Sleeve lengths in inches: short, elbow, three-quarter, full

Each sleeve length in inches and centimetres

For petite heights of around 5 ft (152 cm), expect each figure to be 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) shorter; for tall heights of around 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) and above, 1 to 2 inches longer.

• Cap sleeve: 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm). Just covers the shoulder.
• Short sleeve: 5 to 8 inches (13 to 20 cm). Ends on the upper arm, a few inches above the elbow.
• Elbow sleeve: 11 to 13 inches (28 to 33 cm). Ends at or just above the elbow; an inch or two longer if it should cover the elbow when the arm bends.
• Three-quarter sleeve: 16 to 18 inches (41 to 46 cm). Ends on the forearm, between the elbow and the wrist.
• Bracelet length: 20 to 21 inches (51 to 53 cm). Stops just short of the wrist bone, leaving a watch or bangles on show.
• Full sleeve: 22 to 24 inches (56 to 61 cm). Reaches the wrist bone or just past it.

Find your own numbers with a tape

Wear a sleeveless or close top. Find the shoulder point by raising your arm sideways: it is the bone at the outer end of the dimple that forms. Hold the tape there, lower the arm and bend the elbow slightly.

• Shoulder point to elbow tip: your elbow length. Take off about an inch (2.5 cm) for a sleeve that sits just above the elbow.
• Shoulder point over the elbow to the wrist bone: your full length. Add up to an inch if you like a sleeve that covers the wrist.
• Three-quarter: multiply your full length by 0.75. A 23 inch full sleeve gives about 17 inches, which lands on the forearm a little nearer the elbow than the wrist.
• Short: decide in a mirror with the tape hanging from the shoulder point. The widest part of the upper arm is the spot most people want to either cover or clear.
• From a garment: lay a top with sleeves you like flat and measure along the top fold from the shoulder seam to the edge.

What changes the measurement

The looks themselves are on our sleeve pages: short, elbow, three-quarter and full. The numbers above assume a plain set-in sleeve, and several things shift them.

• The shoulder seam: a dropped shoulder moves the seam down the arm, so the sleeve itself is shorter for the same finished look. Kaftan and raglan sleeves have no shoulder seam and are usually measured from the neck.
• Cuffs, lace and borders: the length includes them. If a 2 inch lace is added to the end, the fabric part is 2 inches shorter.
• Fit: a close sleeve rides up when the arm bends, so add half an inch to an inch to fitted full sleeves. A loose or bell sleeve hangs lower and can be cut exactly.
• Gathers and puffs: fullness at the top or the cuff uses length, so the cutter adds to the cut length while your finished measurement stays the same.
• Coverage: if a sleeve must keep the wrist covered when you reach or raise your arms, measure with the arm stretched forward and say so.

Putting the number on your order

A name such as “half sleeves” means different things to different people, so a number avoids the guesswork. Give the sleeve style and the length in inches or centimetres; our inches to cm table converts between the two, and the size guide shows the shoulder point on a sketch. When you customise one of our designs or order custom stitching, the sleeve length is written into the quote and agreed before cutting.