Tellar
Search

Shirt Lengths – What Works Best for Your Height?

Author: Stylist at TellarDate: 2025

By Robin Blake | 2025

The wrong shirt length can throw off your entire silhouette—whether you're tall, short, or somewhere in between. Understanding where your shirt should end (literally) makes all the difference in proportion, style, and fit. Here's how to choose the ideal shirt length based on your height, plus recommended styles and where to shop for the perfect cut.

General Shirt Length Guidelines

  • Casual shirts (untucked): Should end mid-fly or halfway down your zipper—no lower than the bottom of your back pocket.

  • Dress shirts (tucked): Should cover your waistband and hips fully—ending mid to lower seat to stay tucked in.

  • Overshirts & shackets: Can be slightly longer, ending near the bottom of the seat for layering.

If You're Under 5'8"

Best shirt length: Shorter styles that end mid-fly or higher.Why it works: Longer shirts make legs look shorter—cropped lengths add height visually.Best brands:

  • Reiss – Slim cuts with slightly cropped hems

  • Uniqlo – XS and short-length casual shirts

  • Sunspel – Clean minimal fits, ideal for modest proportions

If You're Between 5'9" and 6'1"

Best shirt length: Standard mid-fly casual or mid-seat dress shirtsWhy it works: Most high street shirts are designed for this average height band.Best brands:

  • Massimo Dutti – Standard lengths that tuck or untuck cleanly

  • Barbour – Classic proportions with solid sizing accuracy

  • TM Lewin – Smart dress shirts with medium and long options

If You're Over 6'2"

Best shirt length: Longline styles or dress shirts with extended tailsWhy it works: Standard lengths can ride up or look boxy—extra inches balance your torso.Best brands:

Shirt Length Mistakes to Avoid

Post Image

  • Too short: Avoid hemlines that ride above your waistband when reaching or sitting

  • Too long (casual): Shirts past your seat look sloppy unless styled as overshirts

  • Wide + long: Avoid boxy and long shirts if you're short—it shortens the whole frame

Tailoring Tip

Most casual shirts can be shortened by a tailor—so don’t rule out great shirts that are slightly long.

Need the Right Fit Automatically?

Tellar helps match your body measurements with the perfect shirt size, cut, and length in 1,500+ brands—no guesswork.

Final Word

The right shirt length changes how your whole outfit looks. Use your height and build as a guide—then let Tellar.co.uk help you find shirts that truly fit you, not just the hanger.

The Tellar Fashion Hub is the UK's Largest, 100% Free, Fully searchable, Fashion Library. Filled with 4000+ Honest & Unbiased posts, written by our expert stylists.

No adverts, no sponsored posts, no subscriptions. We are 100% free to use.

We are paid by affiliates, but we never allow brands to influence our recommendations.

Honest, Unbiased, Accurate & Free.