Size Studio
Belt Size Chart & Calculator: Waist Size to Belt Size
Your belt size is usually your trouser (pants) waist size plus 2 inches, so a 32-inch waist takes a 34-inch belt (85 cm) and a 34-inch waist takes a 36-inch belt (90 cm). Enter your trouser waist below to get your size from the belt size chart in inches, EU centimetres and a letter size.
Your conversion appears here. The full chart is below.
| Trouser waist | Belt size | Belt (EU cm) | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 in | 30 in | 75 cm | S |
| 30 in | 32 in | 80 cm | S |
| 32 in | 34 in | 85 cm | M |
| 34 in | 36 in | 90 cm | M |
| 36 in | 38 in | 95 cm | L |
| 38 in | 40 in | 100 cm | L |
| 40 in | 42 in | 105 cm | XL |
| 42 in | 44 in | 110 cm | XL |
| 44 in | 46 in | 115 cm | XXL |
How to measure your belt size
There are two reliable ways to find your size. Measuring a belt you already own is the most accurate, because it already accounts for the trousers you wear it with.
From a belt that fits
- Lay the belt flat on a table, buckle and all.
- Find the point where the strap folds round the buckle bar. Measure from there, not from the tip of the buckle.
- Measure along the strap to the hole you use most often.
- That length, in inches or centimetres, is your belt size. Ideally it should land on the middle hole of the new belt.
From your trousers
- Check the waist size on the label of trousers or jeans that fit you well.
- If there is no label, run a tape round your waist where your belt sits, over the waistband of your trousers.
- Enter the waist in the calculator. It rounds to the nearest inch and adds 2 inches for you.
Why your belt size is bigger than your waist size
A belt goes round the outside of your trousers, over the fabric of the waistband, so it needs to be a little longer than the waist size on the label. Belt size is measured from the buckle to the middle hole, which leaves a couple of holes on each side for adjustment. Most brands add 2 inches (5 cm) to the trouser waist to get there.
That is also why belt size and trouser size are not the same number, even though people often ask for them as if they were. If you buy a belt in your trouser size, you will usually end up on the last hole, or short of it.
EU belt sizes and letter sizes
European belts are sized in centimetres, usually in 5 cm steps, so the calculator rounds the metric size to the nearest 5 cm. A 36-inch belt, for example, comes out as a 90. Letter sizes are broader groupings. On this chart, belts up to 32 inches are S, 34–36 inches are M, 38–40 inches are L, 42–44 inches are XL, and anything longer is XXL.
The same method works for women’s belts worn through belt loops. A belt worn higher, on the natural waist over a dress or a knit, should be measured where it will sit.
Quick answers
- 28-inch waist: 30-inch belt, 75 cm, S
- 30-inch waist: 32-inch belt, 80 cm, S
- 32-inch waist: 34-inch belt, 85 cm, M
- 34-inch waist: 36-inch belt, 90 cm, M
- 36-inch waist: 38-inch belt, 95 cm, L
- 38-inch waist: 40-inch belt, 100 cm, L
- 40-inch waist: 42-inch belt, 105 cm, XL
FAQs
What size belt do I need for a 32 waist?
A 34-inch belt, which is an 85 in European sizing and usually a medium. That lets you fasten it on the middle hole over your trousers.
Is belt size the same as pant size?
No. A belt is normally 2 inches longer than the trouser waist it goes with, because it wraps round the outside of the waistband.
What is a size 90 belt in US sizes?
A 90 cm belt is a 36-inch belt, which suits a trouser waist of about 34 inches.
What if I’m between two belt sizes?
Choose the size that puts you closest to the middle hole. Some belts with a screw or clamp buckle can be shortened at the buckle end, which makes going up a size the safer choice for those.
How do I measure a belt I already own?
Measure from the fold at the buckle bar to the hole you wear it on. Leave the buckle itself out of the measurement.
If you only know your size in EU numbers or you are buying jeans at the same time, the jeans size converter gives your waist in inches. All of our converters are in the size guide.
Belt size is calculated as trouser waist + 2 inches, the allowance most brands use. The EU size converts that to centimetres and rounds to the nearest 5 cm. The letter sizes are typical groupings, not a standard, so check a brand’s own chart when it gives one.
Look up one size
Trouser waist
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