Do I need special equipment to measure my body accurately?

No — that's the whole point. A piece of string or ribbon and a ruler (or a dollar bill and credit card as reference objects) is enough for manual measuring. Or skip equipment entirely and use Shaku: two ordinary phone photos get you your measurements and best size match in seconds, no tape measure required.

How accurate is a phone-photo measurement compared to a tape measure?

It gets you a real, usable body model — not a guess. Shaku extracts 60+ measurements from your two photos and matches them against actual brand size charts to find your best size match. It won't replace a professional tailor's precision, but for everyday online shopping, it's built to be more consistent than most people's tape-measure attempts (crooked tape, wrong tension, guessing where "waist" actually is).

What if I don't have a printer or standard-size object for reference?

No problem — a dollar bill, a credit card, or any object with a known length works as a substitute reference. Or skip reference objects altogether and use Shaku's two-photo scan, which doesn't need a printed guide at all.

How do I know my waist size without measuring?

Your jeans or trouser size is a rough starting point, but sizes vary a lot between brands. For a real number, use the string method above at your natural waist, or take two photos with Shaku to get your waist and 60+ other measurements, matched to the brand's size chart for your best size match.

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How to Measure Your Waist, Chest & Hips Without a Tape Measure

August 16, 2026

5 min read

Tutorial

How to Measure Your Waist, Chest & Hips Without a Tape Measure

Introduction

No tape measure at home? Here's how to measure your waist, chest and hips with things you already have, plus a two-photo option that skips measuring entirely.

Measuring Without a Tape

You want to order the right size online, but you don't own a tape measure — or you're not sure you're using it right. Good news: you don't need one. There are a couple of reliable ways to get real body measurements using things you already have, plus a faster option that skips measuring altogether.

Short on time? Skip the string and get your waist, chest and hip measurements from two phone photos. Skip the tape measure →

What You Need

For the household-object method: a piece of string, ribbon or a phone charging cable, a pen to mark it, and a ruler. No ruler? A dollar bill or a credit card works as a reference. For the two-photo method: just your phone, a plain wall and decent lighting.

Waist, Chest & Hips

Wrap a piece of string, ribbon or a charging cable around the body part, keep it snug but not tight, mark where the end overlaps, then lay it flat against a ruler. No ruler handy? A US dollar bill is about 6.1 inches (15.6 cm) long and a credit card is 3.4 inches (8.6 cm), so count how many lengths fit along the string.

Your waist

Find your natural waist: the narrowest part of your torso, usually a little above your belly button. Bend to one side and the crease that forms is the spot. Breathe out normally and wrap the string level all the way around.

Your chest or bust

Measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms and across the shoulder blades at the back. Keep the string level and your arms relaxed at your sides.

Your hips

Stand with your feet together and measure around the widest part of your seat, usually 7–9 inches below your natural waist. Check in a mirror that the string isn't dipping at the back.

Write each number down straight away. With waist, chest and hips you can read most size charts.

The Shaku Way

If you'd rather skip measuring altogether, that's exactly the gap Shaku fills. Instead of string, a ruler, or a reference object, Shaku uses two ordinary phone photos to build a full picture of your body, then matches it against real brand size charts to find your best size match. No tape measure, no guesswork — just your body, your measurements, and a size match in seconds. The same two photos also power virtual try-on, so you can get a sense of how a piece will actually look on you before you buy it.

Getting a Reliable Number

A few things make a real difference no matter which method you use. Wear form-fitting clothes (or measure in underwear) so the string or your phone's photo isn't picking up baggy fabric instead of your actual body. Stand in a relaxed, natural posture — don't suck in or puff out. Good, even lighting helps too, especially for the two-photo method, since harsh shadows can throw off the reading. And measure at the fullest point of each area (widest part of your chest, natural waistline, fullest part of your hips) rather than wherever feels easiest.

Wrap Up

Whichever method you choose, string and a ruler, household objects or no measuring at all, the goal is the same: know your size before you buy, not after a return. If you'd rather skip the manual math, Shaku gets you there in seconds: two photos, no tape measure, matched to each brand's own size chart. Find My Size and shop with confidence.