Measure a Buffalo Billfold Company Belt Correctly
Learn how to measure a leather belt so you order the correct size the first time around! Belts come in all different sizes, and some places differ from the industry standard making it hard for customers to get the proper measurement. But there is an industry standard that all serious workshops use. To find your belt measurement for one of our leather belts, you need to measure from the tip of the buckle to the hole you use on a daily basis and write down that number in inches. Next, take the number you measured and round up to the nearest even number. This will give you your belt size.
What if I have my own buckle?
Buckles come in all shapes and sizes. That means that if you’re planning on using a different buckle once you get your belt, you should make sure to still measure from the tip of the buckle you use every day to the hole you use. If the new buckle tip is an inch longer than your current buckle, you need to factor that in by finding the difference in buckle lengths. The measurements we put on each belt is from the tip of the buckle to the middle hole. If in doubt, round up.
The History and Confusion of Measuring Belts
Ever wondered how to measure a belt, and why it’s so hard to get a belt sized correctly? You’re not alone, and you can thank resellers (not manufacturers) for that confusion. “Why,” you ask? We’ll get there… Our goal here is to help you learn how we measure a leather belt and the reasons for doing so. You’ll also gain an understanding on how all of this confusion came about, as well as our take on it. So, buckle-in, and get ready to learn! ;)
This is why measuring a belt is confusing.
It all started with businesses and resellers purchasing belts from wholesellers and putting them on their racks, or today, websites. When a person can try a belt on in person, the size doesn’t matter much. They find the one that fits. Simple, easy, done. However, when they have to order it online, just as with clothing, that becomes a bit more difficult. So many resellers have come up with their own ways to measure a belt. Some measure the full belt length (sans-buckle), some measure the full length (including the buckle), some use your pant size, some say “pant size plus two sizes,” so understandably this has created a LOT of customer confusion. The problem is that when a reseller creates a new way to measure a belt, it does a great disservice to the individual trying to buy a belt because it creates a lot of confusion, belt returns, wasted time, and dissatisfaction all around.
So what is the “right” way. Well, the “right way” is the way that the business selling you the belt tells you to measure. However, let’s be a bit more nuanced…
How should we measure a leather belt?
So how should we all be measuring leather belts? The historically accurate way to measure a belt is the way real leathersmiths have done it for centuries, or at least that’s where all the evidence points – and it’s what makes absolute sense. Belts had all sorts of fastening mechanisms before there was a standard. An historic version from a belt from grave no. 478 at Birka in this discovery of the length of early medieval belts is about as close as we can get. And we’re happy to say that this is the method we continue to use today.
We measure from the tip of the buckle to the hole that you most use (which should be the current hole you use), or if you’re in need of a larger belt, from the tip of the buckle to the place you want the hole to be.
By measuring this way, you don’t need a belt full of 8+ holes. That means the belt looks nicer and functions better.
Accounting for Different Buckle Sizes
Measuring this way also accounts for varying buckle sizes. When you thread the belt through the buckle, you’ll see the belt leather doesn’t attach at the end of the buckle but at the tip. If you’re a lady or gentleman that likes a bigger buckle, you need to account for this. This historic method of measuring that we use takes into account different buckle sizes.
All of our heirloom quality men’s and women’s belts are handcrafted from full grain leather. We use American Bison leather and our leather goods are Made in USA by Bill, Lauri, and the other folks working to create the highest quality products for you, at the Buffalo Billfold Company.
Now that you’ve learned about the intricacies of measuring a belt, we hope that you’re are able to get that perfect fit!
