How to find out someone else size

Short answer: Check the label on something they already wear. It is faster and more accurate than asking, and it gives you brand, model and size all at once.

The label in the garment

Turn the garment over and read the label at the neck or waistband, where both size and model name are usually printed. See bamboo underwear for men. It is the fastest and most reliable method, because the label does not lie about what the person actually wears day to day.

Measure a piece flat

If the label has no size, measure the item flat across the chest or hip and compare it with the size chart. See guide to briefs and underwear. A flat measurement on a table is often just as accurate as measuring on the body, and no one has to notice it happening.

Choose the most forgiving option

If you are unsure, choose something meant to fit loosely. Nightwear and loungewear forgive a size mistake better than fitted clothing does. See Christmas gift ideas for examples where the fit does not have to be exact for the gift to get used.

Socks are the easiest

Sock sizes cover two to three shoe sizes, so you only need to know whether the foot is small, medium or large. See all bamboo socks for men. That makes socks the safest gift when you have no way at all to check the size in advance.

Include the receipt

Even with the right size, the cut can still be wrong, because brands rarely cut in exactly the same way. See bamboo underwear for women. A receipt for exchange means a wrongly guessed size stops being a final mistake and becomes something that can be fixed afterward without any hassle.

Ask someone who knows

If the person lives with someone else, it can pay off to ask that housemate instead of the person themselves. It keeps the surprise intact and often gives a more accurate answer than the person would give if asked directly.

Look at past purchases

If you have shopped together before, or the person has mentioned a size in another context, it is often faster to remember or ask indirectly than to measure from scratch. Old receipts and packages can also reveal both brand and size.

Be careful with pure guessing

A pure guess with no reference at all rarely lands right, especially with outerwear and trousers, where the cut varies a lot between brands. It is worth spending a little extra time finding a reference point rather than betting blindly on a standard size.

In short

The fastest way to the right size is checking the label on something the person already wears. If that is not possible, measure flat, choose something loose fitting or stick to socks, and always include a receipt so a mistake can be corrected.