# Correctly taking body measurements? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 7, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147 "2003-10-07T20:28:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/1 "2003-10-07T20:28:48Z")
I have asked and had this answered a number of times in my life, yet I can never remember which is correct. Ok the bust measurement you take around the biggest part of the boob, right? Ok, so 34. Easy. Waist–that’s obvious. Ok, 25. Hips. Um… Is it my actual hips? Or is it secret code for my butt? I can never remember! If it’s my actual hips, then 34… if it’s my butt… 37. Big difference. A little help? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/2 "2003-10-07T20:41:48Z")
I know for dressmaking, your hip measurement is taken at the largest point, whether belly or butt. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/3 "2003-10-07T21:58:29Z")
At the fullest part of your hip-area. If you’re taking an abdomen measurement, it’s where your belly is biggest - which will be lower than the hips (usually). ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/4 "2003-10-08T05:12:00Z")
Well when they say like 36-24-36 or whatever… that’s bust, waist, and … hip bones? Ass fatness? “fullest part of your hip-area” is just as vague as the original and doesn’t answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![heimarkj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c2a13f/32.png) [@heimarkj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heimarkj)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/5 "2003-10-08T06:38:31Z")
not hip bones, rather hip joint, or the most lateral and superior portion of the femur known as the greater trochanter, this is where “hip” circumference should be measured…and is typically around the center or largest portion of the “glutes”… so maybe it would make more sense to call it a butt vs. hip measuremet, as many confuse waist with hip i think… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/6 "2003-10-08T11:20:56Z")
Ok thanks! I should write this down or something… if you see me asking again in 6 months just smack me ;D ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/7 "2003-10-08T12:31:15Z")
Hip is a euphemism for butt. Why? Beats me. But I always measure the fattest part of my ass. I think girls with the “saddlebag” action measure around those. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/8 "2003-10-08T12:47:06Z")
It makes sense to use the fullest measure, whatever it might be. After all, that’s where a garment will be the snuggest. ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/9 "2003-10-08T17:10:04Z")
I believe the measurements should be done nekked and I should do the measurin’ Yep 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/10 "2003-10-08T18:09:25Z")
well ok… how close are you to Northern VA? ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/11 "2003-10-09T13:19:34Z")
Too far I afraid, but if you’re ever in seattle and need your measurements taken… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/12 "2003-10-09T16:27:57Z")
Carefull Opal…lol…I’m right down the highway from ya…😉 And I have nothing to add to the measurements…except that women’s sizes are the craziest crap I’ve ever seen. No wonder people get cranky shopping for stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/13 "2003-10-09T16:39:01Z")
Weight Watchers says to take the waist measurement at one inch above the navel. Hips are at the maximum width… ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/14 "2003-10-10T14:05:39Z")
So waist and hips are two different measurements? God, how can ya’ll buy clothes that way? All I have to know is my inseam, and waist size. That’s it. If I might ask, what are you measuring for Opal? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correctly-taking-body-measurements/206147/15 "2003-10-10T14:11:15Z")
I’m measuring because I want to know my measurements. I have lost 100lbs and I’d like to know what they now are. And no, we don’t “buy clothes that way”… women’s clothing sizes are not measurements. The pants I have on right now are “size 7”…nothing to do with inches.