How to tie a tie: A step-by-step guide

Every young man struggles with how to tie a tie at some point, but with a little practice, this skill becomes invaluable. It’s that small detail that takes you from “just dressed” to “sharply dressed,” whether you’re getting ready for a job interview, a big date, or any event where looking your best matters.

If you’re still trying to figure out the mechanics of getting that long piece of fabric to wrap around your neck just so, don’t worry — we’re here to help guide you through the basics to more complicated techniques because not every knot works with every occasion.

Here are step-by-step instructions for seven of the most popular tie knots, from the Four-in-Hand to the Windsor. Let’s make that tie work for you, not against you.

Four-in-Hand knot

The Four-in-Hand is most likely the simplest tie knot you’ll have in your arsenal and the first one you should learn when picking up ties for the first time. These knots began (at least, it’s believed) when people said that carriage drivers used to tie their reins in their hands the same way or that they wore their scarves in this fashion. One of the other accepted origins is that the members of the Four-in-Hand Club in London pioneered this tie knot.

“Four-in-hand knots have made a comeback in the last 10 years, as they provide an asymmetric shape that works well with thinner ties,” William Wong, founder and managing director of the menswear and accessories brand Arterton, told The Manual. “They are suitable for button-down collars.”

Here’s how to tie a Four-in-Hand knot:

1. Pop your collar and wrap the tie around your neck. 
2. Line up the two ends of your tie. 
3. Tug the wider end down toward your waistline; the narrower, upward on your chest. 
4. Cross the wider end of the tie in front of the narrower, then bring it back around to the front. (You’ll be able to see the back of the wider end of the tie.) 
5. Loop the wide end of the tie around the narrower end again, but this time, bring it up under the narrow end near the shirt’s top button. 
6. Drop it through the loop that has been formed, and tug it down towards your waistline. 
7. Adjust. 

The Pratt knot

Looking for a knot that’s a bit more polished than the Four-in-Hand but not as bulky as a Windsor (see below)? Meet the Pratt knot.

This midcentury creation, courtesy of U.S. Chamber of Commerce employee Jerry Pratt, delivers a symmetrical, fuller knot that works with button-downs, sport coats, and most business attire. Plus, it’s a smart choice if you’re working with a shorter tie or if you’re on the taller side, as it uses less material than some of the bigger knots.

Here’s how to tie a Pratt knot, courtesy of Neil Machlovitz, manager of Alan David Custom:

1. Begin with the backside of your tie facing forward, wide end under the small end, up to the center.
2. Move under toward the neck loop and through on the same side.
3. Cross the wide end over the small end to the other side.
4. Up through the neck loop from underneath.
5. Down through the loop that you’ve just created in the front.
6. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end.
7. Slide the knot up and adjust.

“When tightening any type of knot, never put your fingers on the outside of the silk, as the oils from your fingers will darken the silk,” Machlovitz advised. “Always push the knot up from under the front where the actual knot is.”

The Kelvin knot

The Kelvin knot, named after the 19th-century mathematical physicist Lord Kelvin, delivers a compact, clean look. It’s closely related to the Four-in-Hand but offers a slightly different profile. It’s a solid choice for everyday wear when you want a neat knot without the bulk.

Here’s how to tie the Kelvin knot, according to Machlovitz:

1. Start with the tie on its backside (seam facing out).
2. Place the wide end under the small end.
3. Cross the wide end over the small end.
4. Bring the wide end under the small end to the reverse side.
5. Cross the wide end over the small end again.
6. Bring the wide end up into the neck loop from underneath.
7. Bring the wide end down through the loop you’ve just created in the front.
8. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end.
9. Push the knot up to adjust.

The Windsor knot

Most of the time, men’s fashion follows the military, but in the case of the Windsor knot (sometimes called the Full Windsor, or misleadingly the Double Windsor), the military followed fashion. Prince Edward VIII and his shirtmaker pioneered the use of thicker fabrics in his ties, creating a thicker and broader tie knot. As people began learning how to tie a tie to look like his, they called it the Windsor. Even the English military got into it, as the Royal Air Force adopted the knot.

Depending on the cut of your best suit and the shape of your shirt collar, you may want to use this bulkier knot that speaks to power. Of course, when a knot is made famous by a notorious member of the royal family who abdicated the throne for love, you can bet the knot will always hold up to scrutiny.

“A half Windsor and Windsor occupy a bit more real estate, and they are suitable for the classic to the wider-shirt collars, such as the London Spread, Cutaway, or Italian spread,” Wong said. “A Windsor and half Windsor should not be used with a button-down collar.”

Here’s how to tie a Windsor knot:

1. Again, line up the two ends of your tie, bringing the wider end closer to your waist and the narrower end up near the middle of your chest. 
2. Bring the wider end across the front, but this time, pull it under the narrow end, up toward the collar button. 
3. Wrap the wide end under the narrow end yet again, but this time drop it over the top of the tie and tug it to the opposite side. 
4. The back of the wide end of the tie should be facing you in the mirror now. 
5. Take it back across the narrow end and bring it up under the loops that have formed, pointing up toward your chin. 
6. Tug the wide end down through the loop that has formed, and tidy up the knot. 
7. Adjust

The Half-Windsor knot

Sometimes, you want something symmetrical like the Windsor but smaller or narrower than Prince Edward’s brainchild. Enter the Half-Windsor knot, which simply takes one less step than its wider brother. It is smaller and fits very well with most shirts in your closet.

Offering more body than the four-in-hand but not quite the bulk of the Windsor, the Half-Windsor is a knot with heft for many. This is a great in-between for someone who wants to avoid learning multiple knots.

Here’s how to tie a Half-Windsor knot:

1. Line up the two ends of the tie, with the wider end closer to the waist and the narrower end closer to the center of your chest.
2. Just like the Windsor, bring the wider end across the front and pull it under the narrow end, up toward your chin. 
3. Bring it back down and under the narrow end, so the back of the tie is facing front. 
4. Cross the wide end back over the narrow side, tucking the end of the tie up behind the back of the tie, past the collar button, then plunge the tip down through the just-formed loop. 
5. Adjust. 

The Eldredge knot

The Eldredge knot is the most stylish (and most complex) knot on our list, and unlike most knots, you tie it using the smaller end of the tie. It’s also one of the more modern tie knots, first appearing in 2007.

This knot makes a statement. It’s larger than the Windsor and features an intricate tapered fishtail braid-like pattern.

Here’s how to tie the Eldredge knot, according to Machlovitz:

1. Start with the tie around your neck, facing outward (seam facing in), not reversed like previous knots.
2. Place the small end over the wide end.
3. Bring the small end under the wide end and to the other side.
4. Bring the small end up to the center.
5. Bring the small end toward the neck loop.
6. Bring the small end through the neck loop and to the reverse side.
7. Cross the small end across the front of the wide end.
8. Bring the small end up into the neck loop from underneath.
9. Bring the small end down to the left and around the back of the wide end.
10. Bring the small end up to the center.
11. Bring the small end towards the neck loop.
12. Bring the small end down through the neck loop and to the other side.
13. Bring the small end up to the center.
14. Bring the small end towards the neck loop.
15. Bring the small end down through the neck loop and to the other side. Keep this part loose.
16. Cross the small end across the front and through the loop made in the previous step.
17. Pull the small end to tighten.
18. Tuck the rest of the small end behind the neck loop.

Bow tie

How about some more military history? The bow tie is derived from the cravat, which is the French word for “Croat.” That is the name for the Croatian Army, which used fabric to close the tops of their shirts.

They can be formal or jaunty, but a great (and well-tied) bow tie is a mark of sartorial proficiency. This one tip helps us: Don’t look in the mirror, don’t get hung up on the width of the fabric, and pretend you’re tying your shoes. This may be the most frustrating sartorial task to learn, but it will elevate every aspect of your professional and formal wardrobe.

Here’s how to tie a bowtie:

1. Line up the two ends of the tie evenly. 
2. Cross one side over the other. 
3. Bring one end up under the other, past the collar button. 
4. Hold the opposite end up so that you are staring at the mid-point of the bow (or a target mid-point if it’s a straight bow tie). 
5. Drop the first end down over the front (you’ll have perpendicular “butterflies” at this point). 
6. Bring that first end under the second, and tuck it into the loop that’s been formed behind the second. 
7. Adjust. 

A brief history of the necktie

While we said earlier that the necktie can be traced back to ancient Chinese warriors, what we think of as the modern necktie has a much more recent history, and we can thank the French for bringing us the necktie as we know it today. According to Modern Tie, the French enlisted Croatian mercenaries to help them win the 30 Years War, and those mercenaries used neckerchiefs as part of their uniform (see our entry on bow ties above). The French King Louis XIV liked the look of the knotted neckerchiefs and began wearing them himself, eventually making them mandatory for members of the court, which then caused the craze to spread throughout Europe.

Eventually, scarves started to become more popular neckwear, and ties evolved into the longer articles we know today (presumably, tie design no longer mattered to the French king since he didn’t have a neck to tie a tie around anymore, thanks to his date with the guillotine). The tie continued to evolve into the 20th century, and a New York tie maker named Jesse Langford invented a new method for tie-making, which is still used today.

Frequently asked questions

Still have questions? We asked the experts; you get the answers.

Which tie knot is best for wedding attire?

You’ll find experts on both sides of this one. A bow tie is often the go-to for formal, black-tie events. But for most weddings, a Windsor or Half-Windsor knot is a solid choice. Ultimately, it comes down to what you feel most comfortable and confident wearing.

But, there is one exception to this rule: Texture matters.

“A casually textured tie should never be paired with a formal suit,” Wong explained. “There will be an immediate mismatch. For example, a tweed tie or melange knitted tie ought not to be worn with a formal suit with smoother fabric,” he added. “In contrast, a very smooth silk (with some natural shine) ought not to be worn with a casual jacket.”

What tie knot works for short or tall individuals?

“The average tie is 58 inches long; men over 6 foot need a longer tie because the tie point should make it to the area of the waistband of the pants or belt buckle,” Machlovitz said. “Not above or below.”

How do you tie a tie quickly for a time crunch?

“Don’t look!” Machlovitz advised. “If you have to wear a tie, it’s because you are dressing up, trying to look your best. This is not the time to rush anything, especially tying a poor knot on your tie … it could destroy your entire look.”

How do you tie a tie for a child?

“Again, proportion, a child could be small and require a smaller knot or a shorter tie,” Machlovitz said. “Half Windsor is usually best as it is the smallest knot.”

What’s the most professional-looking knot?

“If your knot tied falls under both sides of the collar and the “knot” itself or the fold is not exposed, that is most professional,” Machlovitz explained. “I tie a reverse half Windsor that looks like a full Windsor but uses less tie.”