eBay Guides - How To Measure Jeans-A Pictorial Guide To Ensure Fit

This guide will teach you how to correctly measure jeans to ensure fit when buying and less hassle when you're selling. Not everybody measures their jeans the same way...but this is the proper way to measure and the usual way most reputable, authentic sellers will measure their jeans on ebay. Before I start...As an active member & Moderator of AuthenticForum --I strongly advise you become educated on being able to tell real from fake~as nearly 95% of the premium denim you see on eBay is counterfeit. Please see my me page ...and if you have the time, check out my ebay guide to altering jeans using the original hem Altering Inseam w/Original Hem-A Pictorial Guide --please vote 'yes' if you find either or both guides helpful. Thank You!

~How To Properly Measure Jeans~

Your jeans should be lying flat, face up and in a normal 'standing position' as illustrated below. (sorry for the small pictures)

Measuring the waist.

This can get confusing for a lot of people. There are several different ways that sellers measure the waist. The most common is measuring it flat across the back with dip..as shown in the picture below..and then either stating that measurement or doubling the number. For instance, if the waist measured 13.5 inches flat across the back..some sellers might just state the waist as 27 inches. Some sellers measure it 'aligned'..which means they are matching up the front and the back of the waistband...as illustrated in the middle picture. Have you ever wondered what a seller is talking about when they refer to 'the dip'? The dip is the distance between the top of the waistband in the back to the top of the waistband in the front-As shown in the 3rd picture.

Measuring the Front & Back Rise & the Hips

The front rise is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband, just above the front closure button.

The back rise is from the crotch seam to the top of waistband in the back.

The hips- make sure you question the seller where they are measuring the hips from..the most accurate way to measure the hips is flat across the base of the zipper...make sure you ask if the measurement is seam to seam or edge to edge...because it makes a huge difference. I've shown both in picture #3--the bottom hip measurement is edge to edge. See how the tape measure is all the way to the left, at the edge of the jeans?..unlike the top picture-where the measurement is beginning at the seam. The proper way to take the hip measurement is from edge to edge..the ENTIRE length.

The Thigh, Knee and Leg Opening

It's good to get two thigh measurements if possible...one from the crotch seam to the edge of the leg..and another about 3" down from the crotch.

The knee measurement can be important if you're well toned or on the muscular side .. the proper way to take a knee measurement is right about in the middle of the whiskering...if no whiskering is present- try to judge the distance as best you can.

The leg opening is sometimes referred to as the cuff. It's the hole your foot goes through! As shown in the picture..the leg opening for these beautiful Red A's is 9.5.

The Inseam & Outseam

The inseam is the distance from the crotch to the leg opening.

The outseam is the entire length of the jeans...measured from the top of the waist...down the side- all the way down to the leg opening. (not pictured because only 10 pictures are allowed)