Shorts Sizes and Inseam Lengths for Men, Women and Kids
Picking shorts comes down to two numbers: the waist, which matches your pants, and the inseam, which decides where the hem lands. Here is what each inseam looks like on the body, which lengths each style uses, and how sizes work for men, women and children.
Shorts are sized by the same waist as your pants (a 32 in waist wears 32 shorts, or a medium). Length is set by the inseam: on an average-height man, a 5 in (13 cm) inseam ends at mid-thigh, 7 in (18 cm) 4-5 in above the knee, 9 in (23 cm) 2-3 in above the knee and 11 in (28 cm) at the top of the kneecap.
- Most common men's
- 7 in and 9 in
- 7 in inseam
- 18 cm
- 9 in inseam
- 23 cm
- Women's common
- 3-5 in (8-13 cm)
On this page
Shorts inseam lengths and where they end
Inseam is measured from the crotch seam to the hem, along the inside of the leg. The table shows where each length lands on a man about 5 ft 10 in (178 cm), whose crotch-to-kneecap distance is roughly 11-12 in. If you are shorter, the hem lands lower on the thigh; if you are taller, higher.
| Inseam | Inseam (cm) | Hem lands | Typical styles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 8 cm | High on the thigh | Racing and split running shorts |
| 5 in | 13 cm | Mid-thigh | Running, swim trunks, short chinos |
| 7 in | 18 cm | About 4-5 in above the knee | Chino and gym shorts, the most common length |
| 9 in | 23 cm | About 2-3 in above the knee | Classic chinos, training shorts, golf |
| 11 in | 28 cm | Top of the kneecap | Bermudas, cargo and basketball shorts |
| 13 in+ | 33 cm+ | Over or below the knee | Long cargo, skate and basketball shorts |
To choose without guessing, stand straight, measure down the inside of your leg from the crotch to where you want the hem, and subtract about 1 in (2.5 cm), because the crotch seam of shorts sits slightly below your body.
Picking a length for your height
- Under 5 ft 8 in (173 cm): 5-7 in. A 9 in inseam can reach the knee and shorten the leg visually.
- 5 ft 8 in - 6 ft 1 in (173-185 cm): 7 in for casual wear, 9 in for a more conservative look.
- 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) and up: 9 in, or 7 in if you want the hem clearly above the knee.
- Large thighs: shorter inseams ride up when you walk. A 7-9 in length with a roomier thigh stays in place better than a 5 in.
Men's shorts size chart
Shorts with a button and fly use waist numbers identical to pants. Pull-on shorts use letters, and the letters map to the same waist ranges.
| Letter | Waist size | Body waist | EU (DE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 28-30 | 28-30 in (71-76 cm) | 44-46 |
| M | 31-33 | 31-33 in (79-84 cm) | 46-48 |
| L | 34-36 | 34-36 in (86-91 cm) | 50-52 |
| XL | 37-40 | 37-40 in (94-102 cm) | 54-56 |
| XXL | 41-44 | 41-44 in (104-112 cm) | 58-60 |
Drawstring and elastic waists stretch over a range of about 4 in, so the chart above is the comfortable middle, not a limit. For waist-and-length pants sizing and German long and short fits, see the pant size chart.
Women's shorts sizes and lengths
Women's shorts use the same numeric or letter size as women's pants, but the hip is usually what decides the fit, because shorts are cut close through the seat and upper thigh. A US 8 fits about a 28.5 in (72 cm) waist and 38.5 in (98 cm) hip; the complete range is in the dress size chart.
| Name | Inseam | Inseam (cm) | Where it ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running / sprint | 2-3 in | 5-8 cm | Top of the thigh |
| Short / denim cut-off | 3-4 in | 8-10 cm | Upper thigh |
| Mid-length | 4-5 in | 10-13 cm | Upper to mid-thigh |
| Bike short | 5-8 in | 13-20 cm | Mid-thigh, close fitting |
| Walking / mid-thigh | 7 in | 18 cm | A few inches above the knee |
| Bermuda | 9-10 in | 23-25 cm | Just above the knee |
High-rise shorts use more of their length above the crotch, so a high-rise 4 in short covers about the same thigh as a mid-rise 4 in but looks longer overall. Denim shorts cut from jeans stretch less than chino or knit shorts; if you are between sizes in denim, size up.
Inseam vs outseam, and board shorts
Inseam is the number on almost all shorts. Outseam is the full length down the outside of the leg, from the top of the waistband to the hem. Outseam equals inseam plus rise, so it is typically 10-12 in (25-30 cm) longer for men.
Board shorts are the main exception. They are usually labeled by outseam: about 16-17 in for a short cut, 18-19 in for a mid-length that ends above the knee, and 20-22 in for traditional knee-length surf trunks. Their waist is labeled in inches (28, 30, 32) because most have a fixed lace-up fly with little stretch. Men's swim trunk, jammer and brief sizes are covered in the swimming suit size chart.
Shorts by style: fit differences that change your size
| Style | Waist | Usual inseam | Sizing note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chino | Fixed, fly front | 5-9 in | Same size as chino pants |
| Denim | Fixed, fly front | 5-11 in (men), 2-5 in (women) | Rigid denim: size for the hip |
| Cargo | Fixed or elastic back | 9-13 in | Roomy thigh; true to size |
| Gym / training | Elastic + drawcord | 5-9 in | Letter size; liners run snug |
| Running | Elastic + drawcord | 2-7 in | Built-in brief sized like underwear |
| Basketball | Elastic + drawcord | 9-11 in or longer | Cut wide; many size down |
| Bike / compression | Elastic | 5-10 in | Size by hip; see leggings sizing |
Compression shorts and bike shorts follow the same rules as leggings, covered in the leggings size chart. Sport-specific sizing, such as cycling bibs with padding, is in the athletic wear size guide.
Kids' shorts sizes
Children's shorts are sized by age, with the inseam scaled to the child: roughly 3-4 in (8-10 cm) for toddler sizes 2T-4T, 4-5 in (10-13 cm) for sizes 4-7, and 5-7 in (13-18 cm) for sizes 8-16. Boys' sizes often come in slim, regular and husky widths, girls' in regular and plus. Many school uniform shorts have adjustable inner waistbands, so buy for length and tighten the waist. European children's shorts are labeled by height in centimeters, for example 116 for about age 5-6 and 140 for about age 9-10.
Shorts in a fixed-waist style also need a belt; the belt size chart matches belt length to waist size. For long-leg denim sizes, see the jeans size chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best inseam length for shorts?
For most men, 7 in is the general-purpose length and 9 in is the conservative choice that stays above the knee. Men under about 5 ft 8 in usually look best in 5-7 in, and men over 6 ft 2 in in 9 in. For women, 4-5 in is the common everyday length.
Do shorts fit the same size as pants?
Yes, the waist is the same. A man who wears 34 × 32 pants wears 34 shorts. Women's numeric shorts sizes match their pant sizes. Shorts without a fly, such as gym shorts, use letter sizes keyed to the same waist.
Is inseam the same as length on shorts?
No. Inseam is measured along the inside of the leg from the crotch seam to the hem. Outseam, or total length, runs from the top of the waistband down the outside of the leg and is about 10-12 in longer, because it includes the rise. Board shorts are usually labeled by outseam.
How long are bermuda shorts?
Bermuda shorts have an inseam of about 9-11 in (23-28 cm) for men and 9-10 in for women. They end at or just above the knee.
What size shorts for a 30 inch waist?
Size 30, or a men's small, which covers about 28-30 in. For women, a 29.5-30 in natural waist is about a US 10-12, but check the hip measurement too, since women's shorts usually fit at the hip first.