Help with Body Measurements

Posted by William - 27 Jul 2017
Body measurements are important for film and TV extras work where costumes are often provided. This blog post provides useful hints and tips to help you take your body measurements correctly.

It might sound simple but body measurements are one of the most common things that people get wrong when registering with us for film & TV extras work! Have no fear; we’re on hand to offer some helpful tips and advice to ensure that you get your measurements right, first time.

Never Guess Your Body Measurements

There are a variety of reasons why you must never guess, the main one being that whenever we put you forward for work, we always provide the production with your measurements. If you ever arrive on set or at a costume fitting and your actual measurements are different to those listed on your profile, you risk being turned away without pay and could even be removed from our books. Your body measurements must always be correct and up-to-date on your profile.

Measurements can be edited via the Profile Edit page at any time, 24 hours a day. Every measurement on our website is listed in both centimetres and inches. To measure yourself properly, you will need to use an accurate measuring tape. If our Casting Team ask you to take an emergency measurement but you do not have a measuring tape, please use a piece of string to take the measurement and a ruler to measure it. If it is not an emergency, please wait until you have a measuring tape.

Body Measurements for Females

Height: take your shoes off and stand against a flat surface. Your measured height is taken from the top of your head to your feet when standing normally. Ask someone to help you make the measurement using a measuring tape.

Dress Size: please list the dress size that you most commonly wear.

Chest: wrap a measuring tape around your chest, holding the tape in front of you. The measurement should be taken around the fullest part of your chest with the tape under your armpits and across your shoulder blades.

Bra Size: please list the bra strap size that you most commonly wear. Please note that your bra strap size should never be larger than your chest measurement – it will normally be equal or smaller, depending on your cup size.

Bra Cup Size: please list the bra cup size that you most commonly wear.

Underbust: the underbust is measured around your chest, but under the breast. Hold the measuring tape around your chest just underneath the swell of the breast with the ends of the tape in front of you. The measuring tape should be snug but not constricting.

Hips: wrap a measuring tape around the widest part of your hips, which will normally be approximately 20cm below your natural waistline.

Natural Waist: locate your natural waistline, which is the smallest part of your waist and will be between your belly button and the bottom of your ribs. Wrap a measuring tape around your natural waistline with the tape ends in front of you to take the measurement.

Shoe Size: the UK shoe size that you most commonly wear.

Hat Size: wrap the measuring tape around your forehead at the widest part to take this measurement.

Glove Size: measured around the hand from just below the knuckles and fingers. Wrap a measuring tape around the base of your four fingers (but not the thumb) before making a loose fist and taking the measurement.

If you are having trouble visualising the above descriptions, the below video may be a useful resource. It shows how to properly take your hat size, chest, underbust, natural waist and hips measurements. Please ignore the measurements in the video after the hips, as they are not required for our casting purposes.

Body Measurements for Males

Height: take your shoes off and stand against a flat surface. Your measured height is taken from the top of your head to your feet when standing normally. Ask someone to help you make the measurement using a measuring tape.

Collar: place a soft measuring tape around your neck. Set the tape low at the back of the neck and bring it around the front to where the collar button will be closed. At the front, allow two fingers to slip easily between your throat and the tape.

Chest: wrap a measuring tape around your chest, holding the tape in front of you. The measurement should be taken around the fullest part of your chest with the tape under your armpits and across your shoulder blades.

Natural Waist: locate your natural waistline, which is the smallest part of your waist and will be between your belly button and the bottom of your ribs. Wrap a measuring tape around your natural waistline with the tape ends in front of you to take the measurement.

Trouser Waist: the trouser waist size that you most commonly wear.

Inside Leg: measured using a measuring tape from the crotch to where the trouser hem will sit on your shoe.

Shoe Size: the UK shoe size that you most commonly wear.

Hat Size: wrap the measuring tape around your forehead at the widest part to take this measurement.

Glove Size: measured around the hand from just below the knuckles and fingers. Wrap a measuring tape around the base of your four fingers (but not the thumb) before making a loose fist and taking the measurement.

If you are having trouble visualising the above descriptions, the below video may be a useful resource. It clearly shows how to properly take your hat size, collar, chest, natural waist and inside leg measurements. Please ignore the measurements in the video after the natural waist and before the inside leg, as they are not required for our casting purposes.