Why does my four-in-hand knot look slightly crooked?

A four-in-hand is naturally asymmetrical, so a slight lean is normal. Keep the tie flat as you wrap it and centre the finished knot under your collar rather than trying to make it perfectly symmetrical.

Why is the wide end of my tie too short or too long?

The starting position determines the finished length. If the wide end finishes too short, untie the knot and begin with the wide end hanging lower. If it finishes too long, begin with the wide end higher.

How tight should a four-in-hand knot be?

Tighten it enough to sit neatly against the collar without squeezing your neck. You should be able to move and breathe comfortably.

How do I make a dimple below the tie knot?

As you tighten the knot, pinch the centre of the wide end just below the knot and hold the fold while sliding the knot upward. Adjust the fabric until the dimple sits neatly in the centre.

Guides/General/How to Tie a Four-in-Hand Knot

How to Tie a Four-in-Hand Knot

Learn to tie a simple four-in-hand knot, then adjust its shape and length for a neat, comfortable finish.

Updated Sep 24, 2026

5 min8 stepsBeginnernew

What you need

Tick off what you already have.

Tools

Necktie
Collared shirt
Mirror

Necktie draped around a shirt collar with the wide end lower on the right

AI illustration

Step 01 / 08

Position the tie

You need a necktie, a collared shirt and a mirror. Button the collar and lift it up. Drape the tie around your neck with its front facing out and the seam against your shirt. Place the wide end on your right and the narrow end on your left. Start with the wide tip about 30 cm (12 in) lower than the narrow tip; you may need to adjust this for your height and tie. All left and right directions refer to your own body.

Guide progress1 / 8

1. Position the tie
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
You need a necktie, a collared shirt and a mirror. Button the collar and lift it up. Drape the tie around your neck with its front facing out and the seam against your shirt. Place the wide end on your right and the narrow end on your left. Start with the wide tip about 30 cm (12 in) lower than the narrow tip; you may need to adjust this for your height and tie. All left and right directions refer to your own body.
2. Cross the wide end over the narrow end
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Bring the wide end across the front of the narrow end, from your right to your left. Hold the crossing lightly near your collar. Keep the narrow end mostly still throughout the next steps.
3. Wrap the wide end behind
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Pass the wide end behind the narrow end, from your left back to your right. Keep the fabric flat rather than twisting it.
4. Bring the wide end across the front
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Bring the wide end across the front again, from your right to your left. This creates the horizontal front band of the knot. Hold a finger behind this band to leave a small opening for the wide end later.
5. Pass the wide end up through the neck loop
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Lift the wide end from below and pass it up through the space between the tie and your neck. It should travel behind the forming knot and emerge above it. Keep the front band loose.
6. Thread the wide end down through the front band
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Guide the wide tip down through the opening behind the horizontal front band you held open. Pull the wide end through gently, keeping it flat. Do not pass it through the neck loop again.
7. Shape and tighten the knot
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Hold the knot lightly and pull the wide end down to snug it up. For an optional dimple, pinch the fabric just below the knot while tightening. Then hold the narrow end and slide the knot up towards your collar. Stop when it feels comfortable, without constricting your neck.
8. Check the length and finish
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Fold down your collar and centre the knot. A four-in-hand knot is naturally slightly asymmetrical. Aim for the wide tip to reach about the middle of your belt buckle, with the narrow end hidden behind it. Slip the narrow end through the keeper loop on the back of the wide end, if present. If the wide end is too short, untie and restart with it hanging lower; if too long, restart with it higher.