Tall Mens Fashion Advice

How To Measure Leg Length: Step By Step Photos

Learn how to measure your leg length.

Welcome to our guide on how to measure your leg correctly.

You will need to know your leg length if you are shopping for a new bike, looking to get some bespoke jeans or dress pants made by a tailor, or are generally curious about your leg length (maybe you’re super tall like me!) 

 

how to measure leg length

Other ways this may be worded:

  • How to measure legs?
  • How to measure leg length for pants?
  • How to measure inside leg length?
  • How to measure leg size?
  • How to calculate leg length?
  • How to take leg measurements?

What You'll Need:

  • Sewing measuring tape
  • Flat object
  • A friend
this is a photo of a sewing measuring tape to measure leg length
Sewing measuring tape
this is a photo of a flat object to measure leg length
Flat object (note book)
this is a photo of tall paul and friends hands
Friends hand and mine

Total Time: 5 min

How To Measure Leg Length

Inside leg measurements are the most popular for pants size and easy to find. Grab a friend for a quick and smooth measurement process.

1. Remove your shoes for true leg length

Remove your shoes and wear tight-fitting pants. You can wear socks or bare feet.

this is a photo of tall paul with removed shoes

2. Put a flat object between your legs in your crotch

Choose a flat object for reference and place it between your legs. Hold it firmly between your legs at crotch height without clenching it tightly.

this is a photo of tall paul holding a flat object
this is a photo of tall paul putting a flat object between his legs in his crotch to measure with

3. Stand tall before measuring leg length

Stand as tall as you can without arching your back.

this is a photo of tall paul standing tall to measure his legs

4. Measure from floor to top of reference object

Use a measuring tape to measure the distance from the floor to the top of your reference object. Take at least three measurements and find the average to ensure accuracy.

this is a photo of tall paul measuring to the top of the object for a reference point

5. Take the outseam measurement also

Take your outseam measurement for pants also. To get your outseam, measure from the top of your waistband down to the bottom of your foot.

This is a photo of tall paul measuring his outseam

How to measure leg length: quick tips

  • Wearing tight-fitting pants provides a more accurate height measurement.
  • Slouching affects the accuracy of your measurement, so be sure to stand up straight.
  • Hold the flat object loosely between your legs because squeezing it hard will affect your posture and give you an inaccurate measurement.

How To Measure True Leg Length

What You'll Need:

  • Sewing measuring tape
  • A friend
this is a photo of a sewing measuring tape to measure leg length
Sewing measuring tape
this is a photo of tall paul and friends hands
Friends hand and mine

Total Time: 3 min

1. Grab a friend to measure your true leg length

Grab a friend to help you measure your legs. Measuring your own true leg length is next to impossible to do accurately

This is a photo of a friends hand and tall pauls

2. Lay down on the floor for true leg length

Lay down on the floor with your back with your legs extended, and your feet spread hip-width apart.

this is a photo of tall paul laying down on the floor to measure his true leg length

3. Measure from your hip to ankle

Measure from your hip to your ankle. Find the bony joint where your hip meets your leg. Measure from this point to the bony joint of your ankle. Repeat on both sides; this is your outseam number.

this is a photo of tall paul and his friend measuring from his hip to his ankle

How to measure true leg length: quick tips

  • The anterior superior iliac spine or ASIS is the bony point where your hip meets your leg.
  • Talk to your doctor if you find a significant discrepancy. Some difference in leg length is standard. 
  • No one has perfectly symmetrical legs, but a difference of more than 15 mm (0.59 in) could impact your gait (walking).

Once you have your leg length correct you will need to know how to measure the rest of your clothes.

FAQ

The length of your leg is measured from your crotch all the way down the floor. This will give you your leg length for buying a new bike or pair of pants.

You measure your legs from the inside of your crotch. You do not want to get the addition of your hips and butt into your leg length measurement. This will give you a false measurement.

Written and reviewed by
Tall Paul
Tall Paul
Paul Marlow, standing at an impressive 6'7 (201cm) and weighing 225lb (102kg), is a mental health speaker, fashion expert, and ex-athlete who excels at helping tall men find well-fitting clothing and teaching them how to style it effectively. As a model in the fashion and film industries, Paul shares his expertise in tall men's fashion, offering valuable advice on measurements, tailoring, and alterations. In addition, he founded Never Alone, an organization that provides mental health and therapy inspiration, and started the Mental Growth Newsletter to support those facing mental health challenges, drawing from his own experiences.

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