Who: Written by House of Aldeno's design and fit team, the people who set the actual measurements on our own shirt measurement chart, not a generic sizing blog with no stake in getting it right.

Why: Because a wrong guess against a shirt measurement chart is the single biggest reason for a return, and we'd rather help you measure correctly the first time than process an exchange after the fact.

How: Built from the same measuring points and conversion logic we use to build our own shirt measurement chart for every collection, cross-checked against how sleeve length, collar size, and body length actually behave once a shirt is worn, not just how they look on a table.

Most shirt returns come down to one of two mistakes: measuring against the wrong reference, or trusting a size label without checking it against a shirt measurement chart at all. Both are avoidable in about five minutes with a tape measure. This guide covers the actual measuring points that matter, how sleeve length and oversized fits are charted differently from a standard shirt, and the two care habits (folding and washing) that keep a shirt measuring the same a year later as it does on day one.

How to read and use a shirt measurement chart

A proper shirt measurement chart lists garment measurements, not body measurements, which is the detail most people miss. When you measure your own chest, that number needs a few inches of ease added before you compare it to the chart, since the chart lists the finished garment's flat measurement, not a skin-tight fit. The core points any shirt measurement chart should give you are chest (measured flat, then doubled), shoulder width (seam to seam across the back), sleeve length (shoulder seam to cuff), and body length (collar seam to hem). If a chart only lists a size label like M or L with no numbers next to it, that's a chart worth being cautious of, since "M" varies meaningfully between brands.

House of Aldeno's own shirt size chart, by fit

Here's what that actually looks like in practice, pulled directly from our own live size chart for shirts. Regular fit and slim fit are charted separately, since the chest and waist figures shift by a meaningful amount between the two even at the same labeled size, which is exactly the kind of gap this guide keeps pointing back to.

Regular fit shirt

Slim fit shirt

Line up your own numbers against these two tables rather than the size label alone, and most of the gap between "should fit" and "actually fits" disappears. The waist column is where the two fits diverge the most, slim fit runs meaningfully closer through the body at every size, which is the actual mechanical reason a slim fit and a regular fit at the same labeled size can feel so different once worn.

How to measure shirt length correctly

Shirt length is measured from the base of the collar, at the back of the neck, straight down to the hem. Lay the shirt flat on a bed or table, smooth out any bunching at the shoulders, and run the tape in a straight vertical line, not along the curve of the fabric. The most common mistake here is measuring from the shoulder seam instead of the collar base, which under-measures the shirt by an inch or more and makes a correctly-sized shirt look shorter on the chart than it actually is. If you're comparing against your own height rather than an existing shirt, a rough guide is that a shirt meant to be worn tucked should reach at least a few inches past the beltline, while one meant to be worn untucked should sit at or just below the hip.

Sleeve length and sleeve size charts, explained

Sleeve length is measured from the center back of the collar, across the shoulder, and down to the cuff, which is different from measuring just the arm itself, and it's the single most common source of sleeve size chart confusion. If you're measuring an existing shirt that fits well, lay it flat, smooth the sleeve out fully, and measure from that same collar-center point rather than from the shoulder seam, since starting from the shoulder alone will under-measure by several inches. A sleeve size chart that only lists "short," "regular," and "long" without inch measurements is far less useful than one with actual numbers, since "regular" means different things across brands the same way "M" does. If your two arms measure slightly differently, which is genuinely common, size to the longer measurement and expect a very minor amount of excess fabric on the shorter side rather than the reverse.

Oversized t-shirt size charts work differently

An oversized t shirt size chart is built on a different logic than a fitted shirt's chart, and comparing the two directly is where a lot of sizing confusion comes from. A fitted chart measures how close the garment sits to the body; an oversized chart measures how much intentional drop is built in beyond that, usually specified as extra inches added to the chest and body length figures. If you're used to reading a fitted shirt measurement chart and pick your usual size on an oversized chart without adjusting, you'll likely end up with less oversized drape than intended, since the oversized chart's "M" already includes room a fitted chart's "M" doesn't. The safer approach is to compare the oversized chart's actual chest measurement in inches against a fitted shirt you already own, rather than matching by size label alone.

How to fold a long sleeve shirt without creasing it

Folding a long sleeve shirt well protects both its shape and the collar's set, which matters more for linen than for most fabrics since linen shows a hard fold crease more readily than cotton. Start by buttoning the top two or three buttons and laying the shirt face down. Fold each sleeve back along the shoulder seam so it lies flat against the back of the shirt, then fold the sleeve itself back on itself so no part hangs past the shirt's edge. Fold the body in thirds from the bottom, bringing the hem up toward the collar, rather than in half, since a single hard fold across the chest is the crease most likely to show once the shirt is worn. For a shirt going into a drawer for more than a few weeks, refolding it along a slightly different line every so often prevents the same crease from setting permanently.

How to wash linen shirts without ruining them

Linen has a genuine reputation for being harder to care for than it deserves, and most of the actual risk comes from heat rather than the washing itself. Wash linen shirts on a cool or cold cycle, since hot water is what causes the shrinkage and fiber damage linen gets blamed for. Use a gentle or delicate cycle rather than a standard one, since linen's fibers are more prone to breaking under high-agitation spinning than cotton's are. Skip the dryer entirely if you can, air drying flat or on a hanger, since tumble-drying heat is the single fastest way to shrink a linen shirt and flatten its natural texture. If you do iron it, do it while the shirt is still slightly damp and on a linen or medium heat setting, since a fully dry linen shirt needs more heat to press out wrinkles than a damp one does, and that extra heat is harder on the fibers over repeated washes.

Building a sizing routine that actually prevents returns

The fastest way to stop guessing is to keep one shirt you already own and trust the fit of as a personal reference. Measure it once using the points above, chest, shoulder, sleeve, and length, and keep those four numbers saved somewhere easy to find. Every time you're comparing a new shirt's measurement chart against your own sizing, you're comparing against real numbers instead of a size label, which is the actual difference between a confident purchase and a guess. This is exactly the standard we hold our own linen shirt collection's charts to, every size listed with its actual chest, shoulder, and sleeve figures rather than a label alone.

If you're between two sizes on a chart, it's worth checking the specific cut before defaulting to sizing up. A slim fit linen shirt is built with less ease through the body than a regular cut at the same labeled size, so the same measurement chart numbers can fit differently depending on which fit family you're actually comparing against.

What to do once the shirt arrives

A shirt that measures correctly on a chart can still feel off in the first few wears, and that's often about fabric settling rather than a sizing mistake. Linen in particular softens and drapes slightly differently after its first two or three washes than it does straight off the shelf, so it's worth holding off on judging fit until after that initial wash rather than immediately after unboxing. Our linen button down shirt collection is a good example of this, the collar and placket both relax slightly with wear in a way that a flat, unworn measurement won't fully predict.

Once you've measured correctly and know your numbers, the actual buying decision gets a lot simpler. Browse the current range at House of Aldeno with your own chest, shoulder, sleeve, and length figures in hand, and the size chart on any collection becomes a genuine comparison rather than a guess.

What our customers say

"It's fitting was awesome and looking good, and the quality of shirt was great." (K Nagojirao, 5 stars, repeated from an earlier cluster, see note below)

"Awesome products with great quality and fit!!!" (Pratibha Chaturvedi, 5 stars, repeated from an earlier cluster, see note below)

"Good service. I loved Aldeno fabric." (Narasimha naika, 5 stars, repeated from an earlier cluster, see note below)

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between body measurements and a shirt measurement chart?

A shirt measurement chart lists the finished garment's flat measurements, not your body's measurements directly. You need to add a few inches of ease to your own chest measurement before comparing it against the chart's numbers.

How do I measure my sleeve length correctly?

Measure from the center back of the collar, across the shoulder, and down to the cuff, not just along the arm itself. Starting from the shoulder seam alone will under-measure the sleeve by several inches.

Why does an oversized t-shirt size chart look different from a regular one?

An oversized chart builds in extra chest and length measurements on top of a standard fit to create intentional drape. Comparing it directly to a fitted chart by size label alone usually results in less oversized fit than intended.

How do I know if I should size up or down between two sizes?

Compare the chart's actual chest and shoulder measurements against a shirt you already own and trust the fit of, rather than guessing from the label. Also check the specific cut, since a slim fit and regular fit can list different measurements at the same labeled size.

What's the correct way to fold a long sleeve shirt?

Fold each sleeve back along the shoulder seam so it lies flat, then fold the body in thirds from the bottom rather than in half, to avoid a single hard crease across the chest.

Can I wash linen shirts in a normal washing machine?

Yes, on a cool or cold, gentle cycle. Avoid hot water and skip the tumble dryer, both are the main causes of shrinkage and fiber damage that give linen its reputation for being difficult to care for.

Why does my shirt fit differently after the first wash?

Linen in particular softens and settles into its true drape after the first two or three washes. It's worth judging fit after that initial wash rather than straight out of the packaging.

Does a bigger sleeve measurement always mean a better fit?

Not necessarily. If your two arms measure slightly differently, which is common, size to the longer measurement and expect a small amount of excess fabric on the shorter side, rather than sizing up further and getting excess on both.

Conclusion

A shirt measurement chart only works if you're measuring the same things it is, garment dimensions, not just body size, and comparing like against like. Five minutes with a tape measure against a shirt you already trust the fit of will tell you more than any size label can, and it's the difference between an exchange and getting it right the first time. Fold and wash it correctly afterward and the same measurements will still be accurate a year from now, which is really the whole point of measuring carefully in the first place.