About the Belt Size Calculator
This belt size calculator tells you what size belt to order. A belt’s size is the distance from where the leather meets the buckle to the middle hole, so it is a little larger than your pant size — the usual rule is to go 2 inches above your trouser waist size (pants 32, belt 34). The calculator applies that rule, or works from a belt you already own or a tape measurement, and rounds to the even sizes belts are sold in.
Use it when buying a belt online, choosing a gift, or switching between US inch sizes and European centimetre sizes, which are quoted in steps of 5 cm (85, 90, 95…). It also shows the typical letter size (S, M, L, XL) for brands that size belts that way.
Measuring an old belt is the most accurate method: lay it flat and measure from the fold at the buckle to the hole you use most. A tape measure around your waist over your trousers, where you wear a belt, gives the same figure without a belt. Brands vary slightly, so check the size guide when you are between sizes.
With the default inputs, the belt size to buy is 34 in. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the belt size calculator
- 1Choose how you will size the belt: pant size, an old belt or a tape measure.
- 2Enter your pant waist size, or the measured length in inches or centimetres.
- 3For an old belt, measure from the leather fold at the buckle to the hole you use.
- 4Read the belt size to buy plus its EU and letter equivalents.
- 5Check the chart if you are between sizes or buying from a European brand.
Formula and method
A belt is labelled by the length from the buckle fold to the middle (usually third) hole. Because a belt wraps over your trousers rather than your skin, it ends up roughly 2 inches longer than the waist number on your pants, which is why the standard rule is pant size + 2. Measuring a belt that already fits, or wrapping a tape around your waist over your trousers, gives that length directly.
Belts are usually sold in even inch sizes, so the exact length is rounded to the nearest even number; with five holes spaced an inch apart, the belt then fits about 2 inches either side of its labelled size. European sizes are the same length in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm), sold in 5 cm steps.
- waist
- Pant (trouser) waist size in inches
- exact
- Length from buckle fold to the hole you would use
Worked examples
Pant size 32
Adding 2 inches to a 32 pant waist gives a size 34 belt. That is 86.4 cm, sold in Europe as an 85, and it falls in the typical medium range.
Odd pant size 35
A 35 waist needs a 37-inch belt, which rounds up to the even size 38 (96.5 cm, EU 95). The buckle will sit one hole inside the middle, which is normal.
Old belt measuring 99 cm to the used hole
99 cm is 38.98 inches. The nearest even size is 38, so buy a 38-inch belt, or a 95 cm belt from a European brand.
Frequently asked questions
What size belt do I need for a 32 waist?+
For pants with a 32-inch waist, buy a size 34 belt. The usual rule is to add 2 inches to your pant size so the buckle fastens on the middle hole.
How do you measure belt size?+
Lay a belt that fits flat and measure from where the leather folds at the buckle to the hole you use most. That length in inches is your belt size. Do not include the buckle itself.
Should a belt fasten on the middle hole?+
Ideally yes. Most belts have five holes about an inch apart, and the labelled size is the middle one, which leaves room to loosen or tighten by about 2 inches either way.
How do European belt sizes work?+
European belts are sized in centimetres, usually in 5 cm steps. Multiply your inch size by 2.54 and round to the nearest 5: a 34-inch belt is about 85 cm and a 36-inch belt about 90 cm.
What if my size is between two belt sizes?+
Pick the size that puts your usual fit on the middle or one hole either side. If you plan to tuck shirts in or wear the belt with heavier trousers, go up rather than down.