To reduce returns and increase conversion rates in your fashion ecommerce, you want to make sure that your customers get the right fit, every time.
To do so, you can add Sizefox to your store to create sleek size charts for your product pages, or you can use the full capabilities of the Sizefox size recommender.
But first things first: how to measure jeans to create a size chart? Which measurements shall you take into consideration, and which sizing system should you use in your fashion ecommerce?
When it comes to jeans sizes, things can get complicated. The typical way to define sizes for jeans are the following:
Waist/Length: expressed through a combination of waist circumference and inseam (length of the inner leg). This is always defined in inches, even in countries that use the metric system.
Alpha sizing: expressed in letters, usually from XS to XL.
But with jeans, you need more than just two measurements. Especially when it comes to women’s jeans, you might need to specify front rise, bottom width and several other measurements to assure your shopper gets a clear picture of how the jeans are going to fit them.
For detailed indications on how to take measurements on a model, please refer to this body measurement guide. While if you want to take the finished garment measurements, make sure you place the jeans on a flat surface and that any wrinkles present on the garment are smoothened out. To proceed with the measurement, you can use both a soft measuring tape or a ruler. For more details on how to measure clothes, please refer to this guide.
In this article, we will explain how to measure jeans and which are the basic measurements to take into consideration.
How to measure waist for jeans
If you are taking body measurements on a model, you can measure the circumference around the narrowest part of the trunk, usually above the belly button, always keeping the measurement tape perfectly parallel to the floor.
While if you are measuring a pair of jeans you own, first of all make sure they are placed on a flat surface, and smoothen them out. Allow the waistband to have a natural curve, then with the tape take the measurement from side to side. Multiply x2 to get the circumference.

How to measure rise on jeans
Front rise on jeans is the measurement from the middle of the crotch until the top of the front waistband, and the back rise is the same measurement, but from the middle of the crotch to the top of the back waistband.


The corresponding body measurement is the front/back crotch length, to be taken from the middle of the crotch until the desired front/back height.
How to measure inseam on jeans
Both inseam and outseam are quite straightforward measurements. The inseam is the measurement of the internal side of the leg, taken from the crotch down until the hem of the jeans. The outseam instead, is the length of the external part of the leg, from the waistband until the hem.


How to measure hip on jeans
Follow the same procedure as explained above, flattening the jeans on a hard, flat surface and smoothening the pants out. Then find the point of maximum width of the jeans, and measure a parallel line side to side. Multiply x 2 to get the circumference. This finished garment measurement corresponds to the hip circumference taken from a model, measured at the point of maximum projection of the buttocks.

How to measure yourself for jeans
If you want to measure yourself for jeans, you will need a friend to help. The measurements illustrated above are quite straightforward, nevertheless the help of a second person is always helpful.
When measuring the projected length of the jeans, always try to wear the pair of shoes you are most likely to wear with the new item.
When measuring hips and waist size, try to not keep the tape too close to the body. If you want to feel comfortable in your new jeans, always leave the tape slightly loose.
How to measure jeans, tips and reminders
- The jeans you are going to measure need to be positioned on a flat, hard surface, and smoothened out to avoid any wrinkles.
- If you are measuring a pair of jeans to create a size chart, keep in mind that your shoppers will most likely interpret those measurements as body measurements. Therefore, if you are using finished garment measurement, always make sure you specify that.
- Try to be as precise as possible when you measure a garment. Remember that measurements such as hip and waist will need to be doubled to get the circumference, therefore even a ¼ inch could make a difference.
A great fit is what prevents your shoppers from returning a purchase. Make sure you always add a sizing solution such as Sizefox to your ecommerce website, to provide accurate recommendations and increase your conversion rates.
Sizefox is a free sizing solution brought to you by Fit Analytics, the team behind Fit Finder.
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