How To Measure Leg Length For Pants?

For comfort and style, it’s important to get the right leg length for pants when it comes to pants. To make sure you get a tailored fit that enhances both your comfort and style, I’m going to walk you through how to measure your leg length correctly in this guide.

Tools You’ll Need

Before we begin, gather the following tools:

1. A flexible measuring tape
2. A full-length mirror
3. A sturdy surface to stand on
4. Your favorite pair of well-fitting pants
5. A friend or family member to assist (optional but recommended)

Measuring Outside Leg Length:

If you wanna fit pants or trousers right, you need to measure the outside leg length. It’s not the same as measuring the inside leg length, which is the inseam from the crotch to the bottom. The outside leg measurement, on the other hand, runs from the waistband down to the desired pant length. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Stand upright wearing the type of shoes you intend to wear with the pants. This is important because different shoe heights can affect the way the pants fall.

Step 2: Use a flexible tape measure, and if possible, ask a friend to help ensure accurate measurements.

Step 3: Locate the waistband of the pants. This is the area around your natural waistline, typically the narrowest part of your torso.

Step 4: Place the start of the tape measure at the waistband and let it fall down the outside of your leg. Make sure the tape measure follows the natural curve of your hip and outer leg.

Step 5: If you’d like the pants to reach your ankles, measure to your ankle bone or where you’d like them to end. If you’d like a different length, measure accordingly.

Step 6: Keep the tape measure straight and level all the way down. Avoid pulling it too tightly or letting it sag, as this can lead to inaccurate measurements.

Step 7: Check and double-check the measurement to ensure accuracy.

Step 8: Record the measurement in inches or centimeters, whichever you prefer, along with the type of shoes you were wearing during the measurement.

How to Measure the Inseam Accurately?

To measure the inseam accurately, follow these steps:

Materials needed: A flexible tape measure and, if possible, a helping hand for more precise measurements.

Step 1: Stand upright wearing the type of shoes you would typically pair with the pants. This ensures that the inseam measurement considers the desired pant length when you wear them.

Step 2: Locate the crotch seam, where the two leg seams meet at the center of the pants.

Step 3: Place the start of the tape measure at the crotch seam. Ensure the tape measure follows the line down to the hem of the pants or desired length.

Step 4: If you have a pair of pants that fits well, you can also measure the inseam on those pants. Lay the pants flat on a surface and measure from the crotch seam to the hem along the inside of the leg.

Step 5: Keep the tape measure taut but not too tight. Avoid pulling it upward or downward, as this can lead to inaccurate measurements.

Step 6: Take the measurement in inches or centimeters, whichever you prefer, and record it for reference when shopping for pants or getting custom-made trousers.

Types of Pants and Their Impact on Leg Length Measurements:

Different pant styles have different impacts on leg length measurements, so it’s important to understand them and their characteristics so you can get the right fit. Here’s a look at some common pant styles and how they affect your leg length measurements:

Straight-Leg Pants:

Pants with straight legs are wide at the hips and hem, giving them a straight silhouette. Start at the crotch seam and extend down to the desired length, usually the ankle bone or the top of the shoe when measuring the inseam for straight-leg pants. Straight-leg pants need a leg length measurement to make sure they’re the right length and don’t get too short or too long.

Bootcut Pants:

Bootcut pants fit around the hips and thighs and get wider from the knee down to accommodate boots underneath. The leg length should be long enough to cover the heel of the boot but not too long so there’s excessive bunching. When measuring for bootcut pants, think about the shoe you’re going to wear with them.

Skinny Pants:

If you want a stylish look, make sure the inseam length reaches the ankle bone or bunches at the ankle. Skinny pants have close-fitting designs throughout the leg. Don’t make them too long, because they’ll make unsightly folds or drag on the ground.

Flared Pants:

Inseam measurements for flared pants should be long enough to allow for the flare to cover your shoes gracefully. They should be fitted around your hips and thighs, then gradually widen at the knee to the hem.

Cropped Pants:

Cropped pants have a shorter length, typically ending above the ankle. When measuring cropped pants, it’s essential to decide how high you want them to sit above the ankle bone to achieve the desired cropped look.

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