How To Measure Shoulders (Hard)

Alright, gym bros, everyone wants big broad shoulders, but this can be tricky to understand how to measure them. This is not kinda easy like you do with your biceps, so let’s see.

Now Idk if you need this measurement for you to see your gym progress or for clothing, but let’s get started. There are just 2 methods to do measure your shoulders.

Method 1: Self-Measurement (The Lone Wolf Approach)

1. Stand tall: Posture is key, dude. Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and relax your arms at your sides.
2. Find your acromion processes: These are the bony points at the very tips of your shoulder blades, easy to find if you’re not so buff.
3. Tape time: Hold the end of the measuring tape at the acromion process of one shoulder blade. Keep the tape level and parallel to the ground, not angled up or down. Now, carefully extend the tape across your back to the acromion process of your other shoulder blade. Make sure it’s firm, not too forced but not too saggy.
4. Hold and read: Pinch the tape to hold it in place and take a good look at the measurement. This is your shoulder width across the back. Don’t worry if it seems like an odd number – most people’s bodies aren’t perfectly symmetrical.
5. Repeat (optional): If you wanna make sure you got it right, take the measurement a couple more times and take the average. Hey, nobody’s perfect, and sometimes the first try might be a little off.

Method 2: Partner-Assisted Measurement (The Buddy System)

1. Grab a friend: This method is great if you have some flexibility issues AKA you’re a big guy, or just want a second pair of eyes.
2. Same posture: Just like the solo method, stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms relaxed at your sides.
3. Partner Positioning: Your friend should stand directly in front of you (no Diddy).
4. Tape magic: Have your friend hold the end of the measuring tape at the acromion process of one of your shoulder blades, keeping it level and parallel to the ground.
5. Across the chest: With the tape held firmly in place, your friend should slowly extend it across your chest to the acromion process of your other shoulder blade. Again, the tape should be snug but not digging in.
6. Read and record: Your friend can call out the measurement, and you can put it down for future reference. High fives for teamwork!

Bonus: Shoulder Width Table

Here’s a quick reference to see where you at in the world charts for men’s shoulder width:

This is just to give you an idea, the results and appearance vary based on your height and muscle mass too. So maybe you have a wide build as bone structure, but you’re slim with no muscles, then you can’t say you have an “Athletic Build”, you just won the gene lottery, and you don’t do anything with this. If this is you, I suggest to go in the gym right now!

Tracking Muscle Growth:

For you muscle monsters out there, your shoulder measurement can be a valuable tool to track your gains. Take your initial measurement, then measure again every 4-6 weeks as you train your shoulders. Seeing that number slowly increase is a surefire sign your hard work is paying off.

Also, good broad shoulders will give you the “superhero build” looks, but keep in mind that in order to achieve this you also need a narrow midsection AKA 6pack, or at least have some visible abs in order to get you that V-shape.

Tips and Considerations

• Relaxation is Crucial: Just chill man, breathe normally, and keep your shoulders nice and relaxed throughout the process.
• Multiple Measurements are Better: Nobody’s perfect, and sometimes the tape can be a little tricky. Take the measurement a couple of times and average the results for better accuracy.
• Hit Up a Tailor (Optional): If you do this for clothing, and you want the ultimate precision, consider getting measured by a professional tailor. They’ll have all the fancy tools and expertise to give you the most accurate shoulder measurement possible.

Final Thoughts On How To Measure Shoulders

Use this newfound knowledge to track your gains, find clothes that fit perfectly, and achieve that well-balanced, head-turning physique.

Remember, consistency is key, so keep pumpin’ iron, and eatin’ right!