What Does 42R Mean? Men's Suit Sizes Explained

42R means a suit jacket made for a 42-inch chest in a regular length, which fits men about 5'8" to 6' tall. The number is your chest measurement in inches and the letter is the jacket length. Most suits come with trousers 6 inches smaller in the waist, so a 42R usually pairs with a 36-inch waist.

Suit sizes look like a code until someone explains them once. After that, you can read any size tag in a few seconds. Below is how the numbers and letters work, what waist comes with each jacket, and how to pick when you fall between two sizes.

What do the number and letter in a suit size mean?

A suit size has two parts. The number is the chest measurement in inches, taken around the fullest part of your chest with your arms down. The letter is the jacket length, which also sets the sleeve length.

So a 40R is a 40-inch chest in regular length, and a 46L is a 46-inch chest in long length. The chest number decides how the jacket fits across your body. The letter decides where the hem lands and where the sleeves stop.

Our men's suits run roughly from 34S to 60L, in slim, classic and modern fits.

Which length letter fits my height?

The length letter is about your height, not your weight. Use this as a starting point:

• S (Short): under 5'8"
• R (Regular): 5'8" to 6'
• L (Long): over 6'
• XL (Extra Long): for men well over 6' with long arms, where a brand offers it. Check the size list on each product page.

A jacket in the right length covers your seat and lets about half an inch of shirt cuff show past the sleeve. If your arms are long for your height, the next length up can be the better choice.

What waist size comes with each suit jacket?

Most suits are sold as a set with a fixed difference between the jacket chest and the trouser waist. That difference is called the drop, and the standard drop is 6 inches. A 42 jacket comes with a 36-inch waist.

The trousers come with an unfinished hem, so length is not part of the size. That gets set when the trousers are hemmed.

How do I read a size like 44R/38W?

Some listings spell out both pieces. 44R/38W means a 44-inch chest jacket in regular length with trousers that have a 38-inch waist. The W simply stands for waist.

When you see only the jacket size, assume the 6-inch drop unless the product says otherwise. If your own waist is more than 6 inches smaller than your chest, the trousers will need taking in. If it is less than 6 inches smaller, look at portly or big and tall cuts, covered below.

How do I measure myself for a suit?

1. Chest: wrap a soft tape under your arms, across the fullest part of your chest and shoulder blades. Keep it level and breathe normally.
2. Waist: measure where you actually wear your trousers, not your belly button if you wear them lower.
3. Inseam: measure from the crotch seam to where you want the hem, on a pair of dress pants that fit well.
4. Height: stand in socks against a wall. This sets your length letter.

Your jacket size is usually your chest measurement, rounded to the nearest even number. A 41-inch chest most often wears a 42.

What if I am between two suit sizes?

Take the larger chest. A jacket can be taken in at the waist and the sleeves can be shortened, but there is very little a tailor can do if the chest is too tight.

Signs the chest is too small: the lapels pull away from your shirt, an X-shaped crease forms around the button, or you can't reach forward without the back straining. A jacket that is slightly roomy is a simple fix. One that is tight is a return.

The same thinking applies between lengths. If you are 6' even, try the R first if you have a shorter torso, and the L if your arms run long.

Does slim fit change my size?

The size number stays the same, but the cut changes how it feels. A slim fit has a higher armhole, a narrower lapel and a tapered leg. A classic or regular fit has a fuller chest and a straight leg.

If you are broad in the chest or carry some weight in the middle, a slim fit in your usual size can feel snug. Many men in that position are more comfortable in a classic fit at the same number.

How do portly and big & tall suit sizes work?

A standard 6-inch drop does not suit every build. If your waist is close to your chest measurement, a regular suit set leaves you choosing between a jacket that fits and trousers that close.

Portly and big & tall suits solve that. They give extra room through the chest and waist while keeping the shoulder in proportion, and the trousers come with a smaller drop, so the waist sits closer to the jacket number. Big & tall sizes also extend into the larger chest numbers and longer lengths.

Browse big and tall suits and separates if the standard table above leaves too wide a gap. For trousers alone, pieces like our portly fit pinstriped dress pants are cut with the same extra room.

How does free trouser hemming work?

Suit trousers arrive unfinished at the hem so they can be cut to your length. We hem suit trousers and men's dress pants free before shipping.

• Add your inseam in the order notes at checkout.
• If you don't know your inseam, give your height and shoe size instead.
• Your order leaves in 1–2 business days, then takes 3–7 business days in transit.

One thing to know before you ask for hemming: hemmed trousers can't be returned for wrong size or change of mind. If you are unsure of your size, order unhemmed first, check the fit, and have them hemmed locally. Unworn items with tags can be returned within 30 days.

Shipping is free on U.S. orders of $60 or more. More detail on returns and shipping is in our shipping and returns FAQ, and sizing questions can go to support@bohorads.com. We reply within one business day.

FAQ

What does 42R mean on a suit?

42R means the jacket fits a 42-inch chest and is cut in a regular length, which suits men about 5'8" to 6' tall. The matching trousers usually come with a 36-inch waist.

What waist size comes with a 42R suit jacket?

Most suits use a 6-inch drop, so a 42R jacket comes with 36-inch waist trousers. The hem is left unfinished so it can be cut to your inseam.

Should I size up or down if I am between two suit sizes?

Size up in the chest. Waist and sleeves are easy alterations, but a jacket that is too tight across the chest can't be fixed.

What is the difference between 42R and 42L?

Both fit a 42-inch chest. The 42L has a longer body and longer sleeves for men over 6 feet tall, while the 42R is cut for about 5'8" to 6'.

Does Bohorad's hem suit trousers for free?

Yes. Add your inseam, or your height and shoe size, in the order notes and the trousers are hemmed free before shipping. Hemmed trousers can't be returned for wrong size or change of mind.

What does 44R/38W mean?

It means a 44-inch chest jacket in regular length paired with trousers that have a 38-inch waist. That is the standard 6-inch drop.