Sizing a legging from your own tape measure: waist, hip, inseam and the size you wear in jeans
Why the jeans size is the wrong place to start, what to measure and where, how a compression knit changes the answer, and what to do when the tape lands between two sizes.
Why your jeans size can mislead when you order leggings or pull-on pants
Jeans sizes are a shorthand that rarely carries from one brand to another. A number in jeans often reflects a fit cut for a waist that sits lower on the body. Leggings and pull-on dress pants use different reference points. For our high-rise pieces the rise sits at the natural waist, the narrowest point where your body bends. That is higher than where some jean waistbands sit. Measuring where your jeans sit will not give the same fit as measuring at your natural waist.
Fit also depends on fabric stretch, knit weight and whether the waist runs wide or narrow. Our leggings use a wide, double-layered waistband that holds rather than squeezes. That design is not shapewear. Pull-on dress pants have an elastic back waist and a smooth front with no zipper. Jeggings pull on over the hip and are a different fabric blend than many knit leggings.
So do not treat the jeans size as a rule. Look at the waist and the hip together when you decide between two sizes. An inch of difference in where you measure can turn a size from tight at the band to easy at the hip. Our size run goes from XS to 3XL on most leggings and biker shorts, and XS to 2XL on most dresses and dress pants. Keep the tape measure by the laptop. Measure the body, not the garment.
The two numbers to take and exactly where to place the tape
Take two numbers. The first is your waist at the natural waist. Stand upright and find the narrowest part of your torso where your body bends. Breathe normally. Wrap the tape snugly but not tight. The second number is your fullest hip. This is the point around the widest part of your seat and hips. Keep the tape parallel to the floor. Feet should be together for an accurate hip reading.
Below is a quick table showing what to measure, where the tape goes, what a common mistake looks like and which pieces each measurement matters most for.
| Measurement | Where the tape goes | What a mistake looks like | Which pieces it matters most for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waist | Narrowest point where torso bends, natural waist | Measuring at the top of jeans or too low | High-rise leggings, pull-on dress pants, high-rise dresses |
| Hip | Widest point around the seat and hip bones | Measuring around thighs instead of fullest point | Leggings, jeggings, biker shorts |
| Inseam | From crotch to desired hem on inner leg | Measuring outer leg or from waist | Leggings and dress pants with length options |
| Rise | Vertical distance from crotch to waistband at front | Estimating by feel rather than measuring at natural waist | High-rise leggings and any pull-on pant |
Measure over underwear or thin clothing. Write the numbers down. A tape that slips will underreport your measurement. A tape pulled too tight will underreport as well. These two numbers will get you close enough to select a size that moves with you.
Rise and what "high" means for our leggings and pants
High rise for our pieces means the waistband sits at your natural waist. That narrow point is where many of our leggings and pull-on dress pants are designed to rest. For leggings this often feels like a secure anchor. The waistband is wide and double-layered to hold rather than squeeze. For pull-on dress pants the construction keeps a smooth front and an elastic back waist. There is no zipper. The fit is intended to look smooth under a top while still allowing easy pull-on wear.
Jeggings are a different fabric story. They pull on over the hip. They are made from a cotton-rich knit that gives a jean-like look while still pulling on. The composition mixes cotton, polyester and spandex in a way that makes them feel like a pull-on pant rather than a woven. This difference matters when you choose between a tight-fitting legging and a jegging that gives a little less compression.
If you are deciding between sizes for a high-rise item consider how you prefer the waistband to sit. A wider band feels more holding. A narrower band may feel less restrictive. Try to measure at the true narrow point rather than where a favorite pair of jeans happens to sit. This will prevent surprises when you first pull the piece on.
Compression versus buttery knits and how that changes size
We offer two distinct knit experiences. Compression leggings come from a firmer nylon-spandex knit that has more pull-back. These provide a close, held feel and offer more resistance when you stretch. Buttery leggings are a softer knit that drapes. The way each reacts to your body affects the size you choose. Compression fabrics tend to feel snug at first. They settle after wear. Buttery knits will feel softer immediately and may drape differently over curves.
Both knits pass a full squat without going sheer when the size is right. A size too small shows it first at the seat: the fabric thins there before it pinches at the waistband, and that is the clearest fit signal there is. Biker shorts feel the compression more, because there is less cloth to spread the pull.
When you are between sizes follow one rule. On compression pairs and on biker shorts take the larger size. On flare, wide-leg and dress pants take the smaller, because those cuts are meant to drape and a size up hangs. Measure first, then imagine bending, sitting and walking in the size before you click.
We recommend choosing the size that lets you move comfortably through a full squat.
Inseam choices and how height guides length
Inseam options matter when you want a certain ankle coverage or a particular cropped look. Some of our leggings come in 25-inch and 27-inch inseams. The dress pants come in 26 and 28 inches. One dress pant style also comes in a 30-inch option. Biker shorts come in 5-inch and 8-inch lengths. The shorter inseam generally suits women at 5 foot 4 and under. The longer inseam generally suits those 5 foot 6 and over. These are guidelines, not strict rules. Leg shape, torso length and where you like a garment to fall will all affect your preference.
A customer at 5 foot 2 found the regular inseam worked better than a petite option. Another customer around 5 foot 4 and 170 pounds chose a Large in the yoga pants and found the fit worked for her frame. These examples show that height is a start but not the whole story. If you have a long torso relative to leg length you may want the longer inseam. If you prefer a true cropped look pick the shorter option.
Try to picture where the hem will land when you are standing with feet together. Have your tape measure handy and measure from crotch to hem of a well-fitting garment you already own. That gives a practical baseline. Adjust up or down based on how you like to wear your pants and how much ankle you want to show.
Ewedoos Biker Shorts with 3 Pockets
3 pockets · Sizes XS to 3XL · 5 or 8" inseam · Tummy control
$14.99
Choosing between two sizes and common fit signals
Picking between two sizes comes down to fabric and style. Compression knits pull back more. Biker shorts have less surface to distribute tension. On these pieces lean toward the larger size when in doubt. For flare or wide-leg silhouettes the fabric is meant to drape. In those styles choose the smaller size when you are in between. Pull-on dress pants with elastic at the back give a little forgiveness at the waist while keeping a smooth front. That construction lets them sit neatly without needing a larger size for comfort.
A pair ordered a size too small can roll at the waist. That is a common sign that the waistband is under tension. If you see rolling the garment is likely too tight in the body or the waist. The waistband on our leggings holds rather than squeezes. It is not shapewear. If you prefer a less anchored feel size up in compression styles. If you want a more tailored drape in a pant size down will often deliver that look.
Then picture the day. Will the size let you squat, cycle, bend and sit without pinching? If the answer is doubtful, choose the larger for compression pieces and the smaller for the pants that drape. The choice is about how the cloth and the cut will behave on you at four in the afternoon, not how they look on the hanger at nine.
The high-impact sports bra and why it uses different measurements
Bras follow a different sizing logic. Our high-impact sports bra ranges from S to 3XL and does not match pant sizes. The measurement that matters for bras includes band fit and cup volume. For the high-impact bra expect support to come from a close band and structured knit rather than from leg sizing rules. A size that works for your leggings will not necessarily work for a bra.
When you choose a sports bra think about the band across the ribcage before anything else. A snug band that moves with your breathing keeps the cup in place. The straps only steady it. The high-impact bra closes with hooks and eyes at the back, so a band that is a little loose on the first day has two more settings to take up. Check three points when you try it on. The band should sit level around the torso. The straps should hold without digging. The cups should cover without gaping.
If you pair a new bra with a new bottom in the same order remember they may be different sizes and that is normal. The materials and intended fit vary between a high-impact bra and leggings or pull-on pants. Treat each as its own fit decision. Measure where the product guidance asks you to measure and use that measurement to narrow your choice.
When the parcel arrives and the fit is not right
Open the parcel and try the piece on over underwear in front of a mirror. Move through a few motions that match how you plan to wear the garment. Sit down, bend and take a couple of steps. A sign of good fit is the piece moving with you without pinching at the waistband or thinning at the seat. If seams sit off angle or the hem lands far from where you expected, note that for an exchange.
If you need a different size, exchange it for the next size at checkout. Do it before the first wash: a pair that has been through the machine is yours. Wash cold, inside out and hang to dry. Heat takes the recovery out of spandex, and a pair left in a hot dryer will not come back to its original stretch.
If you plan to keep a piece, wear it for an hour before deciding. A compression knit eases a little after a few wears, but it does not ease after heat. Write down the size that fitted and the inseam that landed where you wanted it, and the next order takes a minute instead of an afternoon.
More of this sort of thing is in Fit Notes, and the Ewedoos studio keeps the whole range one click away on the front page.