# Are women's thighs usually bigger than men's thighs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 15, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615 "2011-06-15T21:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Troubles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Troubles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troubles)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/1 "2011-06-15T21:35:31Z")
I ask because I’ve noticed that my thighs are pretty big in comparison to most men’s thighs (they’re 21 inches around at their thickest). Is this par for the course or an aberration? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/2 "2011-06-15T21:52:46Z")
According to this site: [Andrea, The Transition: Average Body Measurements](http://andreaportman.tripod.com/averages.html) the mean thigh circumference for men is 20.35 inches. The mean thigh circumference for women is 20.12 inches. At 21 inches you are slightly above the mean for both. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/3 "2011-06-15T23:02:28Z")
Taking into account that men are usually a bit taller than women, the closeness in those two measurements would seem to indicate the _proportionally_ women’s thighs are larger than men’s, even if they’re smaller in absolute terms. It would be interesting to compare thigh measurements of men and women who are of the same height. ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/4 "2011-06-16T03:14:17Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It would be interesting to compare thigh measurements of men and women who are of the same height. Good luck finding a man of 5’0" to compare me to! Actually, that could be part of the problem with measuring. Since it seems to me (not like I have any actual data) that taller people tend also to be lankier (some kind of “stretched out further” effect?) the mean measurement of taller women’s thighs might be narrower in proportion to their bodies than women of average height. ---
**Author:** ![ClevelandProud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@ClevelandProud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ClevelandProud)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/5 "2011-06-16T03:57:45Z")
Q) Why does fat deposit on the hips and thighs of women and around the stomachs of men? Monday, May 15, 2006 \*"A) … Hormones drive the deposition of fat around the pelvis, buttocks, and thighs of women and the bellies of men. For women, this so-called sex-specific fat appears to be physiologically advantageous, at least during pregnancies. …”\* > **[Why does fat deposit on the hips and thighs of women and around the stomachs...](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-fat-deposit-on-t/)** > > Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/6 "2011-06-16T17:14:06Z")
I don’t know, but I’d be willing to volunteer to start measuring women’s thighs. I already have a tape measure. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/7 "2011-06-16T17:23:48Z")
There are lots of songs praising the beauty of big leg girls. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/8 "2011-06-16T17:31:12Z")
Fat bottoms, I know. Big thighs… not so much. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/9 "2011-06-16T18:20:06Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > There are lots of songs praising the beauty of big leg girls. I don’t know, but I’ve been told, big-legged women ain’t got no soul. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/10 "2011-06-16T19:01:17Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > According to this site: [Andrea, The Transition: Average Body Measurements](http://andreaportman.tripod.com/averages.html) > the mean thigh circumference for men is 20.35 inches. The mean thigh circumference for women is 20.12 inches. At 21 inches you are slightly above the mean for both. The average man is significantly taller than the average woman, so based on these measurements, yes, women do have bigger thighs relative to their frames. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/11 "2011-06-17T04:11:45Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Fat bottoms, I know. Big thighs… not so much. Missy Elliot seems to think so. > [@](#): > > I’ve got a cute face > Chubby waist > Thick legs in shape > Rump shakin both wayz ---
**Author:** ![curlylonghair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@curlylonghair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlylonghair)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/12 "2013-02-18T21:30:45Z")
> [@Troubles](#): > > I ask because I’ve noticed that my thighs are pretty big in comparison to most men’s thighs (they’re 21 inches around at their thickest). Is this par for the course or an aberration? I tend to think they are bigger pound for pound and height wise. I am 5 7" 124lbs athletic my husbby is 5 10" 170 athletic. we are both in good shape but my thighs are 22.75" and his are 21" if I was his height and weight what would mine be? 25"? we’ve talked or teased that my thighs are thicker and stronger than his… He finds its sexy that i’m athletic. and yes we tested the theory and mine are stronger 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/13 "2013-02-18T22:01:27Z")
> [@curlylonghair](#): > > and yes we tested the theory and mine are stronger 🙂 Tested how? ---
**Author:** ![Zapp\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ee59a6/32.png) [@Zapp\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zapp_S)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/14 "2013-02-18T22:22:21Z")
As someone already mentioned, women tend to store their fat around the hips and thighs, while men store their fat around their abdomens. So this can explain why women’s thighs are bigger. Stronger? Not so much. Also compare a skinny woman to a skinny man. Woman would have smaller thighs, even though not by much. In fact, lower body sizes for a man and a woman do not differ all that much when controlled for height, it is the upper body where men are substantially bigger. Back to the strength. Even at the same size, women are weaker. This can be observed at weightlifting records for say squat, where men’s records are bigger than women’s in the same body weight categories. ---
**Author:** ![curlylonghair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@curlylonghair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlylonghair)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/15 "2013-02-18T23:10:41Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Tested how? lol like leg wrestling, leg press with weights. also endurance… i can do many more plie squats, like 100 more while holding a light weight lol ! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/16 "2013-02-18T23:19:58Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > According to this site: [Andrea, The Transition: Average Body Measurements](http://andreaportman.tripod.com/averages.html) > the mean thigh circumference for men is 20.35 inches. The mean thigh circumference for women is 20.12 inches. At 21 inches you are slightly above the mean for both. I have a lot of difficulty believing that the average is really that low for women considering the other average measurements. I wear pants that are 2-3 sizes smaller than the US average (depending on if 12 or 14 is the current average) and my thighs are bigger around than that. The average waist size is 31" so the average thigh size being just 20" doesn’t seem very probable. ---
**Author:** ![curlylonghair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@curlylonghair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlylonghair)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/17 "2013-02-19T00:18:27Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I have a lot of difficulty believing that the average is really that low for women considering the other average measurements. I wear pants that are 2-3 sizes smaller than the US average (depending on if 12 or 14 is the current average) and my thighs are bigger around than that. The average waist size is 31" so the average thigh size being just 20" doesn’t seem very probable. i agree, us girls of today are more athletic and active than they were in years past. 20"? sounds like they are measuring one type of person. I just took out a tape measure and that figure looks really skinny. my hubby said Hey, I am only 1" bigger than that… I said, well 20" is like a twig lol and I wouldn’t be considered a big girl at all, size 7, 26" waist. I’m average size I would say. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/18 "2013-02-19T04:43:54Z")
Just checked. My thighs are 17". But then again, my name… ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/19 "2013-02-19T04:47:55Z")
Womens’ thighs are proportionally bigger because their asses are bigger. Their asses are bigger because their hips are bigger. Their hips are bigger for childbirth. You can’t put skinny thighs on a big ass. That would look funny, like sticking two toothpicks in a potato. They gotta taper down. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615/20 "2013-02-19T04:52:09Z")
> [@curlylonghair](#): > > lol like leg wrestling Sorry if this is a stupid question but what is leg wrestling, exactly? I’m picturing arm-wrestling, just with legs instead. It’s looking kinda odd in my head. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-thighs-usually-bigger-than-mens-thighs/585615.md?page=2)