HowToTieATie

How to Tie a Half Windsor Knot — Step by Step

The Half Windsor gives you a balanced triangle without the bulk of a Full Windsor — the default upgrade after Four-in-Hand.

• Difficulty Intermediate
• Formality Business to formal
• Best collar Semi-spread, standard
• Knot size Medium, nearly symmetrical

Watch the knot

Watch: How to Tie a Half Windsor Knot | Art of Manliness · Open on YouTube

Quick visual summary of the steps below.

When to wear a Half Windsor

Choose Half Windsor for client meetings, weddings (daytime), and any semi-spread collar that needs more presence than a Four-in-Hand. It uses less fabric than a Full Windsor, so it works better on shorter ties and thicker weaves.

If your collar is a wide spread or cutaway, use the Full Windsor instead.

Steps

1. Drape the tie

   Wide end on the right, about 12 inches below the narrow end. Seam faces inward.

2. Cross and go behind

   Cross wide over narrow, then bring the wide end behind and to the right.

3. Up through the neck loop

   Bring the wide end up through the neck loop and down to your left.

4. Across the front

   Sweep the wide end across the front from left to right to form the knot face.

5. Up from underneath

   Bring the wide end up through the neck loop from underneath.

6. Down through the front loop

   Pass the wide end down through the front loop. Tighten, center, and shape a dimple.

Pro tips

• Keep both sides of the triangle even as you tighten — tug gently on the narrow end to center.
• Medium-weight silk shows the dimple best.
• Still learning? Master Four-in-Hand first, then add this knot for formal days.

Related knots

Need maximum volume for a cutaway collar? Go Full Windsor. Want something between Four-in-Hand and Half Windsor? Try Pratt.