Your Guide to Denim Inseams (2024)

In our ongoing quest to find the perfect jeans, we say: the more knowledge, the better. Our denim guide is your one-stop shop for knowing the latest styles & trends, but what about the nitty-gritty technical stuff? Like...inseam! What does it even mean? And, how should they fit on you?

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (1)

Keep reading to learn more about denim inseams!

So, what does inseam mean?

Inseam is the distance from the base of your zipper (or crotch) to the bottom of your leg opening. Knowing your inseam is important to understanding how you like your jeans to fit! Do you love your skinny jeans to be ankle length? Are you feeling flares that hit the floor? Here’s your simple guide to understanding denim inseams.

See below for a quick summary of inseam length based on jean type!

SkinnyStraightCapriBoyfriendBootcut & Flare

Petite

5’3″ or less

25″ – 27″27″21″ – 23″23″ – 26″28″ – 30″

Average

5’4″ to 5’7″

28″ – 30″28″ – 32″23″ – 25″26″ – 28″32″ – 34″

Tall

5’8″ and above

31″ – 34″32″ – 34″26″ – 28″29″ – 31″34″ – 36″

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (2)

How Skinny Jeans Should Fit

Skinny jeans can be worn one of two ways. If you prefer them to hit at the ankle, ask your Stylist for a shorter inseam. If you like them to bunch at the ankle, ask that they be a touch longer in relation to your height. Either way, you can pair your skinny jeans with booties for an effortless, casual look.

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (3)

How Straight Leg Jeans Should Fit

Straight jeans are known for their universal fit & versatility—they’re the more approachable cousin to a skinny silhouette! A classic straight leg breaks right at your ankle—anything too long might cause extra bulk around the ankle which means a heel is required!

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (4)

How Capri Jeans Should Fit

Ready to show a little leg? A capri jean usually comes in a skinny silhouette and shows off much more than just your ankle (we’ll get tothe ankle jean next). Capri jeans usually land on your leg3-4 inchesabove your ankle bone. We love pairing our caprijeanswith summer sandalsor pumps.

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (5)

How Ankle Jeans Should Fit

Like to show a little leg, but not too much? Ankle jeans are our favorite silhouettes this year—they’re casual enough to wear on the weekend, but transition well for work if you really feel like dressing down (but not too down) on casual Friday. Ankle jeans land about 1-3 inches above your ankle, making them the perfect pair when it comes to wearing, you guessed it, ankle booties.

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (6)

How Boyfriend Jeans Should Fit

Feel like getting loose with your denim? We love boyfriend jeans for their roomier fit and feel. Boyfriend jeans are meant to be cuffed for that extra dose of effortlessness, so expect the inseam to be a little on the shorter side than a classic straight silhouette. Dress these up with a pair of block heels or keep it casual with fashion sneakers, all while showing off some ankle.

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (7)

How Bootcut & Flare Jeans Should Fit

Flare and bootcut jeans have the most pronounced leg opening of them all, so they require extra length to reduce that awkward moment when the widest part of your jean hits your ankle. These, more often than not, require a heel and should fall to the floor regardless of your height. We love a good flare or bootcut for their body slimming effect & flattering fit.

Ready to find the perfect-fitting pair of jeans? Our expert stylists are standing by to help. Take your style quiz, order a Fix and be sure to let your stylist know you are looking for new denim options. Sit back, relax and receive 5 carefully curated pieces to try on at home. Keep what you love and send back the rest. As always, shipping and returns are free.

By: Margaret Murray

September 10, 2018

Your Guide to Denim Inseams (2024)

FAQs

How do I choose inseam for jeans? ›

The shorter the inseam, the shorter the length of the jean. So, if you're looking for a cropped jean that hits above the ankle, search for 21- to 30-inch inseam jeans depending on your height. Meanwhile, for a straight leg pair that strikes above the ankle, a long inseam jean is your best bet.

How tall is someone with a 26 inseam? ›

How to determine an Inseam
HeightApprox inseam
5'2" - 5"4"26"
5'5" - 5'8"28"
5'9" - 5'10"30"
5'11" - 6'1"32"
8 more rows

How tall is a 28 inch inseam? ›

How long is 28 inch inseam? A 28 inch inseam is 28 inches long. This inseam will generally put your height between 5'4 to 5'7.

What should my inseam length be? ›

This measurement is used for pants. The inseam is the distance from the uppermost part of your thigh to your ankle. It is easiest to measure the inseam based on a well-fitting pair of pants. Measure from the crotch to the cuff on the inside seam of the leg.

What does 7 in inseam look like? ›

Put simply, a short with a 7-inch inseam (equivalent to around 18cm) means the length of the fabric down the inner thigh is 7 inches long. Most casual shorts will be around a 9-inch inseam and sit just on the knee.

What is the difference between 32 inch and 34 inch inseam? ›

What's the difference between 32" and 34" length jeans? The obviously answer might be "2 inches longer at the bottom" but in reality, depending on the cut of the jeans, choosing the right length can be the difference between a good and great fit for you.

How tall are you if you wear a 30 inseam? ›

So, what does inseam mean?
SkinnyStraight
Petite 5'3″ or less25″ – 27″27″
Average 5'4″ to 5'7″28″ – 30″28″ – 32″
Tall 5'8″ and above31″ – 34″32″ – 34″
1 more row

How tall are you if you wear a 34 inseam? ›

All our tops are slim and tapered, and we sell jeans, chinos, trousers and joggers in a variety of fits from a 34 inseam, which generally fits men up to about 6'3" (190cm) and a 36 inch leg will generally fit men from around 6'3" to 6'6" (190-200cm).

How tall are you if your inseam is 29? ›

Converting Metric Height to US Height & Recommended Inseam Size
Your Height in CMYour Height in Feet & InchesRecommended Inseam Length
167.5 cm5'6"26" inseam
170 cm5'7"27" inseam
172.5 cm5'8"28” inseam
175 cm & Above5'9" & Above29” inseam
2 more rows

What is the inseam for 30x30 jeans? ›

SizeWaistInseam
29 X 307476
29 X 327481
30 X 307676
30 X 327681
17 more rows

What is the inseam for a 6 foot woman? ›

Typical inseams are around 28 inches for an ankle jean or 30 inches for a regular jean so if you're taller, you'll probably want to look for something around 32 or 34 inches, he advised. If you don't know what your inseam is, it's easy to measure it yourself at home.

How long is 30 length in jeans? ›

Women's Jeans Size Length (Inseam)
Body height in feet and inchesJeans Length (L) in Inches (Inseam)Body heigt in centimeters
up to 5'3''28''up to 1,60 m
5'4'' - 5'5''30''1,60 - 1,66 m
5'6'' - 5'7''32''1,66 - 1,72 m
5'8'' - 5'10''34''1,72 - 1,78 m
1 more row

How tall is a person with a 32 inch inseam? ›

usually 5 foot 11 to 6 feet 1, depends on how long your legs are, ive seen people over 6 feet wear 30 inch jeans but some people at 5 foot 9 wear 32 or 33 inseam pants.

What is the perfect length of jeans? ›

Generally, jeans should be long enough to reach the tops of your feet with a little extra fabric, but short enough that the hems aren't dragging on the ground. Jeans promote an effortless style, so their fit should reflect that.

Is 30 inch inseam short? ›

Most clothing brands offer inseams in 30", 32", and 34". But, those lengths are only really made to fit half of the population of men in America! Men below average height (which is 5' 10" short inseams below 30") That's why we make jeans in inseams starting at 25" and up to 28".

Is 5 or 7-inch inseam better? ›

The 5” inseam is a better choice for those who have a bit more confidence in their thigh area. An inseam of 5 inches is likely to fall to your mid-thigh. Men from just under 5' 10” to a few inches over 6 feet are an ideal height for 5 to 7-inch inseam shorts.

Are 7-inch inseam too long? ›

5 to 7-inch inseam shorts are excellent for men between 5'5″ and 6'1″ in height. Shorts with a 7″ inseam seem to be the most common length for men's clothing. This inseam length in shorts is most popular among men since it falls above the knee. For a preppy look, thin or athletic men may go for 5 to 7 inches inseams.

What is the 5 inch short rule? ›

Basically, it's this: If you're standing up straight with your arms at your sides and your skirt is shorter than where your middle finger falls on your leg, the skirt is too short.

What is the inseam for tall vs regular? ›

Pants & jeans are designated as Tall if the pant inseam length is longer than the standard sizes offered by most brands. The most common jean sizes are 32 & 34. A 30-inch inseam falls in the short, less common range while a 36-inch inseam is on the tall side of the less common range of standard sizing.

Does inseam size matter? ›

To get the look you want, the right inseam matters. Overall, longer inseams suit wide-leg, flares, and bell-bottoms better than skinny jeans. Choosing the right inseam marks you safe from fashion no-no's like high waters or pants that are way too long and drag on the ground.

What does 32x34 mean in jeans? ›

For example, if a pair of pants is listed as 32x34", the waist measurement is 32" and the inseam measurement is 34". Inseam length on most US-sized men's pants ranges from 28-38”.

What size is a 160 lb woman? ›

Mondor
SizeHeightWeight
S4'11 - 5'4 /1.50 - 1.60cm95 - 115lbs / 43 - 52kg
M5'2 - 5'7 / 1.55 - 1.70cm115 - 135lbs / 52 - 61kg
L5'4 - 5'9 / 1.60 - 1.75cm135 - 155lbs / 61 - 70kg
XL5'6 - 5'11 / 1.65 - 1.80cm150 - 175lbs / 68 - 77kg
1 more row

How long is 34 length in jeans? ›

Jeans & Trousers inside leg length
SizeTo fit Inside leg length
InchesCM
Short3076
Regular3281
Long3486

What size is a 230 lb woman? ›

Size Chart
SizeWeightHeight
1X185 - 205 lbs5'9" - 6'2"
2X205 - 230 lbs5'9" - 6'4"
3X230 - 270 lbs5'9" - 6'4"
4X270 - 325 lbs5'9" - 6'4"
4 more rows

What height should you be for a 34 leg? ›

If you wear that size as a man, you are likely between 6 foot 2 and 6 foot 4, more in the middle, 6′3/6′4. So you would be pretty tall to wear pants that long. There are also occasions where 6 foot tall men even wear pants at that length because their hip bones are high and their legs are much longer than their torsos.

What size does a 6 foot man wear? ›

OUR SHIRTS: TYPICAL SIZE FOR HEIGHT x WEIGHT
Height200-210 LBS
6'XL
6'1"XL
6'2"XL
6'3"XL
9 more rows

What is the average leg length for a 5 9 person? ›

According to the internet, the average adult male has a leg length of about 45% of their height and is about 175 cm (5' 9") tall; this suggests an average leg length of around 79 cm.

What size jeans should a 5 10 man wear? ›

However, a general rule of thumb is that your inseam should be about 1-2 inches shorter than your height. So for someone who is 5'10", a good inseam length for 32 length jeans would be 28-30 inches.

Is a 29 inch leg short or regular? ›

In most cases, a 'Regular' is around 32 inches. A 'Short' leg length is around 30 inches and a 'Long' leg length will be 34 inches.

What is the average inseam for a man? ›

Typical trouser inseam: 30″-33″, though this can once again be based on preference for the kind of break you prefer and how high (or low) your trousers sit in relation to your waist.

What does 32x30 mean in pant size? ›

The size tags mentioned on labels as 32/30 means, jean waist is 32 inches and inseam length is 30 inches. Inseam length is measured from the crotch to bottom length.

What does 36x32 mean in jeans? ›

Men's pant sizes consist of two numbers. Usually, the numbers are separated by a “x”, like 36x32. Each number in men's pants sizes tells you something about how big the pants are. The first number on a pair of men's pants is the waist size. For example, if a pant is labelled size 36x32 then the waist size is 36.

How long should my pants be if I'm 6 foot? ›

For example, men from 6 feet in height all the way up to 6'4” will generally need pants with a 34” inch leg length or in a size Extra Large.
...
Men's Pants Sizing (Length)
Your Body HeightMen's Pants Length in InchesPant Size Length
5'8" - 6'32Medium
6' - 6'4"34Long/Large
6'4" - 6'6"36XL/Extra Long
2 more rows

Are tall jeans just longer? ›

A common misconception about tall clothing is that the pieces are just longer than standard garments. While the additional length is needed, the right details also make the piece wearable for years to come. A properly sized-graded tall garment takes into account all of your proportions, not just the length.

Is 30 length short or regular? ›

Jeans & Trousers inside leg length
SizeTo fit Inside leg length
InchesCM
Short3076
Regular3281
Long3486

Why don t they make 31 length jeans? ›

They do make 31 waist, but not 31 inseam because 32 and 34 are considered enough variation for leg length and the hem is much easier to tailor than the waist. Having every single combination of waist and inseam measurements would mean that stores would need to have a huge stock and it wouldn't be very practical.

What size is 30 length in women's jeans? ›

Women's Jeans Size Chart
Jean Size Women (W)US Misses SizeWaist (Inches)
27427.5” - 28.5”
28628.5” - 29.5”
29829.5” - 30.5”
301030.5” - 31.5”
11 more rows

How tall should you be for 32 leg length? ›

Women's leg lengths
HeightLeg Length
Short16330
Regular16832
Long17334
Tall17536
5 more rows

How tall do you have to be to wear 32 jeans? ›

If you're talking 32 as the inseam length then you're probably going to be about 6 feet tall. There are different body shapes tho that can affect this like having short legs and a long torso so the person could actually be taller than 6 feet.

How tall is someone with a 37 inseam? ›

For you to be 5′5″ and have 37–38 inches leg inseam is extremely long. That would be about average for someone who is around 6′6″-6′8″.

What does 32 inseam mean jeans? ›

Each pants size that is labeled in inches includes these two figures, and in that order. For example, if you wear a jeans size 36/32, the number 36 means that you have a waist width of 36 inches. The number 32 then corresponds to a leg length of 32 inches.

What is the inseam for a 32 length in jeans? ›

However, a general rule of thumb is that your inseam should be about 1-2 inches shorter than your height. So for someone who is 5'10", a good inseam length for 32 length jeans would be 28-30 inches.

How tall is someone who wears 34 length pants? ›

All our tops are slim and tapered, and we sell jeans, chinos, trousers and joggers in a variety of fits from a 34 inseam, which generally fits men up to about 6'3" (190cm) and a 36 inch leg will generally fit men from around 6'3" to 6'6" (190-200cm).

What does 34 inch inseam mean? ›

The first number in the size on the tag represents the waist size of the pants. The second number indicates the length of the inseam. A man's “36-34” size, for example, would mean the pants measure 36 inches around the waist and 34 inches long from the crotch area to the edge of the pants.

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