Ordering a tailored suit or shirts in Bangkok works best when you choose the shop yourself, allow several days for at least two fittings, see and touch the actual fabric, and pay only a deposit until the finished clothes fit. Avoid any shop you were brought to by a stranger or a cheap tuk-tuk ride.
Bangkok has a long tradition of tailoring for visitors, and a made-to-measure jacket, a pair of trousers or a set of shirts is one of the classic things to take home. Quality ranges from excellent to poor, often on the same street, and the difference rarely shows in the window. What protects you is the process: time, fittings, a written order and a fair split between deposit and final payment.
There is no official standard for tailors in Thailand, and no rule on how many fittings or how large a deposit should be. The advice below is practical common sense, and the complaint routes are the official ones for any consumer dispute.
Ordering tailored clothes in Bangkok
- Time to allow
- Several days; plan the first fitting early in your stay
- Fittings
- At least two before the final collection
- Payment
- A deposit at the order, the balance when the clothes fit
- Paperwork
- A written order with fabric, style, measurements, price and dates
- Avoid
- Shops reached through a tout, a "closed temple" story or a cheap tuk-tuk tour
- Complaints
- Office of the Consumer Protection Board, hotline 1166; Tourist Police 1155
The tuk-tuk tailor, and how to choose a shop instead
The best-known trap is the cheap tuk-tuk tour that ends in a tailor or gem shop paying the driver a commission. It usually starts with a friendly stranger near a big sight saying the temple or palace is closed. Our guides to tuk-tuk rides and their scams and to the Grand Palace explain how the story goes, and our roundup of common scams in Thailand covers the gem-shop version; this page is about what to do instead.
Choose a shop on your own terms. Recommendations from people you know, from your hotel's long-serving staff or from colleagues who live in Bangkok are worth more than online lists, which are easy to fake. Visit two or three shops before you decide: you learn a lot from how each one measures you, what fabrics they show and how clearly they answer questions. A shop that pressures you to order on the spot, or offers a discount that expires today, is selling the deal rather than the suit.
We do not name tailors. Good ones exist in every price range, and the checks in this guide work wherever you go.
How many fittings and how many days
A well-made jacket is cut from your measurements, tried on loosely assembled so the tailor can adjust the shape, then finished and tried on again. That needs time between fittings. Plan for the first fitting a day or two after ordering and the second a day or two after that, with a final check when you collect. Order early in your trip, not on your last afternoon; our three-day Bangkok itinerary leaves gaps where a fitting fits in.
Shops that promise a full suit in 24 hours can deliver something, but there is little room to correct the fit, and much of the sewing is usually done in a rush. If time is short, order simpler items such as shirts or trousers, which are easier to get right with one fitting, and leave the jacket for a longer visit.
Bring a garment that already fits you well. A favorite shirt or jacket gives the tailor a reference for length, sleeve and shoulder that measurements alone do not, and it is the quickest way to explain the fit you want.
Fabric: wool, blends, cotton and linen
The fabric decides how a suit wears more than anything else. Ask to see the full bolt, not just a small swatch, and look for a label naming the mill and the fiber content. Then handle it: crush a corner in your hand and see whether it springs back or stays creased.
- Pure wool drapes well, breathes and keeps its shape; lightweight wool is the usual choice for a suit worn in a warm office or for travel.
- Wool blends with polyester cost less and resist creasing, but feel warmer in the heat and can look shiny over time. They are a fair choice if the price reflects it.
- Cotton is the standard for shirts and works for casual trousers and summer jackets.
- Linen is cool and light but creases easily; that is part of its character.
Be wary when a fabric sold as "cashmere" or "pure wool" costs about the same as a blend in the next shop. If you want Thai silk, buy it as fabric from a specialist and bring it to the tailor; our guide to Thai souvenirs explains how to tell real silk from market blends.
What drives the price
We do not print prices for tailored clothes. We found no official or independent price survey, quotes change with the fabric and the shop, and the cheapest offers in tourist areas often depend on blends and quick construction. What we can say is what moves the price:
- The fabric, which is usually the largest part of the cost.
- The construction of the jacket: a fully fused front is quicker and cheaper; a canvassed front, with a layer stitched inside to shape the chest, costs more and lasts longer.
- The number of fittings and the hand finishing on buttonholes and lapels.
- Extras: a second pair of trousers, a waistcoat, lining, monogram or special buttons.
Ask each shop to quote for the same specification, fabric included, so you compare like with like. "Suit, two shirts and a tie" packages at a low headline price are hard to compare and often use the cheapest fabric. A tourist price is not illegal; our page on dual pricing in Thailand explains where two-tier prices are normal.
Deposits and the written order
Pay a deposit when you order, not the full price. The deposit covers the fabric the tailor cuts for you; the balance is your leverage until the clothes fit. Thai law sets no standard deposit for tailoring, so agree it clearly and get a receipt that shows the amount paid and the amount still due.
The written order should list the fabric (with a snip of it, if they will give you one), the style details, your measurements, the total price, the deposit and the fitting and collection dates. Photograph it. If you pay by card, our page on using cards in Thailand covers fees and the pitfalls of paying in your home currency.
Never pay the balance for clothes you have not tried on. Once everything is paid, a shop has little reason to remake a jacket that does not fit. Try every piece at the final fitting, sit down and raise your arms in it, and pay the rest only when you are satisfied.
Good signs and warning signs
Good signs
- They take many measurements and ask how you will wear the clothes.
- They show fabric bolts with labels and let you take your time.
- They plan at least two fittings without being asked.
- They give a written order and a receipt for the deposit.
- They are happy for you to come back tomorrow to decide.
Warning signs
- You were brought there by a tout or a tuk-tuk driver.
- Pressure to decide now, or a "today only" price.
- A demand for full payment up front.
- Vague answers about the fabric content.
- A promise of a finished suit in a few hours with no fitting.
Shipping your clothes home, and if something goes wrong
Many tailors will ship finished clothes abroad, which is useful if you leave before the final fitting or have too much luggage. Our guide to sending mail and packages from Thailand covers the post office, couriers and customs at the other end; declare the real value, because your home country may charge duty. Clothes you carry in your luggage can qualify for the VAT refund for tourists if the shop issues the form and you spend at least 2,000 baht there in one day, but Customs must see the goods at the airport, so shipped items do not.
If the finished clothes do not match what you ordered, raise it calmly with the owner, show the written order and ask for an alteration or a remake. If that fails, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board takes complaints on hotline 1166 and through its online system; our guide to complaints and refunds in Thailand explains the routes, including a card chargeback. If you are threatened or pressured, call the Tourist Police on 1155.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a suit made in Bangkok?
Allow several days. A good result needs at least two fittings with time in between for the tailor to adjust the cut. Order early in your stay, and treat 24-hour suits as a compromise on fit.
How much deposit should I pay a Bangkok tailor?
There is no legal standard. Pay a deposit that covers the fabric, get a receipt showing the amount paid and still owed, and keep the balance until the finished clothes fit. Never pay in full before the final fitting.
Are tuk-tuk drivers' tailor shops a scam?
Shops reached through a stranger's tip or a cheap tuk-tuk tour usually pay the driver a commission, which ends up in your price, and the pressure to buy is high. Choose a tailor yourself instead, and walk away from any shop you were steered into.
Can a Bangkok tailor ship my suit home?
Many can, by post or courier. Ship only after a final fitting if possible, keep the receipt and tracking number, and expect your home country's customs to charge duty and tax above its import allowance.
Sources
- Office of the Consumer Protection Board – Online complaint system (checked October 2026)
- Office of the Consumer Protection Board – Home page and hotline 1166 (checked October 2026)
- Revenue Department – VAT Refund for Tourists: eligibility (checked October 2026)