How are Men's Pants Measured? How to Measure Your Inseam

It's important to know your own measurements, as they may vary from brand to brand. But before you begin, you'll want to make sure you have the right tools at hand. The best way to take your measurements is by using a "soft" measuring tape, which is also sometimes referred to as tailor's measuring tape. Unlike the stiff measuring tape that extends from a holder, tailor's measuring tape is soft and flexible, allowing it to create a more accurate read of a garment's true measurements.

The measurements on a pair of men's pants may seem straightforward enough. The waist measurement is simply the circumference of the pant's waist itself, and the inseam is the distance from the top of the pants to the bottom of the leg. Isn't it that simple enough? In the guide below, we'll outline some simple methods you can employ to get the right measurements every time.

Measurements for Fitting Pants:

1. Inseam– Lay a well-fitting pair of pants on the ground and measure the length of the inside of the leg from the bottom up to the crotch.

2. Waist– Use a measuring tape to fully measure the distance from one side of the waistband to the other. Multiply this figure by two.

3. Rise– Measure from the top of your waistband in the front to the top of your waistband in the back.

4. Front Rise– Measure from the seam at the very center of the pant's crotch to the top of the front waistband.

5. Back Rise– Measure the seam found on the pant's crotch and follow it to the top of the back waistband.

6. Outseam– Measure from the top of the waistband to the bottom of the pant.

7. Leg Opening– Measure the width of the pant leg's opening from one side of the other. Double this number to get the full measurement of the leg opening.

For more details on how to do each measurement, please see below:

How to Measure Inseam

There is a common misconception that the inseam refers to the distance from the very top of the waistband to the very bottom of the pant itself. That measurement is in fact the outseam. The inseam, which is typically the number listed beside the waist on size tags in the United States, is the inseam. The inseam measures the distance from the crotch seam (yes, the same starting point used to measure the rise) to the bottom of the pant.

To know how to measure inseam, take a well-fitting pair of jeans and lay them out on the floor. The inseam is the length of the inside of the leg from the bottom up to the crotch and can easily be measured if you have a tape measure handy.

How to Measure the Waist

To measure the waist on a pair of pants, fully button the pants and lay them down on a flat surface. Then use a soft measuring tape to fully measure the distance from one side of the waistband to the other. Multiply this figure by two, and you'll have the true measurement of the pant's waist.

How to Measure the Rise

A pant's rise is the line that runs from the top of your waistband in the front to the top of your waistband in the back. The rise is typically found by measuring the front and back rise separately.

How to Measure the Front Rise

To measure the front rise, make sure the pants are fully buttoned and then lay them against a flat surface. Next, measure from the seam at the very center of the pant's crotch to the top of the front waistband. This measurement (no multiplication needed) is the pant's front rise.

How to Measure the Back Rise

To get your back rise measurement, button the pants completely and lay them against a flat surface. Then measure that seam found on the pant's crotch and follow it to the top of the back waistband. This measurement (no multiplication needed) is the pant's back rise.

How to Measure the Outseam

If you'd still like to find the outseam measurement, the technique is very simple. Simply lay the buttoned-up pants down on a flat surface and measure the distance from the top of its waistband to the bottom of the pant.

How to Measure the Leg Opening

The measure of a leg opening is particularly important to those with more athletic builds or larger calves. The leg opening measures the circumference of each pant leg. To find this measurement, lay the garment on a flat surface and simply measure the width of the pant leg's opening from one side of the other. Double this number to get the full measurement of the leg opening.