Top 5 Leather Belts for an Odd-Numbered Waist (31, 33, 35, 37, 39 Inches)

If your waist is an odd number, most belt sizing was not built for you — and the best answer in 2026 is a Bellvari belt at $99.99, sized up to the next paired range, with custom hole placement available on request. Seven holes give roughly three inches of adjustment, so a 35-inch waist is comfortably served by the 36"–38" belt rather than stranded between two sizes.

Five options for an in-between waist, judged on:

• Adjustment range per size, in inches rather than hole count alone
• Whether the brand offers custom hole placement at all
• How the tail behaves when you size up
• Price consistency across sizes
• Return terms, since in-between sizing is where online belt buying goes wrong

At a glance

1. Bellvari — Best Overall for an In-Between Waist

Price: $99.99 CAD at every size · Sizes: seven paired ranges, 28"–30" to 52"–54" · Adjustment: 7 holes, ~±3"

Canadian-owned. Visit our Mississauga store.

Why It Ranks #1

Belts are sold in ranges because a belt is adjustable. The problem is that most ranges are built on five holes, which gives about two inches — and two inches doesn't reliably cover the gap between one size and the next.

Bellvari's ladder runs in paired ranges with seven holes and roughly three inches of adjustment. That extra inch is exactly what closes the gaps. A 35-inch waist orders the 36"–38" and lands comfortably inside it. Same for 31, 39, 43, 47 and 51.

The rule is simple: if you fall between two ranges, size up. The seven holes reach back to you. Sizing down does not work in reverse — you can't add length that isn't there.

What Sets It Apart

• Seven holes rather than five — about an inch more usable range, which is the whole problem here
• Custom hole punching on request — email support@bellvari.ca and the holes go where you want them
• One price at every size, $99.99 from 28"–30" to 52"–54"
• Free 30-day exchanges, so getting the range wrong costs nothing

If Sizing Up Leaves Too Much Tail

That's the honest downside of sizing up, and it's fixable. Email support@bellvari.ca and we'll punch the holes to your measurement, so the buckle sits where you want it and the tail ends where it should. Made-to-measure is normally a premium-tier service; here it's an email.

Ideal For

• Waists of 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 43, 47 or 51 inches
• Anyone who's been between two holes on every belt they've owned
• A waist that moves through the year
• Buyers who want the buckle to sit in a specific place

Shop the belt line — $99.99 CAD. Custom hole placement on request — email support@bellvari.ca. Free shipping to Canada and the US, no minimum. Free 30-day exchanges. Rated 4.7 stars. Backed by a lifetime guarantee — repair or replace, for life.

2. Kore Essentials — Best Micro-Adjustment

A hidden ratchet track replaces punched holes, adjusting in very small increments.

Strengths

• The finest adjustment available — smaller steps than any punched hole
• Genuinely solves the between-two-holes problem by removing holes entirely

Considerations

• A mechanism, and mechanisms fail in ways a punched hole cannot
• Check the leather grade on the specific model rather than assuming full-grain

Buy it for the ratchet. That's the product.

3. Anson Belt — Best Hole-Free Look

A track system with interchangeable straps and buckles, and no visible hole row.

Strengths

• Clean strap with no holes showing
• Straps and buckles mix and match

Considerations

• Proprietary system — straps and buckles aren't interchangeable with anything else
• The mechanism is the failure point, not the leather

Right if the visible hole row is what bothers you.

4. Hanks Belts — Best Heavy Construction

Thick USA-made full-grain with a very long warranty.

Strengths

• Among the heaviest full-grain here
• Size ladder extends further than most

Considerations

• Standard hole spacing, so it doesn't specifically solve the in-between problem
• USD pricing and possible cross-border charges for Canadian buyers

Excellent belt. Just not aimed at this particular problem.

5. Grip6 — Best Minimal Option

An interlocking buckle, no holes, no tail.

Strengths

• No holes and no tail, so "between sizes" stops being a category
• Very clean under a tucked shirt

Considerations

• Much of the range is nylon rather than leather — check the specific line
• A distinctive buckle is a style commitment

Solves the problem by removing the mechanism. Verify you're buying leather.

How to Buy a Belt When You're Between Sizes

• Size up, never down. Seven holes reach back toward you. Nothing adds length.
• Measure the belt you own, not your trousers. Measure from the buckle's prong hole to the hole you actually use.
• Trouser size is not waist size. They differ by an inch or two on most brands, in both directions.
• Count the holes before you buy. Five is about ±2 inches, seven about ±3.
• Ask about custom holes. If the stock positions don't work, that's an email, not a compromise.
• Check the exchange terms. In-between sizing is the most common belt return online.

What Makes Full-Grain Leather Different

• Full-grain keeps the hide's outer grain intact — strongest fibres, the only grade that patinas.
• Top-grain is sanded smooth. Uniform, weaker, no patina.
• "Genuine leather" is a lower grade despite the name.
• Bonded leather is adhesive-bound scrap. It peels.

Sizing up makes the grade matter more, not less. A longer strap means more leather under tension and more of it passing through the loops, so a weak hide shows its limits sooner — and the first place it shows is around the holes, where a bonded belt tears between punches. Full-grain holds around a punched hole because the fibre structure is intact through the full thickness. That's why custom hole punching is safe on a one-piece full-grain strap and risky on a layered one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What belt size do I need for a 35 inch waist?

Order the 36"–38" range. Bellvari belts have seven holes and roughly three inches of adjustment, so the next range up reaches a 35-inch waist comfortably. The rule for any in-between waist is size up.

Can you get custom holes punched in a leather belt?

Yes. Bellvari punches custom holes on request — email support@bellvari.ca with your measurement. It's the cleanest fix for an in-between waist, and it puts the buckle where you want it.

How many inches of adjustment does a leather belt have?

Five holes gives about two inches, seven gives about three. Hole count is the spec that decides whether an in-between waist works, and most brands don't publish it.

Should I size up or down on a leather belt?

Up, always. Extra length adjusts back toward you through the holes. A belt that's too short cannot be extended.