Following is the method the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company used to calculate frame size:

  1. Extend your arm in front of your body bending your elbow at a ninety degree angle to your body so that your forearm is parallel to your body.
  2. Keep your fingers straight and turn the inside of your wrist towards your body.
  3. Place your thumb and index finger on the two prominent bones on either side of your elbow, then measure the distance between the bones with a tape measure or calipers.
  4. Compare to the chart below. The chart lists elbow measurements for a medium frame - if your elbow measurement for that particular height is less than the number of inches listed, you are a small frame - if your elbow measurement for that particular height is more than the number of inches listed, your are a large frame.

Elbow Measurements for Medium Frame

Men

Elbow Measurement

Women

Elbow Measurement

5'2" - 5'3"

2-1/2" to 2-7/8"

4'10"-4'11"

2-1/4" to 2-1/2"

5'4" - 5'7"

2-5/8" to 2-7/8"

5'0" - 5'3"

2-1/4" to 2-1/2"

5'8" - 5'11"

2-3/4" to 3"

5'4" - 5'7"

2-3/8" to 2-5/8"

6'0" - 6'3"

2-3/4" to 3-1/8"

5/8" - 5'11"

2-3/8" to 2-5/8"

6'4"

2-7/8" to 3-1/4"

6'0"

2-1/2" to 2-3/4"

 

Men

Height

Small Frame

Medium Frame

Large Frame

Women

Height

Small Frame

Medium Frame

Large Frame

 

5'2"

128-134

131-141

138-150

 

4'10"

102-111

109-121

118-131

 

5'3"

130-136

133-143

140-153

 

4'11"

103-113

111-123

120-134

 

5'4"

132-138

135-145

142-156

 

5'0"

104-115

113-126

122-137

 

5'5"

134-140

137-148

144-160

 

5'1"

106-118

115-129

125-140

 

5'6"

136-142

139-151

146-164

 

5'2"

108-121

118-132

128-143

 

5'7"

138-145

142-154

149-168

 

5'3"

111-124

121-135

131-147

 

5'8"

140-148

145-157

152-172

 

5'4"

114-127

124-138

134-151

 

5'9"

142-151

148-160

155-176

 

5'5"

117-130

127-141

137-155

 

5'10"

144-154

151-163

158-180

 

5'6"

120-133

130-144

140-159

 

5'11"

146-157

154-166

161-184

 

5'7"

123-136

133-147

143-163

 

6'0"

149-160

157-170

164-188

 

5'8"

126-139

136-150

146-167

 

6'1"

152-164

160-174

168-192

 

5'9"

129-142

139-153

149-170

 

6'2"

155-168

164-178

172-197

 

5'10"

132-145

142-156

152-173

 

6'3"

158-172

167-182

176-202

 

5'11"

135-148

145-159

155-176

 

6'4"

162-176

171-187

181-207

 

6'0"

138-151

148-162

158-179

Ideal Weights according to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company tables (1983)