EVERY Suit Jacket Size Decoded (With Measurements)

If the complicated sizing system of suit jackets makes you confused and irritated, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I will be breaking down the various sizes of a suit jacket (also called blazers), what those numbers actually mean, and what size is going to be perfect for you.

If you do not have time to go through the entire article (I recommend that you do, by the way, there’s a lot to learn here), then here’s a quick size chart that will help you in figuring out which size you should get in suit jackets.

Suit Jacket Size Chart

Jacket Size	Waist (in inches)	Chest (in inches)	Height	Sleeve length
34R	26 – 28	32 – 34	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
34S	26 – 28	32 – 34	Less than 5’7	33 in
36L	27 – 30	34 – 36	More than 6’1	36 in
36R	27 – 30	34 – 36	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
36S	27 – 30	34 – 36	Less than 5’7	33 in
38L	29 – 32	36 – 38	More than 6’1	36 in
38R	29 – 32	36 – 38	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
38S	29 – 32	36 – 38	Less than 5’7	33 in
40L	30 – 34	38 – 40	More than 6’1	36 in
40R	30 – 34	38 – 40	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
40S	30 – 34	38 – 40	Less than 5’7	33 in
42L	32 – 36	40 – 42	More than 6’1	36 in
42R	32 – 36	40 – 42	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
42S	32 – 36	40 – 42	Less than 5’7	33 in
44L	34 – 40	42 – 44	More than 6’1	36 in
44R	34 – 40	42 – 44	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
44S	34 – 39	42 – 44	Less than 5’7	33 in
46L	36 – 42	44 – 46	More than 6’1	36 in
46R	36 – 42	44 – 46	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
46S	36 – 41	44 – 46	Less than 5’7	33 in
48L	38 – 44	46 – 48	More than 6’1	36 in
48R	38 – 44	46 – 48	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
48S	38 – 44	46 – 48	Less than 5’7	33 in
50L	40 – 47	48 – 50	More than 6’1	36 in
50R	40 – 47	48 – 50	5’8″ – 6′	34 in
50S	40 – 46	48 – 50	Less than 5’7	33 in

However, this information might not be completely accurate, because each suit brand tends to fit a bit differently. Therefore, you need to be aware of the underlying meaning of suit jacket sizes so that you can figure out, on your own, what size is going to be the best for your body type.

But again, it’s a good starting point as people have different size torsos and legs and it’s meant to fit a range.

Suit Jacket Size Meaning

Suit Size	International Size	Waist	Chest
34	XXS	26-28	32-34
36	XS	27-30	34-36
38	S	29-32	36-38
40	M	30-34	38-40
42	M	32-36	40-42
44	L	34-40	42-44
46	XL	36-42	44-46
48	XL	38-44	46-48
50	XXL	40-46	48-50
52	XXL	42-48	50-52

Here’s a breakdown of each suit jacket size and its corresponding international size.

• A size 34 suit jacket is considered Extra-Extra-Small (XXS).
• A size 36 suit jacket is considered Extra Small (XS).
• A size 38 suit jacket is considered to be Small (S).
• Size 40 and Size 42 suit jackets are considered Medium (M).
• A size 44 suit jacket is considered Large (L).
• Size 46 and Size 48 suit jackets are considered Extra Large (XL).
• Size 50 and Size 52 suit jackets are considered Extra-Extra-Large (XXL).

What Do Suit Jacket Sizes Mean?

A suit jacket’s size is usually denoted by combining a number with an alphabet. Examples are 40r, 38s, 48l, etc. These numbers are typically between 34 and 52.

The numerical portion of the sizing denotes the chest size of the jacket in inches. Therefore, a 48l coat is going to have a 48-inch chest area. A 40r suit jacket will have 40 inches of room in the chest.

Now that that’s clear, let’s move on to the other part of the sizing equation – the alphabets.

The letters in the sizing system denote the length of the jacket. R stands for regular, L stands for long, and S stands for small. Some brands also provide XL (Extra large) and XS (Extra small) sizing.

The length of a jacket is really important because a 44-inch suit jacket may end up looking very different on two individuals if one of them is 5’5 and the other is 6’3.

What Jacket Size should you go for?

If you’re shorter than 5’7, go for a size S. If you’re taller than 6’1, go for a size L. If you are between 5’7 and 6’1, go for a size R. Combine this size with your chest measurements to find out which suit jacket size is perfect for you.

For example, if your chest size is 40 inches, and you are 5’9, then you should go for a 40r jacket as that is the size that is going to fit you perfectly.

What Size is a 40r Jacket?

While the official sizing depends on the manufacturer, a 40r jacket is considered as “medium-size” by most designers.

A 40r jacket can accommodate a 40-inch chest, and the letter R means that it is a regular cut.

Therefore, go for a size 40r jacket if your chest is in the 39-41 inch range and your height is between 5’8 and 6’1.

However, there are also two more variations to the 40r suit jacket – the 40s jacket and the 40l jacket. Here is the difference between these three variants:

40r vs 40s vs 40l

Measurements	40r	40s	40l
Waist	30 – 34 inches	30 – 34 inches	30 – 34 inches
Height	5’8 – 6′	Less than 5’7	More than 6’1
Chest	38-40 inches	38-40 inches	38-40 inches
Sleeve Length	34 inches	33 inches	36 inches

What Size is a 38r Jacket?

A 38r jacket is considered a size “small” by most manufacturers. However, this can vary from brand to brand as most brands have their own sizing system.

As denoted by the symbols, a 38r jacket is meant to be a regular cut jacket with its chest measurements being 38 inches.

But as always, one brand’s 38r might fit you perfectly while another’s 38r coat is too tight or too loose.

There are two more variations of the 38r jacket – the 38l and the 38s. Here’s a comparison between them.

38r vs 38s vs 38l

Measurements	38r	38s	38l
Waist	29 – 32 inches	29 – 32 inches	29 – 32 inches
Height	5’8 – 6′	Less than 5’7	More than 6’1
Chest	36-38 inches	36-38 inches	36-38 inches
Sleeve Length	34 inches	33 inches	33 inches

Final Remarks

In this article, I tried to cover the complicated sizing system of suit jackets and coats. I hope I have covered all the common doubts people have about this issue and helped you make the right decision about what suit to buy.

I can go on and on and talk about every suit size in detail like I talked about 40r and 38r, but I think by this point, you can do the calculations for yourself.

Basically, the entire sizing experience can be improved if you know your measurements. Doing this will help you in making sure that your suit fits you perfectly.

Remember – What lingerie is to men, a well-fitted suit is to women.