How to Measure Your Inseam for Jeans

The easiest way to measure your inseam is to lay a pair of jeans that already fit well flat and measure from the crotch seam down the inner leg to the hem. You can also measure your own leg from the crotch to the ankle bone.

Either way you end up with one number to compare against a brand's size chart. If you want a store to turn your measurements into a size for you, AI size recommendation for fashion stores explains how that works.

What is an inseam?

The inseam is the length of the inner leg seam on trousers. It runs from the crotch, where the two legs meet, to the bottom of the hem.

Jeans are often sold by waist and inseam. Two people with the same waist can need very different inseams, so this number decides whether jeans pool at the ankle or stop too high.

What do you need?

• A soft measuring tape, or a ruler and string
• A pair of jeans that fit you well, or a flat floor to stand on
• Flat shoes or bare feet
• A pen and paper, or your phone notes

How do you measure inseam on a pair of jeans?

This is the most reliable method, and you can do it alone.

1. Lay the jeans flat on a table with the front facing up.
2. Smooth out the legs so there are no wrinkles.
3. Find the crotch seam, where the inner leg seams meet.
4. Place the tape at that point.
5. Run it down the inner leg seam to the bottom of the hem.
6. Write the number down and note the unit.

Measure both legs. Fabric can stretch or shrink unevenly, and a small difference is normal.

How do you measure your inseam on your own body?

Measuring on your body takes more care, but it works when you don't own a pair that fits.

1. Wear thin clothing and stand barefoot with your feet slightly apart.
2. Stand straight against a wall.
3. Place a hardcover book between your legs, spine up, snug against your body. It stands in for the crotch seam.
4. Mark the wall at the top of the book's spine.
5. Measure from the mark to the floor.

If you prefer a tape, hold one end at the crotch and read the number at your ankle bone. A friend makes this easier. Alone, use the wall method.

How long should jeans be for your inseam?

Inseam only tells you where the hem starts. How it looks depends on your shoes and the style you want.

Look	Where the hem sits
Cropped	Above the ankle bone
Ankle	At the ankle bone
Full length	Touching the top of your shoe
Stacked	Gathers above the shoe

This is a general guide, not a standard. Try a few styles and keep the one that suits you. Our guide on how jeans should fit shows what to check at the waist, hip and thigh as well.

How do you use your inseam when you shop online?

Compare your number with the brand's own size chart, not a generic one. Each brand cuts differently.

Look for these things on the product page:

• Inseam by size. Some brands list it, some offer short, regular and long lengths.
• Stretch. Stretch denim can feel shorter once it relaxes with wear.
• Wash and shrink notes. Raw denim may shrink after the first wash.
• Model details. Note the model's height and the size shown.

If the chart doesn't list inseam, check the product description or ask the store. Keep other body measurements handy too. Our guide on how to measure your bra size at home uses the same tips for taking measurements accurately.

Why do fit mistakes matter for stores?

A wrong length means a trip back to the post office for the shopper and extra handling for the store. Store owners can see how fit problems turn into returns in where fit-related returns come from.

What should you do if the numbers don't match?

Sometimes your inseam says one thing and the jeans say another. A few checks help:

• Measure the jeans again after washing, since denim can shrink.
• Compare the rise. A low rise sits lower, so the same inseam can feel longer or shorter.
• Think about hemming. A tailor can shorten a leg easily, but adding length is rarely possible. If you are between lengths, go longer.
• Write your numbers down. Keep your inseam, waist and hip in a note on your phone so you can check them each time you shop.

FAQs

Should I measure inseam over or under clothes?

Measure over thin, close-fitting clothing or none at all. Thick fabric adds length.

Is inseam the same as rise or outseam?

No. The inseam runs along the inner leg. The outseam runs along the outside from the waistband to the hem, and the rise runs from the crotch to the waistband.

Do I need to measure again if I change shoes?

The inseam stays the same, but how the hem looks changes. Heels or thick soles make jeans look shorter.

What if my left and right legs differ?

Small differences are normal. Use the longer number when ordering, since a hem is easier to shorten than to lengthen.