Pants can make or break your look, from casual outfits to formal attires. For this reason, you must choose a pair that fits you perfe
Even though measuring is still the best way to find your inseam length, there is a range where you can expect your inseam to fall.
It depends on your height. Remember that your height doesn’t determine your inside leg measurement exactly. Rather, you can expect to fall within a certain interval.
For instance, if you are 5’2, your inseam length will range from 27” to 28.3”. People tall 5’4 can expect their inside leg measurement to be between 28” and 29.3”. Lastly, if you are 5’5, then your interval lies between 28.3″ and 29.9″.
As you can see, the inseam length is not set in stone for any one height. Instead, you can consider it a continuum. Still, it might help you double-check your measurement. For the expected length associated with each height, view the table below.
| Height in ft in | Average min inseam | Average max inseam |
| 4’11 | 25.6″ | 27.2″ |
| 5’1 | 26” | 27.6” |
| 5’1 | 26.4″ | 28″ |
| 5’2 | 27” | 28.3” |
| 5’3 | 27.6″ | 28.7″ |
| 5’4 | 28” | 29.3” |
| 5’5 | 28.3″ | 29.9″ |
| 5’6 | 28.7” | 30.3” |
| 5’7 | 29.1″ | 30.7″ |
| 5’8 | 29.5” | 31.1” |
| 5’9 | 29.9″ | 31.5″ |
| 5’10 | 30.3” | 32.1” |
| 5’11 | 30.7″ | 32.7″ |
| 6′ | 31.1” | 33.1” |
| 6’1 | 31.5″ | 33.5″ |
| 6’3 | 32.7″ | 34.3″ |
| 6’5 | 33.5″ | 35″ |
| 6’7 | 34.3″ | 36.2″ |
All this talk about inseams is futile if you don’t even know your inseam length. While it tends to be written on the label, all is not lost if you can’t find it anywhere. In case you have doubts about your sartorial savvy, don’t worry. We will walk you through this simple procedure.
28, 30, & 32-inch inseam
Yogiplace Long Workout Pants
If you have trouble locating the inseam, consider trying these yoga pants for size. Made by Yogipace, they come in numerous inseam lengths. You can wear them to your yoga class and as a comfy option at home.
The inseam is visible on this pair, meaning they are the perfect buy for you if you are new to the world of fashion. They come in multiple colors, from black to navy blue.
| Name | Yogipace |
| Closure Type | Elastic |
| FABRIC | Nylon/Spandex |
| Inseam | 27″ – 37″ |
| Leg Style | Bootcut |
| Pocket Style | No Back Pocket |
| Rise Style | High Rise |
| Sizes | XS – XXL |
Pros
- They’re great for anyone, tall and short.
- They’re very comfortable.
- They’re very flattering.
Cons
- Some lint builds up on the fabric.
- They have no pockets.
- They’re not cheap.
Alternatively, you can measure the length from your crotch down to your ankles. While this will give you a general idea about the number you’re looking for, we still recommend using the above method for greater precision.
How to alter an inseam
If you failed to purchase the tailor-made pants of your dreams, don’t despair just yet. Depending on how off you were, you might be able to fix your mistake with relative ease.
Whichever of the following procedures you plan to perform, consider performing a trial run on a pair you couldn’t care less about. Better that you make a mistake on this worthless piece of fabric before attempting to alter your precious garment.
Hemming
Hemming means shortening the pants at the bottom of the legs. Though you don’t meddle with the inseam itself, it is still a very effective way to remove the limp pieces of fabric hanging at your feet. What’s more, it’s quite simple.
- While wearing the shoes, you intend to pair with these pants, mark the hemline with chalk. It should be just below your ankles in most cases.
- Fold the pants in half. The legs must stack up nicely on one another. Otherwise, you may risk an uneven cut.
- Gauge the distance between the current hem and the mark you made.
- Next, you must ensure that both legs stick together while you cut. Place two sewing pins near the thighs to secure them.
- Using chalk, mark a fold line on both pant legs.
- Determine how much space you need to leave to fold the hemline. Measuring the original distance might help you with this decision,
- Add a new horizontal line below the fold line. It is where you’ll cut off the extra fabric.
- Cut away the surplus fabric with scissors. Make sure they are sharp, or you might end up with rough edges.
- Remove the pins that held the two legs together.
- Fold the fabric below the fold line toward it.
- Straight stitch the hem to the pants. Naturally, you have to do this for both legs.
- Fold them in half as you’d done before.
- Move them on an ironing board and iron them. This step eradicates all chalk marks as well as wrinkles. The amount of heat you want to use depends on the material. For synthetic fabric, use medium heat to avoid doing any damage. On the other hand, cotton ones can handle higher temperatures.
- Congratulations, you’ve shortened them successfully!
Letting out hems
It is the opposite procedure of hemming. Most come with hems that can easily be undone, meaning you can elongate them if they’re too short. Just know that this is only a matter of a few extra inches. It won’t salvage pants that are far too short. Despite this, it might be worth your while.
- Turn your pants inside out.
- Undo the seam. It is best achieved with a stick picker. If you lack this machine, you may use scissors. Remember that they will not be as effective and might cause fraying.
- Once you release the entire hem, iron it flat to remove the marks of the former hemline.
- Congratulations, your pants are now longer!
What to look for
Price
It goes without saying that your budget affects your options. Although renowned brands are bound to produce quality jeans, they might cost hundreds of dollars. There are cheaper options that are just as good. It means you can comfortably buy new pants for below $100.
Waist Measurement
We weren’t kidding when we said this is the second most important factor when shopping for pants. Ones that are too wide are going to keep falling. Although belts can remedy this, it creates ripples and wrinkles. Surely, you don’t want to look like you wore a sack for pants.
If the waistline is too thin, odds are you won’t buy them – you won’t even be able to put them on!
Thankfully, measuring the width of your waist couldn’t be easier. Simply wind the measuring tape around the smallest part of your waist and take the measurement.
The waist measurement is the first number found on pants labels.
Inseam measurement
Of course, your inseam measurement is pivotal when choosing your dream pants. Knowing the correct number will help you buy a perfect fit. Consider buying ones that are 0.5 inches longer in inseam and wash them immediately.
That way, they won’t become too tight after they shrink. You should add up to an inch to your inseam length if you intend to wear heels.
You can find the inside leg measurement on the label. Here, it is listed as the second number.
The material
While original denim is made from pure cotton, synthetic alternatives have emerged in recent years. The most famous one is stretch denim, which is known for its elasticity. This is achieved by adding elastane and lycra. Some people dislike the feeling of synthetic fabric on their skin as they might sweat a lot.
If you want them to give you a little leeway as far as the fit is concerned, then the added synthetic fibers are a godsend for you. On the other hand, avoid them if they irritate your skin.
Here are some different material options when it comes to jeans:
- Polycore
- Pure cotton
- Chambray
- Corduroy
- Rayon
Rise
Unlike inseam, the jeans’ length is measured from the waistline to the bottom of the legs. Sometimes called the rise, it determines how close to your torso the jeans will reach. Though it’s fashionable for men to wear jeans that don’t go above the waist, women have much more freedom in this department. It ultimately comes down to the style you wish to sport. The world’s your oyster.
Women’s jeans
Labeling the waist and inseam lengths is more common for men. For women, a unique system has been developed. The sizes have been split into three categories – petite, regular and tall. Each one of these is designed to fit women who fit into a certain height range.
Petite size
The petite size is ideal for women of 5’3 and shorter. Petite pants generally feature shorter hems and slimmer looks.
Regular size
It is called average size and is the most common out of all three. It is tailored specifically for women between 5’4 and 5’7.
Tall size
The tall size is intended for women whose height is 5’8 or more. Tall-sized jeans sport longer hems to balance out the tall figure.
To complete matters more, there are many different types of jeans out there. From skinny to boyfriend type, the list is exhaustive. Unfortunately, your ideal inseam is determined by both the size and type of your jeans. It creates countless variations that may deserve their own article. Alas, these are the trials and tribulations of every fashionable woman.
Conclusion
To sum up, an inseam is a distance measured from the bottom of the crotch to slightly below your ankles. It is an important measurement to know since it determines where your hemline lies. Although you can’t determine your exact length based on your height, it might help give you a general idea. The most fool-proof way is to measure it yourself using pants that fit you well. When shopping, you can find this number on the permanent label.
It is always a good idea to buy slightly longer ones since denim shrinks in the washer. If you slightly miss your proper measurement, there are DIY alternations that can salvage the situation. Next time you take out the camper trailer, you’ll know you’re wearing the right jeans.
