How many times have you had to ask a seller the measurements for a pair of jeans or pants?

How many times have potential bidders asked you for measurements using terms that made your head spin?

This guide will help!

Why Measure?

We all know that sizes vary. Even jeans that are the same brand may vary from style to style. I have three different sizes of jeans by the same company and they all fit well! Across several brands, one can wear from a size 4 to a size 12. Across them all, the same person could wear from size 0 to size 12! That is not even considering sizes other than United States


1) WAIST (inside dimensions item usually placed flat and measured from side to side) Stretch the waistband 1-2 times, let it relax, then measure horizontally across the inside of the jean. Double the measurement for the circumference of the waist.

 

2) UPPER HIPS (across the opening of the front pocket) Measure horizontally across openings of front pockets, right to left edge of the jeans. Double for the circumference.

 

3) LOWER HIPS  (2" above the bottom of the zipper) Use same procedure as #2. Measure horizontally across jeans, 1-2" above bottom of zipper. Double for circumference.

Note:  The focus is the measurement of the lower hips and is generally the only hips measurement necessary.

4) THIGH  (4" below crotch seam*) Measure horizontally across the thigh at 3-4" below the crotch seam. Double for circumference.

 

5) FRONT RISE (crotch seam* to top of waistband) On the front of the jeans measure vertically from crotch seam to the top of the waist band.

 

6) BACK RISE (crotch seam* to top of waistband) Measure from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband on the back of the jean.

 

7) INSEAM (crotch seam* to bottom of pant) Measure from the crotch seam to the bottom of the leg. Straighten the seam down the leg to get a better measurement.

 

8) BOTTOM OPENING (inside dimension at bottom/hemline of leg opening) Measure the flattened leg from side to side on the inside of the opening and double for circumference.

 

*The crotch seam is the seam in the crotch that goes from side to side. From this seam up to the front of the pant along the zipper and up to the “waist” is the front rise. If only one rise measurement is given, it is for the front rise.

Some companies may give the rise as the combined total of the front rise and back rise. It is best to give them separately, the focus being on the front rise.