# Men's inseam measurements **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191 "2011-05-08T21:22:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/21 "2011-05-09T06:39:14Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Most guys I know who are around my height have an inseam which is a couple inches longer (no, it’s not a topic which comes up often…but, if you wear Levi’s, you advertise your pants measurements on your bum 😉 ). Aren’t they normally waist measurements? ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/22 "2011-05-09T12:20:51Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > [he crotches of men’s pants are looser and lower, so the inseam measurement is a bit shorter than women’s pants, that usually go all the way up. I think this is the biggest factor. Men usually need more “room” in that area and their inseam doesn’t come all the way up, like women’s. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/23 "2011-05-09T13:16:25Z")
6’1" male, and 32 inseam. (really closer to 33, but definitely not 34). I’m built “like a gorilla” like my wife says. Long arms(36 sleeve), long torso, wide shoulders, barrel chest, short legs. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/24 "2011-05-09T13:29:55Z")
I’m 6’6", jeans are 40x34, but I should really be wearing 40x36… Problem being: I’d rather pay $12 a pair for jeans at Costco, than $40 a pair at Harley Davidsons (the only place I’ve found that seems to sell to people of odd shapes.) What’s curious is: I just had my grandfather’s kilt adjusted to fit me…he was well under 6’…the seamstress said that ALL people, from waste to knee (where the kilt ends) are within 1 - 2 inches of each other, the differences are in the lower leg, or in percentages that don’t matter much…if a leg is 4" longer than another, just an inch of that difference will be above the knee. Another dimension of interest is the height of your fingertips above the floor, take the tallest and shortest people in the room, have em stand with arms straight down, and you’ll be amazed how close their fingertips are…it comes across in the height of doorknobs: they’re not at an awkward height for the shortest and very tallest. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/25 "2011-05-09T13:43:42Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > **gallows** , if you’re 5’4" and have a 31" inseam, you don’t have short legs. Standard inseams in ‘petites’ pants are 28" or 29" and I know plenty of women as tall as 5’6" and 5’7" who have to buy petite pants if they don’t want to hem them; _they_ have short legs. > > The crotches of men’s pants are looser and lower, so the inseam measurement is a bit shorter than women’s pants, that usually go all the way up. > > But it’s also true that many men (most, even) have shorter legs/longer torsos proportionately. You can see it clearly looking at most pictures of men and women standing next to each other - legs will be close to the same length, hips on a level, even when men are a head (or two, or three) taller. > > I am a woman and barely 5’5", a 32" inseam is perfect (I never wear shoes with any heel with my pants), and my legs are longer than many men I know, the majority of which are 3 or more inches taller than me. My BF is 5’8" and has a 30" inseam. One of my sisters is 5’10" and takes a 36" inseam ideally (not that she can ever find it, because she’s slim as well as tall - she sticks to skirts and leggings), her legs are comically long compared to most men she knows. Her crotch comes up to their waists sometimes. Whoa. The realization that I don’t have short legs is kind of blowing my mind right now. All my life I’ve thought I had short legs…they look short to me! But you’re right – 28" or 29" inseam pants would hit me around my ankles, if not higher. And for much of my adulthood I’ve been overweight and have had wide hips, which would visually reduce the length of my legs. Now that I’m losing weight, I’ll have to see how that affects their perceived proportion. When I tried to take my own inseam while standing, it occurred to me that I can bring the tape measure all the way up to the inner leg joint, while men would have…obstacles in the way. 😛 So we’re technically not measuring the exact same length of the body. And while I’ve actually worn men’s pants before and have them fit (even in the hips, which is weird but whatever…I was thinner then), men’s shirts/sweaters are always too long in the arms and hit me very low on the waist/hip/sometimes thigh area. At the same time, I’m having a memory of lying on the floor with my 6’0" female roommate years ago and comparing the lengths of our legs – our shoulders and hips were pretty much parallel with each other, but when we lined up our legs in the air, hers were much much longer than mine, maybe by six inches. She always wore skirts or shorts because she had such a hard time finding pants that fit. So it sounds right that women generally have proportionately shorter torsos and longer legs than men. This is all starting to make sense now! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/26 "2011-05-09T13:56:11Z")
6’2", 34", oddly pants with a larger waist measurement take a shorter inseam - I used to wear 34 x 34s, now I wear 38 x 32s. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/27 "2011-05-09T14:03:40Z")
Woman, 5’6" tall, 34" inseam and 24" waist. Or, as I put it: My lega are 6 feet tall. The rest of me is 5 feet tall. I once went to the house of a couple where the wife had only seen me sitting in my office chair. She did not recognize me. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/28 "2011-05-09T14:14:00Z")
5’7" Male, 30" inseam. > [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > 6’2", 34", oddly pants with a larger waist measurement take a shorter inseam - I used to wear 34 x 34s, now I wear 38 x 32s. I noticed this too. Before I lost a bunch of weight, I wore 38 X 29s. Now I wear 34 X 30s and even though they’re longer the seem to fit shorter. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/29 "2011-05-09T14:16:04Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > 6’2", 34", oddly pants with a larger waist measurement take a shorter inseam - I used to wear 34 x 34s, now I wear 38 x 32s. I used to wear 32x32 in college, now I wear 34x30. When I gained a bunch of weight post college I tried on a 36x32, my toes barely made it out the pantleg. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/30 "2011-05-09T14:17:37Z")
I am male and 5’5" tall. My inseam is 26 1/2" I have never been able to wear off the rack stuff and I hem every pair of pants I buy. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/31 "2011-05-09T14:31:12Z")
I’m 5’ 9" male & wear a 30" inseam. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk ---
**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:** [May 9, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/32 "2011-05-09T15:11:36Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Aren’t they normally waist measurements? At least in the US, the tan tag underneath the belt on the back of Levi’s jeans contains both the waist and inseam measurements. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/33 "2011-05-09T15:12:44Z")
6’ 2" male here. I wear a 34" inseam. Yes, I have long legs, which I’ve had to take into account when car shopping. My pants size (38 x 34) is right on the borderline of what’s easy to find. (For some reason, it’s particularly difficult to find cargo pants that size.) > [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > oddly pants with a larger waist measurement take a shorter inseam Really? Can anyone explain why? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/34 "2011-05-09T15:22:38Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > At least in the US, the tan tag underneath the belt on the back of Levi’s jeans contains both the waist and inseam measurements. Ah, ok. I don’t think I’ve seen an inseam measurement on a pair of jeans here, not that I look all that hard. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/35 "2011-05-09T15:47:11Z")
Keep in mind, it’s only on men’s Levis, or Levis that are sold by waist/inseam measurements (like 501s) that have both the waist and inseam measurements on that tag. Women’s Levis don’t, usually. (The tag on women’s might note the inseam length, but \*never \*the size. Horrors!) Of course, it’s been a while since I worked at County Seat, so Levis’ practices might have changed. **Unintentionally Blank** , try Old Navy. My husband is 6’6" and wears a 36/36. I’d long ago given up on trying to find him pants in traditional brick and mortar stores (instead ordering everything from Eddie Bauer). He needed some pants quickly awhile back, and we tried Old Navy just out of desperation. We were both way surprised when not only did we find that they carried his size, they carried it in a bunch of different styles: jeans, chinos, cargos, you name it. I don’t know if they’ll carry your size, but it might be worth checking out. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/36 "2011-05-09T16:18:23Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Woman, 5’6" tall, 34" inseam and 24" waist. Or, as I put it: My lega are 6 feet tall. The rest of me is 5 feet tall. > > I once went to the house of a couple where the wife had only seen me sitting in my office chair. She did not recognize me. Heh, I can relate to this. From the shoulder to the top of my pelvis I am shorter than most women under 5’ tall. Sitting down, I look pretty tiny. But I have some extra inches in my neck, hips and legs, which brings me up to average height. It makes finding tops and dresses difficult (but it’s difficult for everyone in a different way!). My bustline is too high (and bust/ribcage/waist too small) for a flattering fit in regular sizes, but kids and petite stuff tends to be much too small in the shoulders (or short in total length if it’s a dress). ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/37 "2011-05-09T18:27:57Z")
I’m 6" and wear at 32" inseam and am very proportional. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/38 "2011-05-09T18:51:59Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Ah, ok. I don’t think I’ve seen an inseam measurement on a pair of jeans here, not that I look all that hard. An example of such a tag (this’d be found on the back of the right hip, above the right rear pocket; if you wear a belt, it’ll cover most of the top half of the tag): [http://www.ermoumag.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ermoumag\_Levis\_506\_label.jpg](http://www.ermoumag.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ermoumag_Levis_506_label.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/39 "2011-05-10T01:12:56Z")
My partner is 6’10". I have no idea what his inseam is, but I think it’s measured in parsecs. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191/40 "2011-05-10T02:28:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > An example of such a tag (this’d be found on the back of the right hip, above the right rear pocket; if you wear a belt, it’ll cover most of the top half of the tag): > [ermoumag.com](http://www.ermoumag.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ermoumag_Levis_506_label.jpg) Yeah, they’re probably like that here, I haven’t worn Levis for about 20 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-inseam-measurements/581191.md?page=1)