How to Measure Your Inseam

Co-authored by Andrea Beaulieu and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

A great-fitting pair of pants can upgrade your style, so it’s important to know your inseam. Your inseam runs from the crotch of your pants down to the hem of the pants leg. By measuring your inseam, you can ensure your pants are the perfect length. You can measure your inseam yourself, but it's best to get help from someone else if you can.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Measuring a Pair of Your Pants

1
Grab a pair of well-fitting pants similar to the ones you want to buy. If you’re happy with how your pants fit, it’s easy to find your inseam based on the pants you already own. Try on your pants to find your favorite pair. Choose a similar type of pants to the ones you want to buy so the inseam is more accurate.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Andrea Beaulieu
Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer
Expert Interview. 1 May 2020.}
- For example, if you’re shopping for new slacks, you’d want to grab a pair of slacks that fit you well. If you’re shopping for jeans, you’d want to use a pair of jeans.
2
Check the tag for the inseam just in case it’s printed there. Sometimes pants will have the inseam measurement written right on the tag. If your pants do, you can use that measurement to shop for similar pants. If your pants don’t, that's OK — you can still measure the inseam yourself.^{[2]
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3
Fold your pants in half lengthwise on a flat surface. Place your pants on a table or the floor. After you fold your pants, the legs should be lined up with each other.^{[3]
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4
Lift the top pants leg up over the waistband to reveal the inseam. Carefully fold the top pants leg up so it’s out of the way. You should be able to easily see the seam running from the underside of the crotch down to the hem of the pants. This is the inseam.^{[4]
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- Be sure to smooth out any wrinkles or folds that appear in the lower pants leg, which you’re about to measure.
5
Run a measuring tape from the crotch seam to the hem of the pants. The crotch seam is along the center of the crotch of your pants. Find the spot where the crotch seam meets the seam that goes down your pants leg. Place the end of your measuring tape at this point, then measure down to the hem, which is the bottom of the pants leg. This is your inseam.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Andrea Beaulieu
Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer
Expert Interview. 1 May 2020.}
- Be sure to measure all the way down the inseam, which is the seam that runs down the inside of your leg when you're standing.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Andrea Beaulieu
  Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer
  Expert Interview. 1 May 2020.}
6
Write down your inseam measurement for when you go shopping. Don’t round your inseam up or down — you want to use the exact measurement so your pants fit you perfectly. Use your inseam measurement to buy the perfect pair of new pants.^{[7]
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- If you plan on wearing your new pants with high heels, add .5–1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) to your inseam measurement so they’re long enough.
- If you’re buying pants that are prone to shrinking, round your inseam measurement up to the nearest .5 inches (1.3 cm).

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Having Someone Measure Your Inseam

1
Put on a pair of close-fitting pants. Wearing close-fitting pants will make it easier for someone to accurately measure your inseam. Athletic leggings or tight jeans are both good options.^{[8]
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2
Take off your shoes. The added height from shoes can interfere with your inseam measurement. You want to be barefoot when you’re having someone measure your inseam.^{[9]
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3
Stand up straight with your back against a wall. Standing against a wall will help you maintain good posture, which is important when someone is measuring your inseam. If you’re slouching, your inseam measurement could be off.^{[10]
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4
Have someone measure from the crotch seam of your pants to the floor. The crotch seam is the seam near the crotch of your pants that intersects with the pant leg seam. The distance between the crotch seam of your pants and the floor is your inseam measurement.^{[11]
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5
Use your inseam measurement to shop for pants. Write down your exact inseam measurement so you have it when you’re pants shopping. You may need to add .5–1 inch (1.3–2.5 cm) to your inseam measurement if you plan on wearing your new pants with high heels.^{[12]
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- Also, if the pants are made with a fabric that shrinks a lot, round your inseam measurement up to the nearest .5 inches (1.3 cm).

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Mirror to Measure Yourself

1
Take the measurements in your underwear. When you’re measuring your body, it’s best to take the measurements in the nude so the numbers are more accurate. It’s okay to wear underwear, as you’ll probably be wearing them when you put on the pants.^{[13]
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- Since you’re taking your own measurements, clothes can really get in the way because you’ll have to work around them and may not be able to get as close to your body.
2
Stand tall in front of a mirror so you can see your body. Measuring yourself can be really tricky. You’ll need to take your inseam measurement while you’re standing up straight, which is hard if you’re trying to see your crotch and ankle. Use a mirror to help you. Be sure to stand up straight as best as you can while you’re taking the measurement.^{[14]
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- Ideally, pick a floor length mirror so you get the best view of your body. If you don’t have a floor length mirror, use the biggest mirror you have and place it opposite your lower body.
3
Place your measuring tape where your thigh meets your groin. Leave the measuring tape rolled up and hold it in your hand. Put the hand that's holding the tape up against your upper thigh where it meets your crotch. Get as close to your body as you can.^{[15]
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- If you’ve already unrolled the tape, you can ball it up in your hand. However, make sure you stick out the end of the tape where it starts with “1” so you can easily lower it down your leg.
4
Lower the end of the measuring tape down to your ankles. Slowly unroll the measuring tape, keeping it close to your skin. Watch in the mirror so you can see when the measuring tape reaches your ankles.^{[16]
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5
Stop unrolling the tape when you reach your desired pant length. Consider where you want the hem of your pants to fall. This is where you should stop the end of the measuring tape. Stand up straight and check the mirror to make sure you’re happy with where the tape hits on your lower ankles.^{[17]
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6
Check the number on your measuring tape to get your inseam. Hold the measuring tape where it touches your crotch. Carefully remove the tape and look at the measurement. This is your inseam.^{[18]
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- Be super careful while you’re doing this. If you accidentally move your fingers down the measuring tape in either direction, your inseam measurement could be off.
7
Write down your inseam so you can use it for shopping. Jot down your measurement so you’ll have it when you’re out pants shopping. Use the exact measurement rather than rounding up or down. This will help you find the best fitting pairs of pants.^{[19]
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- Add .5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) to your inseam if you plan to wear heels or you’re buying pants that usually shrink. For instance, pants made of cotton, linen, or wool may shrink. Since jeans are often made from cotton, expect them to shrink a bit in the wash.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I measure my inseam if I don't have anyone to help me?

Andrea Beaulieu
Professional Tailor
Andrea Beaulieu is a Professional Tailor, Fashion Designer, and the Owner of MOORE, a Brooklyn, New York based storefront and apparel workshop for gender-neutral, contemporary streetwear as well as custom-tailored products. Andrea has over 20 years in the fashion design and marketing industries and specializes in pattern making, draping, and the construction of garments. She holds a BS in Fashion Design and Merchandising from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Andrea Beaulieu

Professional Tailor

Expert Answer

Use a pair of pants that fit the way you'd like. Lay them flat, then measure from the center crotch down the pant leg, along the inseam.
Question

Is the inseam size the same as the length size?

Fasehun Yetunde Olatofunmirera

Community Answer

No. Inseam is the measurement taken from the pubic bone to the ankle, while length size is from the waist to the ankle.
Question

Which units of measure should I use?

Heather Kenyon-Haff

Top Answerer

Use whichever system is common to where you live. In the US, people generally use inches, but most of the rest of the world uses metric units. If you use the most prevalent units in your country, you stand a really good chance of finding a tailor who also uses those units.