Fit, measuring and alterations · 8 October 2026 · 3 min read
How to measure your neck for a band collar kurta
How to measure your neck for a band collar kurta: where the tape goes, how much room to allow under a fastened collar, and what changes if you wear it open.
InspirationThe measurement in one line
Measure round the base of your neck, where a collar would sit, keeping the tape snug but flat. Most women measure somewhere between 13 and 15 inches (33 and 38 cm). A band collar that fastens at the top is then made about half an inch to an inch (1.5 to 2.5 cm) bigger than that, so it closes without pressing on the throat.
The collar styles article shows what band, shirt and Peter Pan collars look like. This one is only about the number behind a band collar, sometimes written ban collar, and how to get it right.
Where the tape goes
A soft tape and a mirror are all you need, though a helper makes the back easier to see.
- Stand straight and look ahead, not down. Tilting the head changes the reading.
- At the back, place the tape just over the small bump at the base of the neck, the bone you can feel when you bend your head forward.
- Bring it round the sides where the neck meets the shoulders.
- At the front, let it pass just above the hollow between the collarbones.
- Read the figure with one finger slipped flat under the tape. Do not add room on top of that; the tailor does.
How much room under a fastened band
A collar that closes at the top needs a little room for swallowing, turning the head and the thickness of the fabric itself. One finger slid flat under the closed collar feels close; two fingers feel relaxed. Most women prefer something between the two, which is where the half inch to one inch comes from.
Height matters as well. A typical band on a kurta stands about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) high. The neck narrows as it rises, so a taller band has to be shaped in a gentle curve, or its top edge stands away from the skin while the bottom edge feels tight.
Worn open or worn closed
Many kurta band collars are never fastened at the throat. They sit on a neckline with a front slit and a placket, and the top of the slit stays open. In that case the collar follows the neckline rather than the neck, so the neckline can be cut a touch wider and lower, and an exact neck figure matters less than the length of the slit.
If you want to close the collar sometimes and leave it open at other times, give the neck measurement and ask for room for a fastened collar. A collar cut to sit open looks fine closed only if it was made with that room.
Checking against a kurta you own
If you already have a band collar that feels right, lay it flat and unfastened. Measure from the centre of the button to the far end of the buttonhole, or, on a collar with a hook or no fastening, along the seam where the collar joins the body. That figure is the collar length, with the room already in it, so label it as a garment measurement.
Add the figure to the notes on your quote request, with the band height and whether you wear it open or closed. Our band collar page shows the style, and with custom stitching every measurement is agreed in writing before cutting.
Common questions
Is collar size the same as neck size?
Not quite. Neck size is the measurement of your body. Collar size is the length of the finished collar, which is the neck size plus the room that lets it close comfortably.
What height should a band collar be?
On most kurtas it stands about 1 to 1.5 inches high. Shorter necks are often more comfortable with a lower band, and a taller band needs a slight curve to sit flat against the neck.
Does a band collar need a button?
Only if you want to close it. A band collar on a neckline with an open slit can be left without a fastening at the top, or have a small hook or button for when you want it closed.
