What’s the Proper Tie Length? How to Look Refined in a Tie

The Perfect Tie Length

The tip of your tie should rest at the top of your belt or waistband. “The tie should come to the top of the belt, usually. That’s where it should be,” explains Hanna. This is the proper length to make you look taller, more refined and coordinated, professional, and properly proportioned. She continues, “My recommendation is always to get a good fit. If the tailoring isn’t proper, [the look] is a mess.” For business, formal/black tie, and semi-formal events, the tip of the tie should sit on top of the belt or waistband (if you’re not wearing a belt). For casual events, the tip of the tie can rest on top of the belt or slightly higher (no more than the width of 2 fingers above the belt). If you’re wearing a square tie (a tie with a flat, square end instead of a pointed tip), the end of the tie should rest at the top of the belt or slightly higher. Placing it higher is usually a stylistic choice to emphasize the more modern and casual vibe of square ties. Remember that your belt or waistband will sit in a different place depending on the pants you’re wearing, so you may need to adjust the length of your tie differently from outfit to outfit. Meet the wikiHow Experts Candace Hanna is a professional stylist with 16 years of experience in the corporate fashion and personal styling realms. Tavia Sharp is a certified image consultant with over 20 years of experience helping others build a brand image through personal style, appearance, behavior, communication, and digital presence.

The tie should still hit the top of your belt if you’re wearing a suit. At that length, a well-fitted jacket will cover the tip of the tie so that it doesn’t peek out below the jacket, making you look more put-together. If the jacket is too short, though, the tip of the tie will probably show underneath. In this case, you may want to tie your tie a bit shorter to conceal it (although if you take your jacket off, be aware that your tie may look too short).

Choosing a Tie Length for Your Height & Build

Men over 6’2” or under 5’7” may need to wear a non-standard length tie. A standard tie is 57-58 inches (145-147 cm) long and is perfect for men of average height and build who want their tie to hit their belt properly. However, men who are taller, shorter, or who have a larger body type may need to wear a non-standard length in order to get the same look: Men over 6’2” should opt for an extra-long tie (anything over 58 inches, usually 61-62 inches (155-157 cm)). Men under 5’7” should go for a short tie (anything under 57 inches, usually 54-56 inches (137-142 cm)). Men with a large build (long torso, wide midsection or neck, barrel-chested) may also need to wear an extra-long tie to maintain the correct proportions. Men of average height and build can wear a standard-length tie (57-58 inches (145-147 cm)).

Adjusting Your Tie Length

Tie a larger knot to shorten your tie or a smaller knot to lengthen it. If you have the right size tie but the tip isn’t sitting quite right, the knot you choose can help fine-tune it. Knots that use lots of fabric, like a full Windsor knot, will shorten ties that are hanging a bit too low. If you’re having the opposite problem, a knot that uses less fabric, like a half Windsor or four-in-hand knot, will add some length. In business and professional settings, a full Windsor is common. In black tie or formal settings, a sleeker knot like a half Windsor is a good look. In casual settings or with slim ties, a smaller knot like a half Windsor or four-in-hand works well.

Adjust the placement of your knot to make the tie shorter or longer. If your tie is too long, untie it and redo your knot slightly closer to the thick end of the tie so that more of the tail is free in the back. If the tie is sitting too high, redo the knot closer to the thin end of the tail to lengthen it. It may take a few tries to find the sweet spot.

Use a tie clip or put a dimple in the tie to hold it in place. Depending on your posture and movements, your tie may move up and down throughout your event. To help hold the tip near the belt, wear a tie clip to keep the tie from moving as much. Or, you can “dimple” the tie—just pinch the center of the front of the tie to make a small fold, then hold it in place as you tighten the knot up to your neck. Dimpling adds some more depth to your tie and helps keep the top portion still. Always tuck the tail of the tie into the loop in the back of the blade (the wide end of the tie) for a clean look.

Measuring Yourself for a Pre-Tied Tie

Measure from your top dress shirt button to the top of your belt. Pre-tied ties already have knots in place that can’t be undone and are easy options for uniforms or suit rentals (or for those who just don’t like tying ties). Put on a dress shirt and a pair of dress pants with a belt, then tuck in your shirt and button it all the way up to the top button. Stand facing a mirror and use a tape measure to measure from the very top button to the top or middle of your belt, then add 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) to account for the knot. 17-18 inches (43-46 cm) is considered a short pre-tied tie and is great for boys, teens, and shorter men. 20 inches (51 cm) is a standard-length pretied tie and works for most men of average height and build. 22-23 inches (56-58 cm) is extra-long and works best for big and/or tall men.

Choosing a Tie Width

Choose a standard-width tie for most business or formal occasions. A modern standard tie is usually 3.25 inches (8.25 cm) wide at its widest point, just above the tip. This is slightly narrower than a traditional standard tie, which is typically 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide. Either of these widths looks professional and classic, and they both work well for business and formal events. Ties that are much wider than this start to look more like a kipper, which is a very wide and boldly-patterned tie that was popular in the 60s and 70s. Kippers and extra-wide ties look very retro today, but can make great statement pieces if that’s the look you’re going for.

Opt for a slim or skinny tie for casual settings or a more modern look. A true skinny tie is only 2 inches (5 cm) wide and works best in casual settings because of its trendy look. Slim ties are 2.5 inches (6 cm) wide and are still trendy, but can be dressed up more formally than a skinny tie (these are popular with teens and young adults, especially). There’s also a narrow tie, which is 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide. This is a great in-between option that can be worn casually or in formal and business settings. Very skinny ties (1.5-2 inches (3.8-5 cm)) resemble the extra-narrow ties of the 1950s and can give you a subtle retro look.

Consider your build when you choose a tie width. “Not every silhouette is going to be able to carry every trend,” Hanna explains. So, consider your proportions: “A heavier man with a heavier upper body or a wider upper body is not going to look good in a skinny tie, but for a skinnier guy, I would recommend a skinnier tie.” That said, there’s no hard-and-fast rule that says you must wear one width or the other. It’s up to your personal style—if you like how you look and how you feel in a certain tie, then wear it!

Choosing a Tie Color & Pattern

Consider your personality and style when you pick a color or pattern. “Think about accessorizing your personality because nowadays, not many people are wearing ties. So, it definitely makes a statement,” suggests Sharp. “You can go a little bit bolder with the tie versus other parts of your clothing because that’s where you can have a little more fun in menswear. It’s the place where I would put in a little more personality and go for something for fun, more bold.” But, consider where you have to wear your tie. Sharp adds, “Obviously, if you're a conservative guy or you need to dress conservatively in your office, then you would scale back on color and pattern a bit.”

Make sure the tie gels with the other pieces of your outfit. “I would think about how the tie matches with the other components of your outfit,” Sharp continues. “If you're wearing something busy, like a shirt with a busy pattern, then your tie should be more subtle or nondescript. But if you’re wearing a solid shirt, then you can choose a bold or busier pattern. You don't want to mix too many patterns when you're thinking about your tie.” As for color, Sharp adds that the tie “should really pull in some other colors from your suit or the shirt. It should match the color story or the color scheme.”