How to choose the right jeans length and inseam

How to find your inseam

The inseam is the length of the inside leg seam, from the crotch seam to the hem. The easiest way to find yours is to measure pants you already wear at a length you like:

1. Choose a pair of pants or jeans that are the right length with the shoes you wear most.
2. Lay them flat and fold one leg back so the inside seam is visible.
3. Measure from the point where the seams meet at the crotch straight down to the bottom of the hem.

Measuring yourself works too: stand in your usual shoes against a wall and have someone measure from the top of your inner thigh to where you want the hem to land. Wide legs usually look best a little longer than straight or skinny legs, so if your reference pants are slim, add a bit.

Inseam lengths in plain terms

Brands label lengths differently, but these rough ranges are common in women's jeans:

These are general ranges, not rules. Leg length doesn't track height exactly, so two people of the same height can need different inseams. Always measure.

Where each leg shape should end

The most common mistake with wide legs is an in-between length that stops right at the ankle bone. It reads as too short rather than cropped. If you're unsure, go longer and add a little heel.

How heels change the math

Heel height effectively shortens your jeans. Every inch your heel is raised lifts the hem away from the floor, so jeans that pool in flats can be just right in heels. That's why full-length wide legs are often cut long: they're designed to be worn with some lift.

If you switch between flats and heels a lot, many people keep two pairs: one hemmed for each height.

Hemming: what to know

• Wash first if the fabric can shrink. Fabrics that hold their size can be hemmed straight away; follow the care label.
• Bring your shoes. Wear the shoes you'll wear most to the fitting and stand naturally while the tailor pins.
• Ask about keeping the original hem. Many tailors can shorten jeans and reattach the factory hem so the edge looks untouched.
• Pin a little long. You can always take more off; you can't add it back.
• Check the return policy first. Hemmed jeans usually can't be returned, so be sure about the size before you alter them.

Straight-hemmed wide legs are one of the easier alterations. Ask your tailor for a quote, since prices vary a lot by area and shop.

Tips for shorter and longer legs

If your inseam is on the shorter side

• A full-length wide leg with a platform or block heel is one of the most leg-lengthening looks there is. Keep the hem long enough to cover most of the shoe.
• Wearing one color, or close shades, from top to toe makes a long, unbroken line.
• If you mostly wear flats, hem the jeans rather than rolling or cuffing them; a wide leg loses its shape when it's turned up.
• Look for brands with petite or short inseams so there's less to take off.

If your inseam is on the longer side

• Look for "long" or "tall" lengths, or brands that list an inseam of 33" or more.
• If a wide leg is shorter than you'd like, lean into it: wear it as a deliberate crop with loafers, flats or ankle boots, ending clearly above the ankle bone.
• Avoid the in-between length where the hem stops right at the ankle. That's the one that looks accidental.

Will jeans shrink in length?

It depends on the fabric. Cotton-rich denim can shrink in length, especially in hot water or a tumble dryer, which is why many people wash cotton jeans once before hemming. Polyester and other shape-holding fabrics are much less prone to shrinking. Either way, washing cold and air drying keeps length changes to a minimum. Our denim care guide covers each fabric.