without the whole jacket pulling up.
- Length: the hem sits where you decided it should, and doesn't ride up when you lift your arms.
- Layering: if you plan to wear jumpers under it, test with the thickest jumper you own — not a t-shirt.
Standard size or custom size?
Standard sizing works well if your measurements land cleanly inside one row of the chart. Most people's don't.
Go custom if any of these apply to you:
- Your chest says one size and your shoulders say another
- You're tall and standard sleeves are always an inch short
- You're short and standard jackets swamp you through the body
- You lift, and your shoulders and chest don't match a normal size ratio
- You want a specific length that's between the standard options
Custom sizing costs nothing extra at MS Jacket Store. You select Custom Size on the product page and send us the five measurements above. We cut to your numbers.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring over a hoodie. Adds two to three inches and gives you a jacket that never fits properly over a t-shirt.
- Pulling the tape tight. You are measuring your body, not compressing it.
- Measuring your existing jacket instead of yourself — unless that jacket fits you perfectly, in which case it's actually a good sanity check. Lay it flat, measure pit-to-pit, double it, and compare.
- Using your shirt size. Shirt sizing and jacket sizing are different systems and different brands. A 16.5" collar tells us nothing about your shoulder width.
- Rounding up "to be safe." Give us the real number. We build in the ease.
Frequently asked questions
Should I size up for a leather jacket?
No — not if you're measuring correctly. Size charts already include room for movement and a layer underneath. Size up only if you specifically plan to wear thick knitwear under it every time.
Does leather stretch over time?
Genuine leather relaxes and moulds to your body, particularly through the elbows and body panels, but it doesn't gain a full size. Never buy tight expecting it to stretch out.
What if I'm between sizes?
Choose custom sizing. That's exactly the gap it exists to fill — and it costs no more than a standard size.
How do I measure for a woman's leather jacket?
The same five measurements apply, using our women's chart. Measure your chest at the fullest point over a non-padded bra for the most accurate result.
Can you make a jacket in a colour that isn't listed?
Often, yes. Message us through our contact page with the style and the colour you want and we'll confirm whether it's possible and what the lead time is.
Ready to order?
Take your five measurements, check them against the size chart on the product page, and choose either your standard size or Custom Size. If you're unsure, send us your numbers before you order — we'd rather spend two minutes on an email than have you send a jacket back.