Sizing is the single most common reason a kurti gets returned. The colour and the print are chosen in the shop, but the fit is only judged at home, and by then a wrong size is a complaint rather than a sale. As a manufacturer that cuts to a full size run every day, we know that most sizing problems come down to two things a buyer can control: measuring correctly, and reading the chart the right way.
This guide gives you the full kurti size chart, shows you how to measure at home in under a minute, and explains what the numbers mean so you order the right size the first time.
The chart shows the finished garment measurements in inches. Every kurti is cut with about 4 inches of wearing ease, so your own bust measures roughly 4 inches less than the chest figure for your size. Put simply, your size is your bust measurement plus about 4 inches.
| Size | Numeric | Chest / Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 38 | 38 in | 34 in | 39 in |
| M | 40 | 40 in | 36 in | 41 in |
| L | 42 | 42 in | 38 in | 43 in |
| XL | 44 | 44 in | 40 in | 45 in |
| XXL | 46 | 46 in | 42 in | 47 in |
| 3XL | 48 | 48 in | 44 in | 49 in |
Quick rule using your own bust: a 34 inch bust is size S (38), a 36 inch bust is M (40), a 38 inch bust is L (42), a 40 inch bust is XL (44), a 42 inch bust is XXL (46) and a 44 inch bust is 3XL (48). The waist and hip figures are the garment measurements for each size, so if your waist or hip points to a larger size than your bust does, choose the larger one.
The numeric size, such as 38, 40 or 42, is the garment chest in inches, not your body measurement. Because each kurti is cut with about 4 inches of ease for comfort and movement, the size you need is about 4 inches larger than your actual bust. A 36 inch bust takes size 40, a 40 inch bust takes size 44, and so on. The letter labels sit on the same numbers, so S is 38, M is 40, L is 42, XL is 44, XXL is 46 and 3XL is 48.
The 4 inch ease rule and the chart above are for regular kurtis. Our corset kurtis in cotton and denim are cut to fit the body closely, with a side zip or a string tie, so they do not carry that ease. For these styles the size equals your actual body measurement, and the sizing starts at XS. So if your bust measures 34 inches, you take an S in a corset kurti, not the larger size you would pick in a regular one.
| Size | Bust (body) | Waist (body) | Hips (body) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 32 in | 30 in | 35 in |
| S | 34 in | 32 in | 37 in |
| M | 36 in | 34 in | 39 in |
| L | 38 in | 36 in | 41 in |
| XL | 40 in | 38 in | 43 in |
| XXL | 42 in | 40 in | 45 in |
Because a corset kurti has a side zip or string tie, it adjusts to small differences in fit, so if you fall between two sizes, either will usually work. Measure your bust, waist and hips as shown above and match them to your actual body measurement, with nothing added.
All you need is a soft measuring tape and a mirror. Measure over a well-fitting inner layer, not over thick clothing, and keep the tape level and snug without pulling it tight.
Bust. Measure around the fullest part of the bust, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. Your size is this figure plus about 4 inches, so a 36 inch bust is size 40.
Waist. Measure around the narrowest part of the natural waist, usually just above the navel.
Hip. Measure around the fullest part of the hips, with your feet together.
Length. To judge kurti length, measure from the top of your shoulder straight down to where you want the hem to fall.
The most reliable way to get the size right online is to take a kurti that already fits you well, lay it flat and buttoned, and measure across the chest from one underarm seam to the other. Double that number and you have the garment chest. Match it to the Chest column in the table and you have your size directly, with no need to add anything. This one habit prevents most online size mistakes.
Short kurtis run about 26 to 34 inches and fall around mid-thigh, while long kurtis run 38 to 46 inches and fall around the knee. Measure from your shoulder to where you want the hem. For how each length is worn and paired, see our guides to short kurtis and long kurtis, and the post on how to style a short kurti.
The size stays the same, but how it sits on the body changes with the cut. A straight kurti follows the size chart closely. An Anarkali is fitted at the bust and flares below, so you go by your bust measurement. An A-line widens gently towards the hem, which suits a wider range of hip measurements. A denim kurti has less give than cotton, so if you are between sizes in denim, the larger size is usually the safer choice. Our guide to the types of kurtis explains how each cut behaves.
When you are on the border, the fabric decides. Pure cotton can shrink slightly on the first wash, so sizing up is sensible unless the piece is pre-shrunk, a point we cover in the best fabrics for kurtis guide. If you like a relaxed fit or plan to layer in winter, size up. If you want a defined fit, stay with the smaller of the two.
Retailers do not buy single sizes, they buy a size ratio. A typical single-design pack comes in a fixed run, something like two small, three medium, three large and two extra large, because the manufacturer cuts the whole run together from one lay of fabric. You take the pack as it comes rather than picking only the sizes you want. Stocking the right ratio for your own customers matters more than chasing extra colours, because fit drives returns far more than colour does. Our wholesale buying guide and the post on minimum order quantity explain how packs and ratios work.
Snehal Creation Inc has manufactured ladies ethnic wear in Mumbai since 2003, cutting to a consistent size run so retailers get reliable fit order after order. If you sell kurtis and want dependable sizing across reorders, create a wholesale account or reach us on WhatsApp at 97695 39989.
Size 40 is built to fit a body bust of about 36 inches. Indian kurtis are cut with roughly 4 inches of wearing ease, so the size number is about 4 inches more than your own bust measurement. A 36 inch bust takes size 40, and a 40 inch bust takes size 44.
Measure around the fullest part of your bust, then add about 4 inches, and that gives your kurti size. So a 36 inch bust is size 40. The easiest alternative is to measure a kurti that already fits you well, laying it flat and measuring across the chest from underarm to underarm, then doubling it and matching that to the Chest column, which is your size directly.
They are the same sizes in two labels. S is 38, M is 40, L is 42, XL is 44, XXL is 46 and 3XL is 48. The numeric label is the garment chest in inches, which is more precise, while the letter label is a general band.
Work out your size from your bust plus about 4 inches. If you are on the border, size up for cotton, which can shrink slightly, or if you want a relaxed fit or plan to layer. Stay with the smaller size for a defined fit, and size up for denim, which has less give.
Not exactly. Kurti numeric sizes are the garment chest and include about 4 inches of ease, so they are not the same as western dress sizes. Always work from the chart, using your bust plus about 4 inches, rather than assuming your dress size.
Short kurtis run about 26 to 34 inches and fall around mid-thigh, and long kurtis run 38 to 46 inches and fall around the knee. Measure from your shoulder to where you want the hem.
The size is the same but the fit differs. A straight kurti follows the chart closely, an A-line widens towards the hem and suits a wider hip range, and an Anarkali is fitted at the bust and flares below, so you go by your bust measurement.
Wholesale kurtis are sold in a fixed size ratio rather than single sizes, for example two small, three medium, three large and two extra large per design, because the full run is cut together. Retailers take the pack as it comes and choose the ratio that suits their customers.
Corset kurtis in cotton and denim are body-fitting, with a side zip or string tie, so the 4 inch ease rule does not apply. Their sizing starts at XS and matches your actual body measurement, so a 34 inch bust takes an S and a 40 inch bust takes an XL. The zip or tie handles small adjustments in fit.
