How to Measure Your Favorite Pants
Fit notes / The measuring guide
The most useful reference for new pants is often a pair already in your wardrobe. Pick one that fits comfortably and has a similar cut to the pair you are considering. A tape measure, a flat surface and a few minutes are all you need.
1. Prepare the pair
Empty the pockets, close the fly and lay the pants flat. Smooth the fabric gently without pulling it. An elastic waistband should be measured at rest first. If you record a stretched measurement, label it separately so you do not confuse it with a fixed waistband.
2. Measure the waist
Align the front and back waistband as naturally as the cut allows. Measure straight across the waistband from edge to edge. This is a flat width. Double it only when comparing with a table explicitly labeled as waist circumference. A 15-inch flat waist is approximately 30 inches around.
3. Check the hips
Measure across the widest part of the seat. Keep the pants smooth, with the legs aligned. Record the flat width and double it if the product table gives hip circumference. The position of the widest part varies by cut, so note where you measured.
4. Separate rise, inseam and total length
Front rise runs from the crotch seam to the top of the front waistband. Inseam runs along the inside leg from the crotch seam to the hem. Total length runs down the outside from the top of the waistband to the hem. These measurements describe different things: do not compare an inseam with a total-length figure.
If a listing gives only total length, compare the total length of your own pair. Do not calculate an exact inseam from total length alone; the rise and construction affect it.
5. Compare the silhouette
Review the leg shape along with waist and hips. A straight leg falls differently from a wide leg. A cropped style may reach a different point on your leg depending on your height and where you wear the waistband. Consider the shoes you intend to wear and the hem position you prefer.
Keep your notes
Write down the size label, flat or circumference measurements, rise, inseam and total length. Note which numbers you liked about that pair. Compare those notes with the individual product page; our original size labels are not a universal U.S. conversion.
Garment measurements are approximate. A small measurement difference can come from technique, fabric or construction. If you need help interpreting the table, send us a question before choosing.