Pant Size Chart: How Men's and Women's Pant Sizes Work
For trousers, chinos, dress pants and slacks. Men's sizes are two measurements in inches; women's sizes are a single number tied to waist and hip. Below are both systems, how to pick an inseam for your height, and what rise and break mean when you buy.
Men's pants are labeled waist × inseam in inches: a 32 × 30 fits a 32 in (81 cm) waist with a 30 in (76 cm) leg from crotch to hem. Women's pants use the dress-size number instead, where a US 8 fits about a 28.5 in (72 cm) waist and 38.5 in (98 cm) hip, and length comes as petite, regular or tall.
- 32 × 32 in cm
- 81 × 81 cm
- Most common men's leg
- 30-32 in inseam
- Women's US 8 waist
- 28.5 in (72 cm)
- Men's W32 in EU
- 48
On this page
Men's pant size chart
The waist number on men's pants is meant to equal the body waist in inches, measured where the waistband sits (usually at or just below the navel, not at the narrowest point). In practice many casual brands cut the waistband 1-2 in larger than labeled, so a "32" can measure 33-34 in. Dress trousers are usually closer to true size.
| Waist size | Body waist | Typical seat / hip | Letter | EU (DE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 28 in (71 cm) | 35 in (89 cm) | XS-S | 44 |
| 29 | 29 in (74 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | S | 44/46 |
| 30 | 30 in (76 cm) | 37 in (94 cm) | S | 46 |
| 31 | 31 in (79 cm) | 38 in (97 cm) | M | 46/48 |
| 32 | 32 in (81 cm) | 39 in (99 cm) | M | 48 |
| 33 | 33 in (84 cm) | 40 in (102 cm) | M | 48/50 |
| 34 | 34 in (86 cm) | 41 in (104 cm) | L | 50 |
| 36 | 36 in (91 cm) | 43 in (109 cm) | L | 52 |
| 38 | 38 in (97 cm) | 45 in (114 cm) | XL | 54 |
| 40 | 40 in (102 cm) | 47 in (119 cm) | XL | 56 |
| 42 | 42 in (107 cm) | 49 in (124 cm) | XXL | 58 |
| 44 | 44 in (112 cm) | 51 in (130 cm) | XXL | 60 |
Letter sizes on sweatpants, joggers and work pants follow the same waists: S fits about 28-30 in (71-76 cm), M 31-33 in (79-84 cm), L 34-36 in (86-91 cm), XL 37-40 in (94-102 cm) and XXL 41-44 in (104-112 cm).
Inseam length by height
Inseam runs from the crotch seam to the hem along the inside of the leg. It is the length that matters, because outseam changes with rise. Leg length varies by 2 in or more between people of the same height, so treat this as a starting point and confirm with a pair you own.
| Height | Inseam | Inseam (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 2 in - 5 ft 4 in (157-163 cm) | 27-28 in | 69-71 cm |
| 5 ft 5 in - 5 ft 7 in (165-170 cm) | 28-30 in | 71-76 cm |
| 5 ft 8 in - 5 ft 10 in (173-178 cm) | 30-32 in | 76-81 cm |
| 5 ft 11 in - 6 ft 1 in (180-185 cm) | 32-34 in | 81-86 cm |
| 6 ft 2 in - 6 ft 4 in (188-193 cm) | 34-36 in | 86-91 cm |
| 6 ft 5 in and up (196 cm+) | 36-38 in | 91-97 cm |
Women's pants come in length groups rather than inseam numbers: petite is usually 27-29 in (69-74 cm), regular 30-32 in (76-81 cm) and tall 33-36 in (84-91 cm). Cropped and ankle pants are 25-28 in by design and should end above the ankle bone.
Women's pant sizes
Women's pants share the dress-size numbers, but the hip measurement decides the fit more often than the waist, especially in tailored trousers. A pair that fits the hip and gaps at the back waist is the most common problem; a tailor can take in the center-back seam by 1 in or more.
| US size | Letter | Waist | Hip | UK / EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | XS | 24.5 in (62 cm) | 34.5 in (88 cm) | 4 / 32 |
| 2 | XS | 25.5 in (65 cm) | 35.5 in (90 cm) | 6 / 34 |
| 4 | S | 26.5 in (67 cm) | 36.5 in (93 cm) | 8 / 36 |
| 6 | S | 27.5 in (70 cm) | 37.5 in (95 cm) | 10 / 38 |
| 8 | M | 28.5 in (72 cm) | 38.5 in (98 cm) | 12 / 40 |
| 10 | M | 29.5 in (75 cm) | 39.5 in (100 cm) | 14 / 42 |
| 12 | L | 31 in (79 cm) | 41 in (104 cm) | 16 / 44 |
| 14 | L | 32.5 in (83 cm) | 42.5 in (108 cm) | 18 / 46 |
| 16 | XL | 34 in (86 cm) | 44 in (112 cm) | 20 / 48 |
| 18 | XL | 36 in (91 cm) | 46 in (117 cm) | 22 / 50 |
These are natural-waist figures. Mid- and low-rise pants sit lower, where the body is wider, which is why the waistband of a mid-rise size 8 measures more than 28.5 in. For bust measurements and petite, tall and plus ranges, see the dress size chart.
Rise: where the waistband sits
Rise is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband, measured at the front. Two pants with the same waist and inseam can fit very differently because of it.
| Rise | Front rise | Waistband sits |
|---|---|---|
| Low rise | 7-8 in (18-20 cm) | 2-3 in below the navel, on the hip bones |
| Mid rise | 8.5-10 in (22-25 cm) | Just below the navel |
| High rise | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) | At or above the navel, near the natural waist |
| Men's classic / dress | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) | At the navel; more room in the seat |
Taller people and anyone with a long torso usually need 0.5-1 in more rise than average. Low-rise pants on a long torso leave a gap at the back when you sit.
How to find your pant size
- Waist. Run the tape around your body where you wear your pants, with one finger under it for comfort. Do not pull in your stomach.
- Seat / hip. Measure around the fullest part of the seat with your feet together. If this is more than about 8 in (20 cm) above your waist (men) or 11 in (28 cm) above (women), choose relaxed or curvy cuts.
- Inseam from a pair that fits. Lay the pants flat, fold one leg back, and measure along the inside seam from the crotch seam to the hem. This beats measuring your own leg, which is hard to do alone.
- Check a waistband flat. Button the pants, lay them flat and measure straight across the top of the waistband. Double it. This tells you the real waist of a brand that runs large.
Pant length and break
The break is the fold where the hem meets the shoe. Each step down the list adds about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to the front of the leg.
- No break: the hem just touches the top of the shoe. Suits slim and tapered pants.
- Quarter / slight break: one shallow dimple at the front. The usual choice for modern dress pants.
- Half / medium break: one clear fold. Classic for suit trousers with straight legs.
- Full break: a deep fold, hem covering most of the shoe laces. Suits wide legs and boots.
Cuffed (turn-up) trousers need an extra 3-4 in of fabric for a 1.5-1.75 in cuff, so buy unhemmed pairs if you want cuffs. Suit trousers are covered in the suit size guide, and the right belt length for your pant size is in the belt size chart.
European trouser sizes, including long and short fits
German and Austrian menswear uses three number families. Normal sizes are roughly half the waist in centimeters plus 5.5, long sizes are about double the normal size, and "untersetzt" sizes for shorter, heavier builds run from 24 upward.
| Fit | German size | Waist | US waist × inseam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 46 | 81 cm | 30 × 32 |
| Normal | 48 | 85 cm | 32 × 32 |
| Normal | 50 | 89 cm | 34 × 32 |
| Normal | 52 | 93 cm | 36 × 34 |
| Long | 98 | 87 cm | 34 × 34 |
| Long | 102 | 91 cm | 36 × 36 |
| Short (untersetzt) | 25 | 93 cm | 36 × 30 |
| Short (untersetzt) | 26 | 97 cm | 38 × 30 |
French and Italian brands often label trousers with the same 44-60 numbers, but Italian sizes can run one step smaller. When in doubt, compare the waist in centimeters. Denim is the exception: most jeans worldwide use inch sizes, covered in the jeans size chart. For shorter legs, see shorts sizes and inseams.
Frequently asked questions
What does 34 × 32 mean on pants?
The first number is the waist (34 in, 86 cm) and the second is the inseam (32 in, 81 cm), measured from the crotch seam to the bottom of the hem. Some brands write it as W34 L32.
What size is a 32 waist in letter sizes?
A 32 in waist is a men's medium in most charts (M covers about 31-33 in). In women's numeric sizing, a 32 in body waist is around a US 14.
How do women's pant sizes compare to men's?
A man's waist number is close to his waist in inches. Women's sizes are not: a women's US 8 fits a 28.5 in waist, so women buying men's pants usually start at a waist about 1-2 in above their natural waist, because men's pants sit lower on the hip and have less room in the seat.
What is a full pant size chart?
A full chart lists body waist, hip and inseam for every size. For men, use the waist × inseam chart above together with the inseam-by-height table. For women, the numeric sizes 00-20 with bust, waist and hip are on our dress size chart, and pant sizes follow the same numbers.
What inseam are unhemmed dress pants?
Suit trousers and many dress pants are sold with an unfinished hem of about 36-37 in (91-94 cm) so a tailor can cut them to any length. They are sized by waist only.