How Do I Find My Denim Size? Find Your Perfect Fit

Discovering the ideal pair of jeans? Up until this point, it has been easier said than done. For the best advice on determining your size, continue reading.

Shopping for jeans shouldn’t be challenging, but it undoubtedly is—it’s not rocket science, after all. The reason for this is the wide range of sizes found across nations, brands, and fashions. So how do I find my denim size? Either measure your body or the waistband of a pair of jeans that fit you well.

We’ve developed a step-by-step guide to help you find your best fit so you can navigate the complex—and frequently headache-inducing—jean-sizing system.

Measure a Great-Fitting Pair of Jeans

If you already have a pair of perfectly fitting jeans, congrats! You can use the measurements as a guide for other brands. Here’s how:

1. Measure the top of the waist of the jeans by laying them flat on a hard surface and using a measuring tape. Verify that the button is securely fastened below the back portion of the waist and that the jeans are zipped and buttoned. To find the waist size of your jeans, multiply this number by two. (Do not forget that this measurement varies with the rise, i.e. the distance from the crotch seam to the waist).
2. The distance between the crotch seam and the ankle hem is known as the inseam.
3. The width of the thigh should be measured. In order to get the size of your thighs, multiply this measurement by two inches from the crotch seam.
4. You still need to measure the rise. For the most accurate reading, tighten the waist when taking this measurement. For your information, low-rise jeans typically have a waist-to-crotch measurement of seven to eight inches, mid-rise jeans are eight to nine inches, and high-rise jeans are nine to ten inches.

Identify Your Body’s Best Rise

Once you have your measurements, you should determine the best type of rise for you. There are three types:

• Low-rise: typically sits two or three inches below the belly button or sometimes even lower.
• Mid-rise: usually fits right around or immediately beneath the navel and is the most commonly sold rise across all styles (skinny, bootcut, straight leg, and flares).
• High-rise: sits at or slightly above the navel.

Use the tape measure to experiment and compare the fit of your preferred pair of jeans to your existing wardrobe. Your choice of rise mostly comes down to personal preference, but if that’s something that interests you, it’s important to note that some rises can actually flatter your body type more than others.

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Measure Your Waistline

To determine the size of the jeans, proceed as follows:

1. Waist circumference: Measure around your natural waist. Measure your skin while standing comfortably.
2. Hip circumference: Measure around the area of your hips that is the fullest. Avoid pulling the measuring tape too tightly to avoid having too-tight jeans.
3. Inseam length: On the ground, take a straight, comfortable stance while wearing no shoes. Leave about 10 cm between your feet. The ankle bone to the inside of the leg should be measured. Tip: The measurement should be taken over by another person in order to get the most accurate reading possible.

Convert cm to Inches

Only the waist and length measurement results need to be converted for the sizing system represented in inches. 1 inch equals 2.54 cm, according to the following formula. Multiply the calculated values by 2.54 cm.

For instance, a rounded-up waist measurement of 73 is 29 inches and a rounded-down leg measurement of 82 cm is 32 inches. Therefore, your ideal jean size is W29/L32.

Placing the jeans flat on a table with the button fastened will allow you to gauge their waist size. Measuring the back of the waistband will give you half the waist size:

Half waistband in cm	Inch size 247Jeans
35,5	28
37	29
38	30
39,5	31
40,5	32
42	33
43	34
45,5	36
48	38
50,5	40
53	42
55,5	44
58,5	46
61	48

Measure Your Inseam

Your inseam is the last part of your body that you should measure. It has to do with how long your legs are, or how far apart your crotch and ankle are. Numerous well-known denim companies, such as The Gap and Levi’s, provide jeans in standard waist sizes with a variety of length options (short, regular, and tall).

Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance because measuring this space could become a little challenging. Again, for accurate sizing, take this measurement while wearing lightweight, close-fitting clothing.

Finding Your Denim Size

Got a number? Great!

• For Men’s Jean Sizing: Subtract 2.5 from your measurement, and round up to the nearest whole number. Your jean size is that!
• For Women’s Jean Sizing: Subtract 4. from your measurement, and round up to the nearest whole number. You wear size 18 jeans.

How Should My Jeans Fit?

We know the most important part of choosing a pair of jeans is the fit which is why we’ve asked our experienced style advisors for their top tips to achieve the desired fit:

Watch the Waistband

Make sure the jeans are snug and hugging the waist but not too tight that the jeans are cutting into you. Walk around in your jeans and sit down in them to make sure the fit is comfortable to move around in. If you find the jeans are sagging at the waistband, or you keep having to pull them up, then you probably need to go down a size.

A good measure is to see if you can fit a hand down the waistband at the back of your jeans, if you can do this the jeans might be too big for you and you may want to try a size down.

On the Thighs

Check the crotch of the jeans is snug and not hanging down with too much loose fabric. Check the front pocket area, back pockets, and bum as well to see if anything is too tight or wrinkling because it is too loose.

Too Tight Or Loose

All jeans should be a little bit snug when you try them on. This is because they will naturally stretch out a little after a few wears. They are too tight if you have trouble zipping them up or can’t properly bend down. They ought to be snug but comfortable and fit in the crotch.

Hem Lengths

Our best advice is to try the jeans on wearing the shoes you will wear with them. If you decide they are too long, we offer an alterations service to help you get the ideal length.

Jeans Styles for Each Body Shape

1. For Short/Petite People – Short or petite people should wear high-waisted jeans because they elongate the body’s appearance.
2. For Tall People – Tall people look great in flared jeans because they give their height shape and draw attention to their bodies, which helps them appear proportionate.
3. For Curvy/ Hourglass Shapes – Cropped jeans are perfect for people with curvy or hourglass figures because they give you the appearance of height and a longer body. You might appear stout in long jeans.
4. For Rectangular/ Flat Shapes – Straight-fit jeans are a lifesaver if you have a rectangular or boyish body type. For voluminous hips, high-waisted jeans are an excellent alternative to mid-rise jeans.

Final Words: Find My Denim Size

The best way to measure a pair of jeans is to carefully lay them down on a flat surface, like a table or the ground, and smooth out any creases or wrinkles. Alternatively, you can take your own body measurements and compare them to the sizing chart provided by the website or brand.

Some people use the international sizing system (XS, S, M, L, etc.), some people use the European sizing system (EU 38, etc.), and some people use the American sizing in inches, which is based on the waist to length ratio.

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