Denimhunters’ Guide: How To Measure Jeans

Posted June 18, 2013

If You Are Looking to Find the Perfect Jeans Size You Need to Know How to Measure Your Jeans

Loom state, vanity sizing, shrink to fit and stretching. all these things come into play when picking the perfect size of a new pair of raw denim. This guide will help you make sure your fit is spot on, no matter where you buy them.

Waist

With your existing pair, pull the waistband so they lay flat in order to measure from centre of back (back belt loop) to front closure (top button) and measure across. Multiply by two.

NB: The Japanese measure the waist by laying the jeans flat “in profile” (start by the fly and finish by the back rise).

Thigh

A pair of jeans that fits a sinewy six foot bike messenger is not likely to fit a six-foot tall rugby player. Even if they have similar waists, the thigh area would make all the difference when it comes to the comfort and ease of movement. At the crotch, lay the jeans flat and make sure that any back rise fabric is to the left of the centre seam and measure the total width perpendicular to the leg. Multiply by two if necessary; most sites will just use the flat measurement.

Knee

Similar to the thigh measurement; however, this time measure 14 inches (35 cm) from the crotch. Note: if you are particularly tall or short then take this into account when measuring down from the crotch. Multiply by two if necessary.

Leg Opening / Hem Line

This is where your foot comes out. It is simply measured seam to seam directly across the leg opening. Multiply by two.

Read the Rest of Our Measurement Guide on Page Two

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Buyer's guide

Matt Wilson

Before turning his attention toward clothing and fashion, Matt Wilson was a product designer. He witnessed first-hand the unethical manufacture of products designed and developed specifically for obsolescence and quickly recognised the inherent dangers of this attitude towards consumerism. A happy chance occurred when he discovered Raw Denim. Fascinated by the narrative contained in each garment, this newfound passion led him into a journey of discovery through the fashion and clothing industry. The qualities he found in a great pair of jeans he soon found in other garments, shoes and accessories. Up until February 2017, Matt was heavily involved with Selvedge Run, a trade show for menswear, shoes and accessories. A home for brands with a philosophy that aligned perfectly with his principles of craft and quality at the core of a good product. He now shares this passion the as the Editor of Rope Dye, an online men’s lifestyle magazine about the passion for well-crafted menswear as well as other cherished products and designs that baulk against today’s throw-away culture.