Method 1: Measure Yourself (Two People)

  1. 1

    Wear thin, fitted trousers or shorts

    Wear something that sits at your natural waist. Take off shoes and stand on a hard floor with feet shoulder-width apart.

  2. 2

    Have someone place the tape at your crotch

    Your helper places the end of a soft measuring tape at the highest point of your inner thigh — right up against the crotch seam. Hold it firmly in place.

  3. 3

    Measure to your ankle bone

    Run the tape straight down the inside of your leg to the bottom of your ankle bone (the inner ankle protrusion). This measurement in centimetres or inches is your inseam.

Method 2: Measure a Pair of Trousers That Fit (Easier, Solo)

  1. 4

    Lay the trousers flat

    Lay a pair of trousers that fit you well and are the right length on a flat surface. Smooth out any wrinkles.

  2. 5

    Measure from the crotch seam to the hem

    Find the crotch point — where the two leg seams meet at the centre. Place the start of your tape there. Measure down the inside leg seam to the bottom hem of the trouser. This is your inseam length.

Average inseam lengthsWomen: 74–81cm (29–32 inches). Men: 76–86cm (30–34 inches). Short: under 76cm. Regular: 79–81cm. Tall: 84cm+. Jeans are sold with the waist and inseam together — e.g. 32x30 means 32-inch waist, 30-inch inseam.

What If You Are Between Sizes?

For jeans and trousers that come in fixed lengths (28, 30, 32 inches etc.), go for the longer size and have them hemmed — it is easier to shorten trousers than to lengthen them. For brands that offer short/regular/long options, use the closest match to your measurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Inseam and inside leg are the same measurement — from the crotch to the ankle on the inside of the leg. Outseam (outside leg) is measured from the waist to the ankle on the outside — a different and longer measurement. When buying trousers online, they almost always refer to inseam/inside leg unless they specifically say outseam.
Measure barefoot or in the shoes you typically wear with the trousers. If you always wear heels with a particular pair of trousers, measuring in heels gives the right length. For everyday trousers, measure barefoot and add 1–2cm if you will usually wear shoes with a slight heel.