How to measure an inside leg length

Short answer: The inside leg length is measured from the crotch straight down to the ankle. It is the measurement that decides whether a pair of trousers is too long or too short, and it is easy to take at home with a tape measure.

From crotch to ankle

The measurement starts high in the crotch and runs straight down the inside of the leg to the ankle. Stand upright with your weight on both legs and hold the tape firm without pressing it into the skin. It is easiest if someone else holds the tape, so you can stand still and look ahead.

Measure without shoes

Shoes add several centimetres, which makes the measurement too long. Measure barefoot or in thin socks on a hard floor. A soft rug can also throw you off, because your feet sink into it. If you need a thin pair for the purpose, you will find them among our bamboo socks.

Easiest on a pair you own

The simplest method is to measure a pair of trousers whose length you already like. Lay them flat on a table, smooth out the fabric and measure from the crotch seam down the inside to the hem. That gives you a number based on a pair you know fits, not on a guess.

Keep the leg straight

When you measure on the body, the leg should be straight and not bent at the knee. A bent knee shortens the measurement, and the trousers may end up sitting too high at the ankle. Place your feet hip width apart, relax your shoulders and look straight ahead while you are measured.

Write the number down

Note the measurement as soon as you have it, ideally with the date. Then you will not need to measure again the next time you buy trousers. It helps to keep your other measurements in the same place, so they are at hand when you choose bamboo T-shirts for women or other clothes online.

Compare with the size guide

With your number in hand, turn to the size guide. Check whether it shows body measurements or the measurements of the trousers themselves, because the two are not always the same. If you fall between two lengths, think about the shoes you wear most often and how you like the hem to fall.

The cut matters too

A wide cut and a slim cut fall differently at the ankle, even with the same inside leg. A wide leg often hangs lower over the shoe, while a narrow leg stops more clearly at the ankle. Consider both length and cut. The same goes for anything meant to sit well all day, including bamboo panties.

Measure again now and then

Leg length hardly changes, but your taste for where trousers should end can. Take a new measurement if you change your style or start wearing different shoes. It only takes a few minutes and saves you from trousers that need to be sent back or taken up.

Frequently asked questions

Where do you measure the inside leg

From the crotch straight down the inside of the leg to the ankle, without shoes and with the leg straight. Stand still on a hard floor while it is taken.

Why measure without shoes

Because shoes add two to four centimetres. If you measure with shoes on, every pair of trousers will be too long and gather in folds over the shoe.

What is the easiest method

Measuring a pair of trousers you already own and like the length of. Lay them flat and measure from the crotch seam to the hem without stretching.