Neck depth in inches: how deep are 6, 7 and 8 inches?

Where each depth lands

For orientation, the hollow at the base of the throat is roughly 3 inches (8 cm) below the starting point, and the fullest part of the bust is usually 10 to 11 inches (25 to 28 cm) below it.

• 5 inches (13 cm): about 2 inches below the hollow of the throat. A high, close neckline that sits comfortably under a dupatta or hijab.
• 6 inches (15 cm): about 3 inches below the hollow. Modest, and it stays put when you lean forward.
• 6.5 inches (16.5 cm): a half step for anyone who finds 6 a touch high and 7 a touch low.
• 7 inches (18 cm): about 4 inches below the hollow, on the flat of the upper chest. The usual choice for round and V necks worn every day.
• 7.5 inches (19 cm): approaching the top of the bust on many women. Fine for a narrow V, lower-looking on a wide scoop.
• 8 inches (20 cm): around where the bust begins to rise. A dressier depth that can gape when you bend unless the neckline is narrow or well finished.
• 9 inches (23 cm) and more: a low neckline, an inch or two above the fullest part of the bust. Usually paired with an inner panel or worn under a dupatta.

What moves the number on your body

Two necklines cut to the same depth can look quite different. The shapes themselves are compared in our neckline guide; these are the things that shift where a depth appears to sit.

• Height and torso length: on a petite frame every depth sits proportionally lower, so 6.5 inches can look the way 7 does on someone taller.
• Bust: a fuller bust starts higher on the chest, so the same depth shows more.
• Neckline width: a wide neckline looks and behaves deeper than a narrow one, because it has less to hold it against the body.
• Shape: a V narrows to a point, so it shows less than a round neck of equal depth. A square shows the most.
• Fabric and weight: soft, stretchy or heavily embroidered fabric drops a little in wear; crisp cotton stays where it is cut.
• How it is measured: some people measure from the hollow of the throat instead of the shoulder. Their numbers are about 3 inches smaller for the same neckline, so always say where you started.

The mirror and tape test

Wear a close top and the bra you would wear with the outfit, and stand straight in front of a mirror.

• Hold the end of the tape on top of your shoulder, right beside your neck, and let it hang straight down.
• Look at where 6, 7 and 8 inches fall. Hold a ruler or a pencil level across your chest at each mark to see the line a neckline would make.
• Lay a necklace, ribbon or piece of string in a curve to that level to picture a round neck, or pull it into a V.
• Lean forward as if picking something up. If the level you chose worries you, go up by half an inch.
• Compare with a top you like; the method is in how to measure front neck depth.

Choosing a depth for your order

Half inches are perfectly normal to ask for. For a workday kurta most people settle between 6 and 7 inches; for a dressier outfit with a dupatta, 7 to 8. If the suit has an embroidered neck piece, the embroidery sets the shape and the depth can usually move only a little. A V-neck or a round neck with a slit adds length without much depth.

Write the figure and the unit in your notes when you customise a design, with the words “measured from the shoulder beside the neck”. On a custom stitching order the neckline is agreed in writing before cutting, and if you are undecided you can ask us to suggest a depth for the design.