Button Size Chart: Ligne to mm and Inches (14L to 60L)
Complete ligne to millimetre and inch conversion for garment buttons, 14L to 60L, with the size used for shirts, polos, trousers, jackets, coats and denim. One ligne equals 0.635 mm, or one fortieth of an inch.
One ligne (L) equals 0.635 mm, or one fortieth of an inch. A 24L button is 15.2 mm across, which is the standard front button on a men's shirt. Ligne measures the outside diameter of the button only — not the shank, not the height. The table below is the conversion we quote from, and the range we hold dies for.
Ligne to millimetres: full conversion table
| Ligne | Millimetres | Inches | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14L | 8.9 mm | 0.350 in | Babywear, doll clothes, shirt collar and cuff |
| 16L | 10.2 mm | 0.400 in | Childrenswear, blouse front, shirt cuff |
| 18L | 11.4 mm | 0.450 in | Shirt front placket, blouse, polo placket |
| 20L | 12.7 mm | 0.500 in | Standard shirt front, polo, light jacket |
| 22L | 14.0 mm | 0.550 in | Trouser waistband, casual shirt, overshirt |
| 24L | 15.2 mm | 0.600 in | Men's shirt front, chinos, polo |
| 27L | 17.2 mm | 0.675 in | Blazer front, jacket, light coat |
| 28L | 17.8 mm | 0.700 in | Blazer front, tailored jacket |
| 30L | 19.1 mm | 0.750 in | Coat, denim jacket, workwear |
| 32L | 20.3 mm | 0.800 in | Coat, heavy shirt, denim tack button |
| 34L | 21.6 mm | 0.850 in | Heavy coat, duffle, denim waistband |
| 36L | 22.9 mm | 0.900 in | Heavy overcoat, outerwear |
| 40L | 25.4 mm | 1.000 in | Overcoat, decorative front, leather |
| 44L | 27.9 mm | 1.100 in | Coat, statement front, bag hardware |
| 48L | 30.5 mm | 1.200 in | Decorative, upholstery-weight fabric |
| 54L | 34.3 mm | 1.350 in | Decorative, costume, heavy outerwear |
| 60L | 38.1 mm | 1.500 in | Decorative, oversized styling |
Which size for which garment
| Garment | Common ligne | Millimetres |
|---|---|---|
| Babywear and infant | 14L-16L | 8.9-10.2 mm |
| Childrenswear, 2-8 years | 16L-18L | 10.2-11.4 mm |
| Men's dress shirt | 18L-20L | 11.4-12.7 mm |
| Polo and casual shirt | 20L-24L | 12.7-15.2 mm |
| Trouser waistband | 22L-24L | 14.0-15.2 mm |
| Blazer and tailored jacket | 27L-28L | 17.2-17.8 mm |
| Coat and workwear | 30L-32L | 19.1-20.3 mm |
| Denim tack button | 27L-32L | 17.2-20.3 mm |
| Heavy overcoat and duffle | 34L-36L | 21.6-22.9 mm |
These are the ranges the trade works to, not a rule. A designer can put a 30L on a shirt as a styling decision — the constraint that matters is the buttonhole, and the buttonhole is set on the counter sample.
How to measure a button you already have
Use a digital or vernier caliper across the widest point of the face. Do not measure the shank, the rim height or the thread hole — ligne is the outside diameter of the face only. For a domed button, the widest point is at the base of the dome.
Measure ten pieces from the lot and report the range, not a single number. A 24L button that measures 15.0 mm to 15.5 mm is within normal production tolerance; that spread is what you should write into the specification, because a flat "24L" is not enforceable at the inspection table.
Three things buyers get wrong
Reading L as a length. Ligne is a diameter. A 36L button is 22.9 mm across — it is not 36 mm, and it is not longer than a 24L button. Quotes that treat L as a linear measure are usually coming from a trader who does not make buttons.
Assuming the ligne scale is universal at the factory floor. Some Asian factories quote in whole millimetres (15 mm instead of 24L, 18 mm instead of 28L). Both are correct; they are different notation for the same button. When you compare two quotations, convert to millimetres first, or you will compare two different sizes and think you found a price difference.
Leaving the tolerance off the spec. Write the size as 24L (15.2 mm ± 0.3 mm) in the trim specification and on the trim card. Without a tolerance band, a lot measuring 15.6 mm is technically not your 24L — and on a close-fitting placket that half millimetre is a button that will not pass through the hole.
Button size and buttonhole
The hole is cut from the button diameter plus the fabric thickness, so a 24L button on a 0.6 mm shirting does not need the same buttonhole as the same button on a 3 mm wool coating. This is why we cut the buttonhole position on the counter sample rather than on a drawing. If the fabric changes after the sample, the buttonhole should be re-checked, even when the button does not change.
FAQ
Send the button size, the fabric weight and the care label and we will cut the buttonhole position on a counter sample for your approval before a die is cut.
Senfa Mfg Email: [email protected]
Last updated: 2026-11-06