All men know what size pants and shirt that they wear, so getting a suit that fits perfectly should be easy, right? Not so fast, because from a quick glance at the racks of men's suits will soon reveal to you a whole new world of sizes like short, regular, long, extra long, executive cut.

How is a guy supposed to know which is the right one? Here are some guide lines to get you going on your way. The starting point, in general, is the size of men's suits is determined by two factors. The circumference of the chest, measured in inches, and the man's height, which is broken down into the basic categories short, regular, long, extra long, and the like. Unfortunately, knowing the other dimensions of the man's clothing, such as waist size, inseam, and sleeve and neck measurements, does not really help you when determining the correct size for a suit.

Using the waist size as a guide you will want to start with your pant waist size. As a rule of thumb, if a man is of an average build, then the jacket size is typically six inches larger in the chest than the waist size of his slacks. However, if you are athletic, then guessing the proper suit size will be extremely difficult. Also, if you are carrying a little more weight than you would like, then with a larger belly in proportion to a some what smaller chest, then you should seek out an executive cut suit, as these will feature a jacket only two to four inches larger than the slacks.

As far as your height is concerned, again this is only an estimate, but as a rule, short suits are more appropriate for men between five foot five inches and five foot eight inches tall, regular suits are more appropriate for men five foot nine inches to around six foot. Long suits are more appropriate for men six foot to six foot two inches, while extra long suits are more appropriate for men between six foot three inches and six foot five inches, which is a marginally taller man may still wear an extra long, but anyone over six foot seven inches likely requires specialized clothes for taller men.

Consult an expert if you are still left scratching your head, but do not worry. There are many men's shops that are completely staffed with trained experts, who are highly skilled at fitting you with the perfect fitting suit. Of course, it may make you feel awkward to have to ask for help, but there is no reason for you to have to worry, because that are what they are there for. A few quick measurements and they will be able to tell you your exact suit size, as well as point you in the direction of the suits that will be best for your build. A suit is an investment that should last you for years, so it will pay to put the time into making sure that it fits you just right.