Method 1: Measure Yourself (Most Accurate)

  1. 1

    Wear close-fitting clothing and stand against a wall

    Wear thin clothing (not jeans) so the tape lies flat. Stand straight with feet about 20cm apart. Have someone help for the most accurate measurement — it is difficult to measure yourself accurately.

  2. 2

    Place a book firmly in the crotch

    Place a hardcover book between your legs with the spine pressed firmly upward into your crotch, parallel to the floor. This simulates where a trouser crotch seam sits.

  3. 3

    Measure from the book spine to the floor

    Measure from the top of the book spine (or mark the wall at this height) straight down to the floor. This is your inseam measurement in centimetres.

Method 2: Measure Existing Trousers (Easiest)

  1. 4

    Lay a well-fitting pair of trousers flat

    Find a pair of trousers that fit you well in the length. Lay them flat on the floor, leg seams aligned.

  2. 5

    Measure the inside seam from crotch to hem

    Measure from the lowest point of the crotch seam (the crotch “V” where the two legs meet) straight down the inside seam to the bottom of the hem. This is your inseam measurement.

Standard Inseam Lengths

  • Short: 71–74cm (28–29 inches) — for shorter men or cropped women’s styles
  • Regular: 76–79cm (30–31 inches) — average men’s, most women’s full length
  • Long: 81–84cm (32–33 inches) — taller individuals
  • Extra long: 86cm+ (34 inches+)
Inseam for cycling shorts and wetsuitsThe same measurement is used. For cycling bibs and shorts, the inseam is crucial for chamois placement — too short and the pad sits in the wrong position. For wetsuits, add 1–2cm to your inseam measurement to allow for movement and neoprene stretch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Inseam is the inside leg measurement — from the crotch to the floor (or hem). Leg length sometimes refers to the outseam — from the waist to the floor along the outside of the leg. They are different measurements. Trouser sizing uses inseam. When a brand says “32 leg” they mean a 32-inch inseam.
Add the heel height to your bare-foot inseam measurement when buying trousers or jeans you plan to wear with heels. A 7cm heel adds 7cm to your effective height, so trousers that would be floor-length flat will now be noticeably shorter. If you wear both heels and flats, buy for heels and get the trousers hemmed for flat wear, or choose styles designed to be worn with either.