Puffer jackets (or puffer coats) have skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade. Once early autumn rolls in, retailers stock up on a wide variety of this lightweight, comfy outer layer.
Personally, our team adores them. With this adoration, however, comes a word of warning:
Much like other outer layers, puffer jackets demand attention if you want the right fit.
To avoid sizing issues, follow our full guide to measuring a puffer coat/jacket.
How to measure a puffer jacket:
Handy tips for the right fit
Like any outer layer, we’ll be looking at five groups of measurements here:
- Chest
- Waist
- Sleeve
- Shoulder
- Length
With all of them, you have to absolutely make sure your jacket lies flat and is zipped up. Surfaces that work extremely well are either the floor or an even, sturdy table.
Also, it’s imperative to use a soft measuring tape for its flexibility.
Let’s start with the…
Taking the chest measurement of a puffer jacket
The puffer coat should be measured from armpit to armpit – make sure you run the tape across the chest area. You can obtain the total chest circumference by doubling the measurement you get.
Puffer jackets feature some significant padding due to their design. You have to account for the added bulk when measuring.
How can you do that?
Rather simple! Just make sure the jacket’s chest measurement is at least 3-5.5 inches (8-14 cm) larger than your chest measurement. This will allow for the wearer to move their arms or shoulders in a comfortable, free manner.
What would happen if you skipped this extra space?
Ignoring the padding will result in a puffer jacket that restricts movement, envelops the body too tight, and is generally uncomfortable. The issue gets worse if the person wears additional layers underneath the jacket during the cold season.
In short: Always account for these 3-5.5 inches/8-14 cm!
Taking the waist measurement of a puffer jacket
Here comes a big difference between puffer jackets and traditional jackets or coats:
Puffer jackets have a cocoon design which makes measuring across their narrowest part pretty difficult.
Instead, we recommend you measure approximately 15.7 inches (40 cm) below the highest shoulder point. Refer to the picture to locate the exact point:
Basically, we’re talking about the meeting point between the shoulder and the collar.
You can get the total waist circumference by doubling this measurement.
Once again, you have to keep in mind the built-in padding. A puffer jacket will fit comfortably across the waist if you add an ease of 3-3.5 inches (6-8 cm) to the actual waist measurement.
You can add even more inches/centimeters. However, this number is the general baseline when accounting for extra inner layers worn in autumn or winter.
Measuring the sleeves of a puffer jacket
The number one rule here is to fully extend the sleeves. Also, remember to have the puffer coat flat and zipped up.
Start from the shoulder seam – where the sleeve is attached to the puffer jacket. Using the soft measuring tape, glide it from the top of the shoulder down to the end of the cuff.
In general, the sleeve should reach the wrist and end where the palm begins. This is the optimal length, guaranteeing both warmth and comfort.
After the measurement, double-check the sleeve length. The padding shouldn’t restrict the wearer’s arm movement, the sleeves shouldn’t ride up, and the jacket shouldn’t feel too tight when wearing clothes underneath.
Measuring a puffer coat’s shoulder width
Try to lay the puffer jacket as flat as possible, ensuring there are no wrinkles around the shoulders. Then:
- Identify the shoulder seams: Simply said, this is the exact point where the sleeves intersect with the puffer coat’s body.
- Measure between them: Pay attention to keeping the tape straight when measuring from one shoulder seam to another.
- Write down your result: Noting the measurement in both inches and centimeters is good practice.
And that’s it for the shoulders, pretty much!
Measuring the length of a puffer jacket
The last one is the easiest measurement to take:
Just put the measuring tape on the jacket’s collar. Keep the tape straight and run it from the collar to the bottom of the jacket.
That’s the total length!
Puffer jacket length is an extremely important factor. A longer coat will offer more coverage and warmth, making it the perfect sidekick for severe cold weather and harsh conditions.
Shorter puffer jackets are popular with outdoor enthusiasts keen on hiking or skiing. They appreciate the unmatched mobility of the shorter design while benefitting from the warm and cozy padding it offers.
Picking up a puffer jacket that fits:
How to match your body measurements
If you stumbled upon this article when shopping for a puffer jacket online, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s a clear and concise way to measure yourself for a puffer jacket.
Chest measurement
Using a soft measuring tape, wrap it around the fullest part of your chest. In most cases, this would be under your armpits or across the shoulder blades.
We recommend you add 3-5.5 inches (8-14 cm) to the measurement you get. This will allow for comfortable wearing if you put a sweater/pullover underneath the jacket.
Sleeve measurement
Place the tape at the outer edge of the shoulder where it meets the arm. Run the tape down, going through the elbow and continuing to the wrist (where the palm begins).
Make sure your arm is slightly bent when measuring! Otherwise, you’ll fail to get a puffer jacket that fits your arms naturally.
Shoulder measurement
Your shoulder seam lies at the tip of the shoulder. Thus, measure from the tip across to your other shoulder’s tip.
The shoulder area is the most infuriating to nail down alone. We recommend you have a friend or relative help you out with this particular measurement.
Waist measurement
Your guiding point here is the narrowest part of your waist. With most people, this lies just above the belly button. Simply measure around and you’re done!
Body length
Start measuring from the highest shoulder point. The ending point should be the approximate area where you want your puffer jacket to end.
This is a very liberal measurement, as it depends on your style or preferences. In our experience, most people choose the area around the hip bones for an ending point.
We recommend you adopt a natural posture when measuring. Don’t slouch, otherwise you’ll skew the length measurement.
SizeSense:
The easiest way to find the right puffer jacket size
Compared to regular jackets or coats, puffer jackets can be even more elusive in their true measurements.
Add in shopping for a jacket online, and the situation becomes quite complicated.
But wait, there’s more:
Factors like different brand sizing guides and design variances also contribute to customers ending up frustrated. Imagine how a supposedly Large-size puffer jacket doesn’t fit because it was made with less stretchier fabric.
And that’s just one example…out of many.
We created SizeSense to dispel such inconveniences. Our size recommendation tool fully considers individual body measurements, garment measurements, and fabric elasticity plus product design.
Outperforming legacy solutions with our 94% accuracy rate, SizeSense is yet to be matched in predicting the right fit for online customers.
SizeSense is available on the Shopify App Store for you to enjoy the wide range of functionalities it offers you.
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