Sewing
Button Spacing Calculator
Space buttons evenly down a shirt, blouse, or coat opening: enter the length, button count, and edge distances to get each mark from the top.
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Calculator
Button placement
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Where do 6 buttons go on a 22" shirt front?
For a 22" opening with 6 buttons, the first 1/2" below the top edge and the last 4" above the hem:
You enter
- Opening length
- 22" (55.9 cm)
- Number of buttons
- 6
- Top edge to first button
- 1/2" (1.3 cm)
- Hem to last button
- 4" (10.2 cm)
You get
- Spacing
- 3-1/2" (8.9 cm)
- Marks from the top edge
- 1/2", 4", 7-1/2", 11", 14-1/2", 18"
The formula: gap = (opening − top distance − bottom distance) ÷ (buttons − 1): (22" − 1/2" − 4") ÷ 5 gaps = 3-1/2" between buttons. Each mark = top distance + gap × its position.
How far apart should buttons be?
Typical spacing for shirts, blouses, and dresses, from NMSU Extension, Threads magazine, and Proper Cloth. On a fitted garment, the bust-point button comes first.
| Garment | Spacing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Blouse | 2-1/2" to 3" | Closer spacing helps stop gaping (Threads) |
| Shirt | 3" to 3-1/2" | Dress shirts use 3-1/8" to 3-1/2" (Proper Cloth) |
| Dress or cardigan | 2" to 3-1/2" | NMSU Extension's standard range |
Frequently asked questions
What's the standard button spacing for a shirt or blouse?
New Mexico State University Extension gives 2" to 3-1/2" between buttonholes as the standard. Blouses sit at the close end, about 2-1/2" apart, which Threads magazine notes helps prevent gaping. Men's dress shirts use 3-1/8" to 3-1/2" (Proper Cloth). Coats and jackets have no published standard: their larger buttons usually sit farther apart, so let the button size and the garment's proportions guide the count. If the calculator gives a gap well outside the range for your garment, add or remove a button.
Why does a button belong at the bust point on a fitted shirt?
The front of a fitted shirt pulls hardest across the fullest part of the bust, so a gap between buttons there opens up when you move. NMSU Extension says a button and buttonhole are needed at the bra line to prevent that gaposis, and Threads magazine treats it as the most important button position. Place that button first, then run the calculator twice: once from the top edge to the bust button, and once from the bust button to the hem, so the rest space evenly above and below it.
How far from the top edge should the first button be?
On a collared shirt, the first button usually sits 5/8" to 2" below the neckline seam, depending on how high the shirt closes. A rule of thumb for a collar band is about 1/4" plus half the button's width below the band. On a jacket or cardigan, start at the top of the opening plus half a button's width so the button doesn't hang over the edge.
Where do the buttons go across the placket?
Buttons sit on the center front line, and the extension beyond it should equal the button's diameter (American Sewing Guild via sewing.org). Vertical buttonholes, used on shirts and blouses, sit on the center front line. Horizontal buttonholes, used on coats and jackets, extend 1/8" past center front toward the edge, so the button rests on center front when fastened.
Related tools
Which sewing machine should I use for this project?
Three picks from starter to step-up, sold in Canada and the US. Want a match for your budget? Take the machine picker.
The starter
Baby Lock Zest 15S
CA$299 · US$209
15 built-in stitches · Mechanical · 4-step buttonhole
See it at your shop →
The easy threader
Baby Lock Zeal
CA$499 · US$409
25 built-in stitches · Mechanical · Built-in needle threader
See it at your shop →
The all-rounder
Baby Lock Jubilant
CA$899 · US$699
80 built-in stitches · Computerized · 1-step buttonhole
See it at your shop →
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