Custom jeans are only as good as the measurements they are built from. Taking them properly takes about five minutes and a soft measuring tape.
What you need
- A soft measuring tape (not a metal one)
- Someone to help, if possible — self-measuring the inseam and hip is difficult
- Fitted clothing, or a well-fitting pair of jeans you already own
The measurements that matter
Waist
Measure around where you actually wear your jeans, not your natural waist. For most people this is slightly below the navel. Keep the tape level and snug but not tight — you should be able to slip a finger under it.
Hip / seat
Measure around the fullest part of your seat, with your feet together. This is the measurement most often taken incorrectly, and it is the one that determines whether jeans pull across the back.
Thigh
Measure around the fullest part of one thigh, roughly two to three centimetres below the crotch. Stand normally with weight on both feet.
Knee
Measure around the knee with your leg straight. This controls the taper of the leg.
Inseam
Measure from the crotch seam down the inside of the leg to where you want the hem to sit. Wear the shoes you would normally wear with jeans — this changes the correct length by a centimetre or more.
Outseam
Measure from the top of the waistband down the outside of the leg to the same hem point. This cross-checks the inseam and rise.
Front rise
Measure from the crotch seam up to the top of the waistband at the front. This determines whether the jeans sit low, mid or high on you.
The easier alternative
If measuring yourself feels uncertain, there is a simpler route: take a pair of jeans that already fits you well, lay them flat, and measure the garment instead of your body. Waist across the top, hip at the widest point, thigh, knee, inseam and rise. Then tell us what you would change — “same but two centimetres longer”, for example.
In practice this is often more accurate than body measurements, because it starts from something you already know fits.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Pulling the tape tight. Measurements should be snug, not compressed. Tight measurements produce jeans that are too small.
- Measuring over bulky clothing. This adds several centimetres without you noticing.
- Guessing the inseam. Length is the most common source of disappointment, and the easiest to get right with a tape.
- Using your ready-made jeans size as a measurement. A “32 waist” from one brand is not 32 inches, and differs between brands.
What happens next
Once you share your measurements, we confirm fit and details with you before production begins — so anything unclear gets resolved before the fabric is cut. You can see the full process in our guide on how custom-made jeans are made, or start your order from the custom denim jeans page.