What do 20 inch shoulders look like? Slightly larger than the average male shoulder width to be sure, but it really depends on your height and the amount of muscle mass that you’re carrying.
So if you want to know how your 20″ shoulders really stack up, then this science-based guide is for you. We’ll be using published anthropometric data and our own measurement research to explain all the ins and outs of having 20 in shoulders.
Compare Other Shoulder Measurements:
Are 20 inch shoulders broad for a male?
Are 20 inch shoulders broad for a male? Yes, 20 inch shoulders are broad for a man because they’re around 1-2 inches wider than average for an adult male.
Of course, this 20 inch measurement presumes that you’re measuring deltoid to deltoid (either from the front or back) and not just from acromion to acromion. After all, if yourclaviclesalone were 20 inches, then that would be very broad indeed, considering that most men only have a biacromial breadth of around 15.5 inches. [1]
But in terms of physical shoulder width, 20″ shoulders are still quite broad for a man. You might have 20 in shoulders due to having a fairly wide bone structure or because you have a lot of muscle mass on your frame.
Obviously, if you’re fairly skinny with a 20 inch shoulder width, then you definitely still have the potential to make your shoulders even broader should you want to.
Are 20 inch shoulders broad for a female?
Are 20 inch shoulders broad for a female? Yes, 20 inch shoulders are very broad for a female because they’re around 4-5 inches wider than normal for an adult woman.
Indeed, an adult woman has shoulders that are around 14.5 inches when measured in terms of biacromial breadth. [2] So in terms of full shoulder width (including muscle mass and fat tissue), most women have shoulders that measure between 15 and 16 inches.
So with a 20 inch shoulder width, you’re definitely much broader than the average woman, which could be an indication that you’re tall or just so happen to have a larger frame.
Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with having 20 inch wide shoulders either. While such a measurement is undeniably uncommon for a female, there are obviously exceptions to the rule.
After all, you’ve probably seen at least a few women who are taller than the average guy. So there’s no reason why the same can’t hold true for shoulder width every now and again.
How can you increase your 20 inch shoulder width?
Increasing the width of your 20″ shoulders comes down to increasing the amount of soft tissue (muscle and fat) around your deltoids and upper back.
To do this, you’ll need to lift weights and most likely eat in a moderate calorie surplus so that you can gain a bit of weight (if you’re skinny).
Focus on exercises that train the lats and traps. These are two of the biggest muscles on your back and will really help to broaden your 20 inch shoulders when well-developed.
So make sure to do vertical pulls for the lats (pulldowns, pull-ups, lat pushdowns) and horizontal pulls for the traps (barbell rows, cable rows, face pulls).
On top of this, shoulder presses, lateral raises, and rear delt flys will help to increase the muscularity of your deltoids. While certainly a small muscle, the deltoids will definitely help to stretch the tape measure further if they have plenty of meat on them.
Is it possible to shrink your 20″ shoulders?
While you can’t change your bone structure, you can definitely shrink your 20 inch shoulders by essentially doing the opposite of what I recommended above for people wanting to broaden their 20 in shoulders.
To reduce the size of your 20 inch wide shoulders, avoid exercises that work your back muscles and deltoids. Instead, do leg exercises and cardiovascular workouts.
Also, consider reducing your calorie intake, especially if you’re severely overweight.
Shedding excess body mass will likely slim your 20″ shoulders because you’ll lose fat and muscle from your upper back and deltoids.
Just note that you might not experience much of a decrease if most of your 20 inch shoulder width is due to your bone structure.
In this case, there’s not a lot you can do. Indeed, if you’re skinny with 20 inch shoulders, then losing weight might actually make them look more prominent because the bones will be more visible.
In conclusion: Is it good to have 20 inch wide shoulders?
When it comes to the highly varied human body, people love to obsess over specific measurements. But the truth is that we’re all built differently, so it’s not like you can attain somebody else’s bone structure by following a particular workout or lifestyle.
But let’s cut to the case. It’s obviously true that 20 inch shoulders are wider than normal for a woman. But if this is the way that you’re built (and not as a result of you being obese), then you should just embrace it. You can always enhance other parts of your body to make your broad shoulders less noticeable.
On the other hand, if you’re a man with 20 inch wide shoulders, then you’re definitely a bit broader than average, which is definitely something to be happy about for those seeking to sculpt a masculine physique.
References
- Hanson, L., Sperling, L., Gard, G., Ipsen, S., & Olivares Vergara, C. (2009). Swedish anthropometrics for product and workplace design. Applied Ergonomics, 40(4), 797–806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2008.08.007
- McDowell MA, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Anthropometric reference data for children and adults: United States, 1988–1994. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 11(249). 2009
FAQs
Still, based on biacromial measurements taken in years passed and trends observed by researchers, it's probably safe to say that in the United States average shoulder width is at least 16 inches (41 cm) for men and 14 inches (36 cm) for women.
What is considered broad shoulders for a woman? ›
The average width of female shoulders is 14 inches(I'm assuming measured from the bony parts of the shoulders, not the very edge), so a width that's about 16 inches or more would probably be considered broad shoulders. Shoulders also tend to look broader if they go more straight out instead of sloping down.
What is considered broad shoulders for a man? ›
Which Kind of Shoulders Are Considered Broad for Men? If your collarbone is more comprehensive than your waist, you can say that you have broad shoulders.
What is broad shoulders inches? ›
The biacromial or shoulder breadth of an average 18-year-old girl is roughly 35 cm or 14 inches. For males of the same age, the typical biacromial diameter is approximately 39 cm or 15 inches.
What is desirable shoulder width? ›
Shoulders: Shoulders are provided along the road edge and are intended for accommodation of stopped vehicles, serve as an emergency lane for vehicles, and provide lateral support for base and surface courses. It is desirable to have a width of 4.6 m for the shoulders.
Are women's shoulders wider than hips? ›
Women typically have wider hips than shoulders, while the reverse is true for men.
What body types have broad shoulders? ›
The Mesomorph Body Type. The mesomorph is somewhere between the round endomorph and the thin ectomorph. Physically, they have the more 'desirable' body, and have: Large head, broad shoulders, and narrow waist (wedge-shaped).
How can I look feminine with broad shoulders? ›
Offset your upper body with volume below: wide-leg pants; fuller skirts. Look for details that draw the eye up and down, not across—vee or scoop necks, vertical embellishments, long scarves and necklaces. Choose soft shoulders, raglan sleeves, halters—anything that isn't crisp and squared-off.
Are 18 inch shoulders big? ›
18″ shoulders, if you are measuring like garment makers do, is an XXL size. It is quite possible for a woman/girl to have an XX-large frame that is excessively thin. It is also possible for the upper back to be deeply rounded/humped, making the measured shoulder width a larger number without any extra visual width.
What is the difference between broad and wide shoulders? ›
There is no difference in meaning but it's possible that one or the other are preferable in certain collocations. "to have broad shoulders" also has a figurative meaning to describe someone who has a great capacity to accept responsibility and/or criticism.
Shoulder width can be changed to a certain degree. You can't change your bone structure, which is determined mostly by genetics. This includes the width of the collarbones, an important part of shoulder width. However, you can build up and develop muscular shoulders.
How can I slim my broad shoulders? ›
V-necks, scoop-necks and collarless blouses are great as they divert the attention toward your collarbones and chest area instead. Most sleeves look great on the body, for example fitted sleeves, raglans and loose and long dolman sleeves can make shoulders appear smaller.
Are 15 inch shoulders broad for a girl? ›
For the average 18-year-old female, the bicacromial or shoulder width is about 14 inches or 35 cm. For comparison, the average biacromial width is about 15 inches or 39 cm.
Who has widest shoulders? ›
Chuck Ahrens - Legend with The Widest Shoulders in The World.
What causes broad shoulders in females? ›
The primary cause of broad shoulders is genetics. Genetics determines the length of your clavicles. If this bone happens to be a bit longer than the average, you will have the appearance of broader shoulders.
What is the most attractive shoulder-to-waist ratio? ›
found that the shoulder-to-waist ratio is the most powerful and immediate representation of one's overall shape and women from all cultures repeatedly choose 1:1.6 as being the most attractive (where the man has a V taper and a slim waist).
What is attractive shoulder-to-waist ratio? ›
The ideal shoulder-to-waist ratio for men is 1:6, meaning the shoulders are significantly larger than the waist. For women, the perfect shoulder-to-waist ratio is a little less at 1:4. These figures are based on something called the Golden Ratio, also known as the Adonis Index.
Are broad shoulders attractive on a man? ›
Both subjects sexes rated broad shoulders as attractive in male physiques.
Can you have an hourglass figure with broad shoulders? ›
Both the Hourglass and Trapezoid are fortunate to naturally have broad shoulders and chest, which means you don't need any of the extra embellishments or construction details like shoulder pads and wide V-necks to strengthen this area.
What body type has bigger shoulders than hips? ›
Inverted triangle body shape - Also known as V shape – broad shoulders that are wider than your waist, hips, and legs.
The female thoracic cage is generally more rounded and not as big as in the male. Proportionately, the skeletal width of the shoulders is the same as in the male, but the larger muscular development of the latter makes it seem wider.
Who has broader shoulders male or female? ›
Males generally have a longer clavicle (and thus broader shoulders) compared with their female counterparts.
Is 17 inch shoulders broad? ›
Because of the added width contributed by these soft tissues, the average adult female shoulder width is just under 17 inches or 43 cm.
Is 18 inch shoulders broad? ›
Are 18-Inch Shoulders Broad? Eighteen-inch shoulders will usually appear broad on both men and women because eighteen inches exceeds the average shoulder width for both men and women. However, your overall frame, such as your height and the shape of your hips, could influence this.
What is the average shoulder width for a 6 foot man? ›
17″ is about average for a 6′ man. That's measured from “bony crest to bony crest.” Probably pretty average. I'm 6'6” with a 13” shoulder width (bideltoid).
Who has wider hips male or female? ›
In fact, male and female pelvises are different in all dimensions. A woman's hips are wider, not as high, and shallower from front to back. The configuration of the hips affects many surface forms of the torso.
What body shape am I if I have broad shoulders? ›
The Mesomorph Body Type. The mesomorph is somewhere between the round endomorph and the thin ectomorph. Physically, they have the more 'desirable' body, and have: Large head, broad shoulders, and narrow waist (wedge-shaped).
What size is 18 inch shoulders? ›
| SIZE | L | XL |
|---|
| inch | inch |
|---|
| SHOULDER WIDTH | 18 | 18 1/2 |
| BODY WIDTH | 20 1/2 | 21 2/3 |
| SLEEVE LENGTH | 8 | 8 1/2 |
1 more rowThe span of your shoulders is equivalent to one fourth of your total height.
What is a broad shoulder to waist ratio? ›
The Best Shoulder-To-Waist Ratio
So the goal is to get a shoulder-to-waist ratio of 1.618 (or better) to be considered broad-shouldered. Take a tailor's measuring tape and measure all the way around your shoulders and around your back.
The average man in the United States is 5-foot 10-inches tal, and weighs 172 pounds. His shoulder width is 18-1/4 inches. Using that as a starting number, if your shoulder width is approximately 18-1/4 inches . . . then, your shoulder width is AVERAGE or NORMAL. A little bit goes a long way in shoulder width . . .
Do taller people have wider shoulders? ›
It varies from person to person as far as bone structure goes. Short person can have wide shoulders also. But there are generalized proportions as far as the body goes. Depends on your health and diet and genetics.
What is minimum shoulder width? ›
On a four-lane section, the paved width of the left shoulder shall be at least 4 feet (1.2 meters). On sections with six or more lanes, a 10-foot (3.0-meter) paved width for the left shoulder should be provided.
