While most people don't particularly care if the inseam fits them when buying pants, if you accidentally buy pants in the wrong size, the inseam can make it difficult to wear them, and even detract from the whole experience of wearing them.
We'll show you how to accurately measure the length of your pants with a tape measure, when there's no other friend to help.
What you need to know before you take your measurements is that every style and pattern of jeans or other fabrics have different inseams. Therefore, you need to take into consideration the shoes you are wearing, the style of the pants, and other factors such as your height.
How To Measure Your Inseam?
The inseam is the distance between the crotch and the end of the leg. So, the easiest way to measure the inseam is actually to use a tape measure to measure the length between the bottom of the crotch and the bottom of the ankle.
First, take 1 pair of well-fitting pants from your closet that you can use to find your inseam.
Start by smoothing it out, making sure there are no creases, and laying it flat on a table. To make sure you don't make a mistake, you can choose to measure the type of pants similar to the ones you want to buy. For example, if you want to buy jeans new, measure existing jeans. (Of course, if the item itself has product data, the length of the inner seam is usually indicated as well. You can consult the seller for the data.)
Then, take out your clothes tape measure and start measuring.
Place the end of the tape measure where the crotch seam (the crotch seam is located in the center of the crotch of the pants and meets the crotch in the shape of a cross) meets the inner seam. Then measure along the inside seam to the bottom hem of the pant leg.
Finally, the measurement, as measured, is your inseam size.
You can record this on your phone or in a small notebook. Be careful not to round up or down the inseam because when you go clothes shopping, use your exact inseam measurement to find new pants that are the right length for your figure.
If the fabric of the pants you buy shrinks, round the inseam measurement to the nearest 0.5 inches (1.3 cm).
If you're tall, choose jeans with a longer inseam. Conversely, if you are small-boned and petite, choose jeans with a shorter inseam. For the average person, just go for Regular sized jeans.
Stretch Women's Jeans Trend Blue Height Waist Ripped Casual Fashion Streetwear Denim Pencil Pants
Consider The Type of Your Jeans
The type of pants will also influence your choice.
The first is the versatile straight leg jean that shows off straight legs and slims them down. This type of pants is usually best when they come to the ankle position. You can find different options for inseam lengths so you can choose the one you need most!
Next, there's the comfy-casual boyfriend jean, which is looser around the hips and thighs and comes to just above the ankle. You can choose a relatively short or inseam length in just the right size.
Lastly, the less popular but still very wearable skinny jeans. Before you pick them, you can decide if you want to achieve a gathered look around the ankle.
Different inseam lengths create different wearable styles for different styles of pants. By knowing how to measure inseam sizes before you try them on, and by looking at your own body proportions and the shape of your legs, waist, and hips to determine if these pants are right for you, you'll be better able to purchase a pair of jeans that fits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my inseam if I'm 5'3"?
If you're 5'3", your inseam for jeans should be around 30 inches. Here are some general inseam guidelines based on different heights:
●Petite: For women 5'3" or shorter, skinny jeans should have an inseam of 25–27 inches, and straight jeans should be around 27 inches.
●Average: For women between 5'4" and 5'7", skinny jeans typically have an inseam of 28–30 inches, while straight jeans range from 28 to 32 inches.
●Tall: For women 5'8" and above, skinny jeans should have an inseam of 31–34 inches, and straight jeans usually have an inseam of 32–34 inches.
How do you pick the right inseam?
Choosing your garment inseam: Short, Regular, or Tall? Generally, we recommend measuring your natural inseam and adding around 0.5" to 1.5" to determine your desired garment inseam. From there, select the garment length that most closely matches this measurement.
