Even if you never wear ties, knowing how to tie one can prove to be useful. Whether you’re helping your partner prepare for a job interview, helping your son get ready for the prom, or assisting an elderly loved one, knowing how to tie a tie can come in handy!
If you’ve never learned how to tie a man’s tie, don’t worry. This article will show you how to do the Four-in-Hand knot, one of the easiest types of knots you can learn. It’s perfect for beginners but also versatile, meaning it’s appropriate for any occasion. We’ve broken it down into manageable steps and even provided some tips to help you get it just right.
How To Tie a Man’s Tie Step-By-Step
Most necktie tutorials teach you how to tie a tie on yourself. That makes them a bit tricky to follow if you’re tying someone else’s tie, requiring you to think backward. You don’t have to worry about that in this tutorial since we’ve written each step from the perspective of someone tying a man’s tie for him.
Of course, if you want to learn how to tie a tie on yourself, this tutorial would work just fine. Just remember that the directions should be swapped (your right would be the left referred to in the instructions). We also have additional tutorials that can help you learn how to tie several different tie knots on yourself.
However, the main purpose of this article is to help you learn how to tie someone else’s tie. So, grab your partner and a tie, and let’s get started!
Note: To make our step-by-step guide simple to follow, we’ll refer to the wider end as side A and the thin end as side B.
1. Drape tie with side A on your right
First things first, you need to drape the tie around the person who will be wearing it. The necktie should be right side up, with the wide end of the tie on the right and the narrow end of the tie on the left. The wide end of your tie is the active end (the side you’ll be manipulating) so placing it on your right-hand side makes it a little easier.
Before you get started, adjust the length of the tie so that the tip of side B is resting just above the tie-wearers belly button.
2. Cross side A over side B
Once your tie is positioned properly, you should take side A in your hand and cross it over top of side B. If side A was on your right at the beginning of the tutorial, it should be on your left side now.
Now, you’ll need to bring side A underneath side B. The tip of side A should again be on your right side with the front of the tie facing the wearer (the underside of side A should face you).
3. Loop side A back over side B
Next, you should repeat the beginning of step 2, crossing side A back over side B. Upon doing so, you’ll find that the tie is again right-side up.
4. Pull side A under and up through the neck loop
Take the tip of side A and pull it underneath the neck loop at the tie-wearer’s collar. The front of the tie should be pulled upwards in front of the wearer’s face.
If you aren’t already, place your thumb and index finger on the part of the tie that will form the knot. This helps keep it in place and prevents it from looking sloppy.
5. Bring side A through the newly formed knot
Now, take side A in your left hand and push it through the newly formed knot you are holding in place with your fingers. Once it’s inserted, pull side A down. You should now have a simple knot.
6. Pull knot tight (but not too tight!)
If you want to create a dimple, you’ll need to do that now, before pulling your knot tight. (Feel free to skip this step if you don’t want a dimple, but you still need to tighten the knot.)
Creating a dimple is pretty straightforward with a Four-in-Hand and adds some character to the tie knot. All you need to do is pinch the sides of the tie underneath the front of the knot until the sides curl slightly upward. The dimple will form in the center of the knot.
Finally, you should pull the knot tight by gently pulling on side A. If it doesn’t look quite right, that’s likely a sign that you need to try again — remember that practice makes perfect!
Tips for Perfecting a Man’s Tie
Learning to tie a man’s tie goes beyond the steps outlined in the previous paragraphs. You also need to know how to get the tie length just right. As a general rule, the tip of the tie should just about touch the top of the wearer’s belt buckle. If the tie is too short and the wearer is especially tall, you may need to use a long tie.
If you’re tying a tie for someone else, especially a child or elderly person, you’ll want to make sure that it’s not pulled too tight. This could be uncomfortable or even restricting for the wearer, which is why you shouldn’t tighten it too much in the final step of this tutorial.
Other tips for looking your best include wearing the right dress shirt for your tie knot. Simple knots, such as the one in this tutorial look fine with regular dress shirt collars. However, larger tie knots, such as the Double Windsor or Eldredge knot, look best with a wide-spread collar.
Finally, you can help your loved one polish their look with accessories! Tie bars are a great choice because they keep your neckwear in place, which is especially valuable after spending so much time getting it just right.
Add PRIME Neckwear’s Silk Ties to Your Collection
We hope this guide helped you learn how to tie a man’s tie without much effort. Now that you know how to do it, why not teach your loved one? You can use this same tutorial to help you or others found on our men's fashion blog. There you’ll find tips on choosing and making the right knot, such as how to tie a Full Windsor knot, Half Windsor knot, Prince Albert, or even the complex Trinity knot. If you’re planning on wearing a tuxedo, we can even help you master the classic bow tie without needing a clip-on!
There are many different necktie knots, so if you find one particularly difficult, we recommend giving another one a go. No matter which type of knot you use, having the best tie is crucial! At PRIME Neckwear, we specialize in quality silk ties. They’re lightweight, easy to work with, and come in the designs you love. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a loved one, be sure to browse our best sellers today!
