Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, keeping it horizontal and level across the back.
Wrap the tape around the natural waistline, roughly level with the belly button, at the narrowest point of the torso, without holding the stomach in.
Wrap the tape around the widest part of the hips and seat, keeping the feet together and the tape horizontal all the way round.
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Where the tape actually goes for each measurement
The chest is measured at its fullest point, under the arms and across the shoulder blades, with the tape held horizontal all the way round rather than sagging at the back, the way a Savile Row cutter takes a first fitting. The bust follows the same path but sits over the fullest point of the breast tissue instead of the ribcage. The waist is the narrowest point of the torso, usually just above the belly button, not the point where trousers happen to sit. The hips are measured at the widest point of the seat, roughly 20 centimetres below the waist for most body shapes, with the feet together and the tape kept level rather than angled.
The measuring mistakes that skew the result
Pulling the tape tight to get a smaller number is the single most common error, followed by holding the stomach in while measuring the waist, which hides several centimetres and produces a size that will not actually fit once the muscles relax. Measuring over a thick jumper or a padded bra adds bulk that a high street size chart does not expect. Letting the tape twist or dip at the back also throws off the reading, so a mirror or a second person checking the back of the tape gives a far more reliable number than guessing at a changing room mirror.
When to measure for the most reliable number
Measure standing upright in underwear or light clothing, breathing normally, and read the tape at the end of a normal breath rather than while the chest is expanded. Body measurements can shift by a centimetre or two through the day with food, hydration, and posture, so measuring at a similar time, such as before breakfast, keeps repeat measurements comparable if checked again later.
What this size band does and does not tell you
The XS to 5XL band shown is a generic equivalence built from commonly published size charts, not a single retailer's own measurements, and it does not convert between country sizing systems such as EU, US, or UK, which the separate Clothing Size Converter on this site covers. When the three measurements point to different bands, that usually reflects a normal body shape rather than a measuring error, and choosing between the sizes then depends on which part of the garment matters most for the fit wanted.