Most returns come down to one mistake: buying a belt in your trouser size.
Why trouser size fails
Trouser sizing is measured at a different point on the body, and it varies wildly between brands. A belt bought that way lands a size off more often than not.
The reliable method
Take a belt you already own and wear comfortably. Measure from the fold at the buckle end to the hole you actually use. That number, in inches, is your belt size.
No belt to hand? Run a tape around your waist over the trousers you plan to wear, through the loops, and add nothing. That measurement is your size.
Where the tongue should land
On a well-fitting belt the tail passes the first loop and stops short of the second. Too long looks sloppy; too short means you sized down too far.
