A previous collar which still fits comfortably is a good starting place if you want to measure your pet for a new collar, however manufacturers do vary on measurements depending on a particular product. For your pet's safety and for maximum comfort, please measure for a new dog collar by measuring your dog's neck.
As a general guide, you should be able to fit two fingers (flat) easily between the collar itself and your dog's neck. A collar shouldn't be tight around your dog's neck and it wouldn't be the exact measurement of your dog's neck. For safety reasons, so it doesn't snag on something, it shouldn’t be too loose either. A snug fit is what you are aiming for.
Collar sizes are the overall size of the collar. Please measure the dogs neck - allow for no more then two fingers space between collar and dogs neck otherwise the dog will invariably slip its collar and also; all leather will 'give' a little over time.