The Complete Guide to Tie Knots: 5 Essential Knots Every Man Should Know
02 September 2026 · Updated 24 October 2026 · By Tajmilkha P.
A tie is only as sharp as the knot that ties it. The right knot depends on your collar, the weight of the fabric, and the occasion. A boardroom presentation calls for something different than a wedding or a relaxed Friday. Here are the five knots worth having in your repertoire, from simplest to most formal.
The Four-in-Hand Knot
The Four-in-Hand is the knot most men learn first, and for good reason: it works with almost any collar and any tie, including thicker weaves like jacquard and grenadine. It produces a slightly asymmetric, narrow knot with a natural dimple. To tie it, cross the wide end over the narrow end, wrap it around and up through the neck loop, then bring it down through the front loop you've just created and tighten gently while sliding it up to the collar.
The Half-Windsor Knot
A step up in formality and symmetry, the Half-Windsor suits a medium spread collar and most business settings. It uses one extra wrap around the knot compared to the Four-in-Hand, which gives it a neater, more triangular shape without the bulk of a full Windsor, a good match for our medium-weight ties.
The Full Windsor Knot
The Full Windsor is the most formal, symmetrical knot, built for wide spread collars and occasions where precision matters: job interviews, formal dinners, weddings. It takes two wraps to build the triangle, so it works best with a lighter-weight tie; on a heavier jacquard it can come out oversized.
The Pratt (Shelby) Knot
Tied with the tie starting lining-side out, the Pratt knot gives a clean, symmetrical triangle that's slightly smaller than a Windsor. It's a reliable middle ground: neat enough for the office, quick enough for a rushed morning.
Which Knot Should You Choose?
As a rule of thumb: narrow knot, wide collar looks unbalanced, and a bulky knot on a narrow collar looks cramped. Match the size of the knot to the spread of your collar, and let the weight of the tie guide how many wraps the tie can comfortably take. When in doubt, the Four-in-Hand is the safest choice for our textured and jacquard weaves; save the Full Windsor for our smoother, lighter ties.
For a four-in-hand, a textured weave such as the Wanstead Navy Herringbone gives a neat, compact knot; browse all textured weave ties. For a full Windsor, a smoother tie such as the Chelsea Pin Dot works best. Or browse the full collection.
Knot size isn't only about the collar, it should suit your build too. See our guide to tie width and proportion for the fuller picture.
