Size 34 pants is, depending on the brand, your waist (skin) measurement. Some brands mark their waists an inch smaller, meaning that if your waist was 34", their pants that fit you would be a 33". Makes people feel good about themselves. You also have to decide if the belt is for jeans or for dress. The thickness of the jean material vs cloth pants can be a belt hole different in circumference. You really need to measure them in the pants they want the belt for. A "try on" belt that has holes from like 18" from the buckle to 50" past the buckle lets them try it on, figure out the hole that works for them. It keeps the ego out of the process.