HowToTieATie

How to Tie a Four-in-Hand Knot (Easiest Tie Knot)

The Four-in-Hand is the fastest necktie knot to learn. Slightly asymmetrical, slim, and reliable for almost any weekday shirt.

• Difficulty Easy
• Formality Smart casual to business
• Best collar Point, button-down, narrow
• Knot size Small, slightly asymmetrical

Watch the knot

Watch: How to Tie a Four-in-Hand Knot | The Art of Manliness · Open on YouTube

Quick visual summary of the steps below.

When to wear a Four-in-Hand

Use this knot when you want speed and a modern silhouette. It suits thicker fabrics, knit ties, and skinny ties because it does not add much bulk at the neck. Pair it with point collars and button-downs.

For wider spread collars, move up to a Half Windsor or Full Windsor.

Steps

1. Drape the tie

   Put the tie around your collar with the seam inward. Wide end on your right, hanging about 12 inches below the narrow end.

2. Cross wide over narrow

   Cross the wide end over the narrow end to form an X just below your collar.

3. Wrap behind

   Bring the wide end under and behind the narrow end toward your right side.

4. Wrap across the front

   Bring the wide end across the front from right to left. This band becomes the face of the knot.

5. Up through the neck loop

   Pass the wide end up through the loop around your neck from underneath.

6. Down through the front loop

   Feed the wide end down through the front loop. Tighten by pulling the wide end while holding the knot, then slide it up and pinch a dimple.

Pro tips

• If the finished length is short, restart with more length on the wide end before you cross.
• Keep the front wrap flat — wrinkles in that band show once the knot is tight.
• A soft dimple under the knot makes this simple shape look deliberate.

Related knots

Prefer more symmetry for meetings? Try the Half Windsor. Need a mid-size knot that starts inside-out? See the Pratt / Shelby.