Find & Know your correct trouser waist size

Hi,

This should be an easy one right? People are used to buying trousers of a certain size in stores, it's generally a number most people know.

Let's bust the first myth. Trouser size and actual trouser waist measurement are not one and the same, they differ considerably. There are 2 factors here.

1. "Vanity sizing". Ever noticed your size varies store to store? Well this is probably due to one store playing to your vanity more than another. For example; you go to one store and are a size 32 then the next store and are a size 30. Finding the smaller size fits you gives a "feelgood" factor and increases the likelihood of a sale.
But the physical trousers measure exactly the same.
It is just labeling.

As a rule of thumb if you take a tape measure to your trousers they will measure 2-4 inches bigger than the labeled size. So a trouser labeled waist size 30 normally measures 32-34 inches. Generally plus 2 for the UK & plus 3-4 for the USA. There are some exceptions; India, China and most parts of Asia don't bother with vanity sizing.

Couple of fun antidotes!
A few years ago I was shopping in the US and visited Levi's. I found my size was 29, in the UK I normally buy size 32 Levi's. I bought 4 pairs knowing the sizing means nothing but they do put the size label on the outside - clever.

A friend bought a pair of secondhand designer trousers online that didn't fit. He measured them at 36 but the label said 32 so he returned them and got a refund. Neither seller nor buyer understood the above.

Next difference is where the trousers sit on your waist will mean a different actual measurement  but normally not the size. You should be able to buy  the same size high or low waisted trousers but the actual measurement will be different.

Lower waist

For lower waisted trousers like jeans the waist needs to be bigger to sit lower.

Higher Waist

For high waisted or more traditional trousers the waist measurement needs to be smaller to stay up.

 This lower/higher waist can be a difference of only half an inch but I have also seen a difference of up to 4 inches, it varies person to person depending on your build.

One exception to this that springs to mind are portly guys who wear lower waisted trousers under their tummy and higher waisted trousers over the tummy.

So how to determine your actual waist measurement?

1. Visit a tailor.

2. If doing it yourself at home find your best fitting trouser on the waist. Ignore the other areas, if it is tight on the thigh for example that doesn't matter here.
Find your trouser that is comfortable on the waist to wear all day long and you generally do not have to pull up after walking or after sitting. The trouser that sits on your waist at the level you want, not higher or lower.

Then measure it.
Fully fasten and pull the waistband in a straight line so front and back match up. Like the photo below.

This pant is 18 inches flat. Double it so you get the full circumference measurement. This trouser in the photo is actual waist measurement 36. These are newly tailored & fit me perfectly, I usually buy size 33-34 waist.
If the pant you are measuring is a little snug or a little loose you can adjust a little +/- to get the perfect measurement.

I know my lower waisted trouser measurement and higher waisted trouser measurement. For me there is a 1 inch difference and if I had a pair of higher waisted trousers made to my low waist measurement they'd fall down all the time.

If you also wear trousers at different waist heights you can check your high, normal and low waist measurements the same way just with different trousers.

If you feel confident to take the actual measurements on your body then enlist the help of a friend.

With trousers on

Wearing trousers that sit at the desired height on the waist (not higher or lower) shimmy them down your waist a fraction, just 1cm or half an inch not too much.

Run the tape measure just above the waistband of the trouser, not on top of it. If the waist slopes down at the front follow the waistband. Take the measurement with a finger inside the tape measure - this gives a little ease so you can eat lunch.

Without trousers

Perhaps you are ordering your first pair of higher/lower waisted trousers and just don't have a pair that sit where you want on the waist.

In this scenario run the tape measure around where you wish the trousers to sit. Again keep a finger inside the tape measure for ease.

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One final tip.

As a general rule of thumb a man's neck measurement equates to half his waist measurement. This is traditional trouser waist, not high nor low.
This is handy to know if you're in a rush and have no time to try on a trouser, just wrap it around your neck to get an idea if it will fit. Exception to this is for overly portly/skinny guys.

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