Tall Mens Fashion Advice

How to Measure Outseam: Men’s Guide

Learn how to measure your outseam.

How to Measure Outseam

Men's Guide

To measure your outseam, make sure that you have the pants on your waist where you would normally wear them. Take the tape measure and place it from the top of your pant line (waist) to the top of where the shoe meets the foot. It will end up just below the ankle, then add 1″ to the measurement.

This is How to Measure Outseam: Men’s Guide.

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

When measuring your jeans, slacks, dress pants or any other pant, you will first want to know how to measure your inseam. Your outseam measurement can help nail down the exact leg length you need.

Follow these steps below to order the perfect pair of pants online or get them tailor-made. 

Tools needed to measure your outseam.

  • Sewing measuring tape

How to Measure Outseam 

  1. Start from the hip and take the measuring tape from the top of the pant line down to where the shoe meets the foot, just below the ankle.
  2. Add 1″ to your measurement.
  3. This is your outseam measurement.

How to Measure Outseam: Tips

  • Wear your pants precisely as you would when wearing them out, sitting the same on your waist.
  • Wear shoes for the most accurate measurement. 
  • Grab a friend to measure the more accurate number.
  • Stand against the wall to get the most upright posture. 

Now that you know how to measure your outseam, learn these other measurements and build perfect fitting wardrobe with our super guide on how to measure clothes.

How to Measure Outseam FAQ

To measure your outseam and inseam you will first need a sewing tape measure. Your outseam measurement will start from your hip (outside of your leg) while your inseam measurement will start from your inner crotch (inside of leg). Both measurements end just below your ankle.

Your outseam measurement starts at the outside of your hip, while the inseam starts inside your leg at your inner crotch.

Your outseam size will come from taking your outseam measurement. This measurement is made by placing one end of your measuring tape at your hip and the other end just below your ankle. Add one inch to that measurement to get the final size.

To measure the outseam on shorts your start our measurement at the outside of your hip and end the measurement where you want your shorts to end. This will either be below knee or above knee.

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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