How to Tie a Four-in-Hand Knot Necktie (Step-by-Step)

Ever wonder how to wear a tie that looks effortless and laidback, instead of formal and stuffy? Meet the four-in-hand knot. This asymmetrical necktie knot is the one you tie when you want to look sharp and well-dressed, but not fancy or stodgy. It's also super easy for beginners! Come with us to learn how to tie a four-in-hand knot in your tie, step-by-step. We'll also cover what shirt to wear with your four-in-hand knot, when to wear it, and much more.

How do you tie a four-in-hand knot?

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An illustration of the steps for tying a four-in-hand knot in your necktie.

Place the tie around your neck with the ends dangling down your torso.
Cross the wide end of the tie over the small end.
Wrap the wide end of the tie around and behind the small end.
Cross the wide end back over the small end and pull it up inside the neck loop.
Pull the wide end down into the loop you made with the small end.
Tug the wide end down beside the small end to tighten the four-in-hand knot.

Section 1 of 7:

How to Tie a Four-in-Hand Tie Knot

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Put the tie around your neck with the ends dangling down your torso. Push the sides of your collar up and place the tie underneath them. Lay the wide end of the tie flat on the right side of your chest. Let the small end hang straight down on the left side.^{[1]
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- Use a wide necktie made of a weightier fabric when tying a four-in-hand knot. It's easier to tie, and it looks better than a thin necktie.
Pick up the wide end of the tie off your chest and pass it horizontally over the small end. The wide end should now be on the left side of your chest.^{[2]
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Leave the small end hanging down your chest and stomach, and pick up the wide end of the tie. Wrap it around and back behind the small end. The wide end should now be on your right side.^{[3]
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Cross the wide end of the tie back over the small end (i.e., move it from your right side to your left side). Next, stick the wide end of the tie under the loop around your neck and pull it halfway up.^{[4]
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Stick the wide end of the tie behind the loop you made in step 3. Pull it through and all the way down to fasten the four-in-hand knot.^{[5]
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Pull the wide end of the tie down until it feels snug on your collar, but leave it loose enough that it doesn't feel choking. Flip your collar down to hide the tie loop around your neck. Finally, clip the wide and the small ends of the tie together to your shirtfront (if you're wearing a button-down).^{[6]
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Section 2 of 7:

How to Untie a Four-in-Hand Knot

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Release the four-in-hand knot by reversing the steps you used to tie it. Grasp the knot with your fingers and loosen it by gently tugging it back and forth and down your shirt front a couple of inches. Next, pull the wide end up and out of the knot with your thumb and forefinger and feed it out of the neck loop. Then carefully unravel the rest of the knot in the reverse order that you tied it.^{[7]
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- Untying your tie slowly and gently will preserve it longer and prevent it from fraying or breaking.

Section 3 of 7:

What shirt looks best with a four-in-hand knot?

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Opt for a button-down shirt with a narrow or medium spread collar. The four-in-hand knot's narrow, asymmetrical shape looks best when the points of your collar are spaced somewhat closely. Stick to shirts with semi-spread collars where the points angle outward, or try a shirt with a narrow collar where the points angle straight down.^{[8]
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- The best ties for four-in-hand knots are wide and heavy. When in doubt, match the width of the tie to the lapels on your blazer or coat.^{[9]
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Section 4 of 7:

When to Wear a Four-in-Hand Knot

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Wear a four-in-hand knot on business casual days or for social gatherings. The four-in-hand knot is elegant, but also a little bit devil-may-care. (It is, after all, the preferred tie knot of at least two James Bond incarnations.) It's not the best option when you're pitching a new idea to your boss at a formal business meeting, but it's the perfect knot for casual days in the office, or maybe lunch with a business associate. It's also a handsome, laidback look for informal get-togethers with friends, visits to the club, and date nights.^{[10]
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- When to avoid: Highly formal occasions, like black-tie events or important business meetings.

Section 5 of 7:

Benefits of a Four-in-Hand Knot in Your Tie

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Four-in-hand knots are elongated, so they can help create the illusion that you have a longer neck. This, in turn, could help you appear taller and slimmer than you really are.^{[11]
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A four-in-hand knot is one of the easiest tie knots to master. Learning how to tie your own ties can be tricky, especially if you're not used to wearing them. The four-in-hand knot is a great knot for beginners because it requires only a few short steps to tie.^{[12]
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- Menswear content creator Simon B adds that any tie would work with a four-in-hand knot. It's especially good for heavier fabrics and knit ties.^{[13]
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Section 6 of 7:

Why is it called "four-in-hand"?

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The name "four-in-hand" may come from the knot in the reins of horse-drawn carriages. The exact origins of the knot's name can't be confirmed. However, the most popular theory is that it was named after the similar way that 19th-century horse-drawn carriage drivers tied their reins. A four-horse carriage was called a "four-in-hand."^{[14]
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- Another internet theory suggests that it comes from the name of a gentleman's club in England called Four in Hand. The men who attended supposedly tied their neckties in the four-in-hand style.