How Long Should an Overcoat Be? The Right Length for Your Height

Published October 2026. Written by The Platinum Tailor, a family tailoring business making wool overcoats since 2012.

Coat lengths explained

Why below the knee is the right default this winter

Three reasons. First, warmth: a coat that stops at the hip leaves your thighs exposed, and that is where you feel wind on a platform. Second, it covers a suit or blazer properly. If the jacket hem shows below the coat, the coat is too short. Third, proportion: menswear has moved to roomier trousers, and a short coat over wide trousers can look bottom heavy. Long coats are the dominant length for winter 2026/27, as we cover in our winter overcoat trends guide.

Overcoat length by height

Coat lengths are usually measured from the seam at the back of the collar straight down to the hem. Here is roughly where coats of our two main lengths fall on men of different heights. These are estimates based on average body proportions. Leg length varies a lot, so measure yourself if you can.

Our 44 inch coats: the Covert Overcoat and the slimmer Bond Overcoat.
Our 46 inch coats: the Long Overcoat, Camel Long Overcoat, Double Breasted Overcoat, Polo Coat and Greatcoat.

How to measure the length you want

1. Stand straight in the shoes you normally wear.
2. Ask someone to find the point at the back of your neck where a coat collar meets the body of the coat, roughly the bony bump at the base of your neck.
3. Measure straight down your back to where you want the hem: the back of your knee, or a few inches below it.
4. Compare that number with the coat's listed length, which is measured the same way, from collar to hem down the centre back.

If you already own a coat you like the length of, measure that instead. It is the most reliable guide of all.

Tips for shorter men

You can wear a long coat. The trick is to keep the line clean so the coat looks deliberate rather than swamping you.

• Aim for just below the knee rather than mid calf. Our 44 inch coats are the better starting point if you are under about 5'8".
• Choose a structured shoulder and peak or broader lapels, which draw the eye up. Mr Porter's advice for shorter men makes the same point and warns against soft, sloping raglan shoulders that drag the eye down.
• Keep trousers straight or slim and shoes streamlined. Chunky soles and very wide legs fight with a long coat.
• Dress in one colour under the coat to create a long, unbroken line.
• Get it shortened if needed. Taking up the hem of a straight overcoat is a routine alteration for a tailor.

Tips for taller men

• Go long. A 46 inch coat will sit at or just below the knee on you, which is the classic length. Anything shorter can look like a jacket.
• Check the sleeves. Long arms are more of an issue than coat length. The sleeve should cover your shirt cuff and reach the base of your thumb.
• Use a belt or a double breasted front if you are tall and slim and want to break up a long line. The polo coat's half belt does this nicely.

Length by style

• Covert and Chesterfield coats look best just below the knee.
• Greatcoats and polo coats are traditionally longer, below the knee or towards mid calf.
• Topcoats are usually just above the knee.
• Trench coats range from the knee to mid calf. Ours is 46 inches. See trench coat vs overcoat.

For chest sizing, shoulders and sleeves, see our overcoat size guide.

Frequently asked questions

Where should an overcoat hit on a man?

At or just below the knee for a classic winter overcoat. Taller men can go longer, towards mid calf. A coat that ends above the knee is closer to a topcoat.

Can short men wear long coats?

Yes. Choose a hem just below the knee rather than mid calf, a structured shoulder, slim or straight trousers and streamlined shoes. Dressing in one colour underneath helps create a longer line.

How long is a 44 inch coat on a 5'10 man?

On a man of average proportions at about 5'10", a 44 inch coat measured from collar to hem usually falls a few inches below the knee. Leg length varies, so measuring from the back of your collar is the most accurate check.

Should an overcoat cover your suit jacket?

Yes. The overcoat should be long enough that the suit jacket hem does not show below it, and the sleeves should cover the jacket and shirt cuffs.

Can an overcoat be shortened?

Yes. Taking up the hem of a straight overcoat is a routine alteration. Coats with complicated vents, belts or hem details can cost more to alter.

How is coat length measured?

From the seam at the back of the collar straight down the centre back to the hem. That is how our 44 and 46 inch lengths are measured.