How to Size Overalls | Measure Once, Fit Right

To size overalls correctly, measure your chest, natural waist (widest point including stomach), hips, and inseam, then compare them to that brand’s size chart and size up if you’re between sizes.

Overalls that fit badly are a pain nobody needs. One pair binds across the shoulders, another won’t close over your waist, and a third drags in the mud. The fix is simple: take five real body measurements and use the brand’s own size chart. Here’s the exact method — no guessing.

How to Take Your Measurements for Overalls

You need four key measurements, taken in inches over the clothes you’ll actually wear underneath. Use a flexible cloth tape and keep it snug, not tight.

• Chest/Bust: Measure just under your arms, across the shoulder blades at their widest. Tape stays level and firm.
• Natural Waist: Bend side to side. The crease that forms is your natural waist. Measure at the widest point around — for most people that includes the stomach, not the narrowest spot.
• Hips/Seat: Stand with heels together. Measure the fullest part around your butt and the front of your crotch.
• Inseam: Measure from your crotch down to your ankle. Or measure the inseam of a pair of pants that fits you well, from crotch seam to hem.

Measure twice. If the numbers differ, use the larger one. Don’t add inches for “ease” at this stage — the chart handles that.

Overalls Size Different Than Pants — Here’s How

Your pant waist size is not your overalls waist size. Bibs sit higher and cover your stomach, so they need more room. Round House, an American overalls maker, recommends buying at least 2 inches larger than your jeans. If you wear pants below your belly, add 4 to 6 inches to your usual jean waist size. A thin guy with a 32-inch waist and no stomach can buy his normal size — but that’s the exception.

Bibs should feel slightly loose across the chest and back. That extra room lets you move and bend without feeling like you’re in a straitjacket. If your measurements land between sizes on the chart, always size up — you can adjust straps or waist rivets, but you can’t add fabric.

Quick Brand Sizing Notes

Dickies coveralls run by chest and waist only: XXS fits a 26–29 inch chest and 20–23 inch waist, while sizes run through 6XL with Short options available. Liberty Bibs defines waist as your natural waist crease, seat as the widest part of your butt plus front of crotch, and requires a thigh measurement for proper fit. Round House recommends a minimum of 2 inches over your jean size, and most men end up adding 4 to 6 inches for a comfortable fit. Always pull up the brand’s own chart before ordering — the difference between a size S in one brand and a size L in another is real.

When you are ready to buy, our top gardening overalls picks cover the models that work best for yard work, with sizing notes for each one.

FAQs

Should I size up or down for overalls?
Size up. Overalls must fit over underlayers. If you are between sizes on the chart, choose the larger size — you can adjust the straps and side rivets to take up slack, but you cannot add room.

Do overalls stretch over time?
Cotton and canvas overalls relax slightly with wear, but you should not rely on stretching to fix a tight fit. Buy for how they feel when new, with enough room to layer underneath.

How do I measure inseam for overalls?
Measure from your crotch to your ankle bone. Or lay flat a pair of pants that fit you well and measure from the crotch seam to the hem. Most overalls come in Short (30-inch), Regular (32-inch), and Tall (34-inch) inseams.