How to take hip measurement for men's underwear

Short answer: How to take hip measurement is simple: stand relaxed with your feet together, wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of your hips and read the number where the tape meets. Keep it level and snug but not tight, then compare it with the size guide for the cut you want.

How to take hip measurement step by step

To learn how to take hip measurement, you only need a soft tape and a mirror. Stand straight in thin clothes with your feet together and wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips. Check that it sits level all the way round, then read the number where the tape ends meet.

Where your hips actually are

Many men measure too high, around the waist, and then end up with underwear that is too small. The hips are the widest part below the waist, usually across the fullest part of the seat. If you are unsure, move the tape up and down and take the largest comfortable reading.

Using the number with a size guide

Once you have your number, compare it with the size guide for the cut you want, since brands do not all measure the same way. When you browse bamboo underwear for men, look for the size that matches your hip measurement and check whether the guide uses hips or waist.

Use the right tape

Use a flexible tape of the kind tailors use, not a metal one from a toolbox. A stiff tape cannot follow the curve of your body, and it gives a number that is too small. If you only have a metal tape, lay a piece of string around your hips and measure the string.

Snug, not tight

The tape should rest against your body without pressing into it. A good test is that you can slide one finger under it. If it digs in, the number will be too low, and if it hangs loose, the number will be too high, so take the measurement twice.

Between two sizes

If your number falls between two sizes, think about the cut and the fabric. A close-fitting boxer brief with some stretch usually works well in the smaller size if you like a firm hold, while the larger size suits a looser feel. Choose by how you want it to sit.

Measuring other garments the same way

Your hip number helps with more than underwear. If you also wear long sleeve models under other clothes, you still need chest and length, but the hip number tells you how a longer top will sit over your seat. Keep all your numbers written down in one place.

Remeasure now and then

Bodies change with seasons, training and age, so repeat how to take hip measurement once or twice a year. Write the number in your phone together with the size you last bought. When you add bamboo socks to the same order, you can use the notes to keep it all simple.

Frequently asked questions

Should I measure hip or waist for underwear?

It depends on the size guide of the brand, so read it first. Some use hips and others use waist, which is why it helps to know both numbers before you choose a size.

Can I measure my hips over clothes?

It is best to measure over thin clothes or directly on the body. Thick trousers and belts add centimetres, and that can lead you to a size that ends up too big.

How tight should the tape be?

It should sit snug without pressing. If you can just slide one finger under the tape, it is in the right place and you get a number that fits your body.