How to Measure Your Hips for Pants, Skirts & Dresses
Buying pants online is a gamble. Here is how to take the one measurement that actually decides whether your next order fits — and how to turn it into the right size on any brand's chart.
You order your usual size. The box arrives. The pants won't go past your hips. Or they slide right off.
Here is the thing. Your waist size is not the problem. Your hip size is.
Most returns happen because shoppers guess their hip measurement instead of measuring it. Getting this one number right cuts your return rate, speeds up checkout, and means you actually wear what you buy. This guide shows you exactly where to measure, how to do it, and how to turn the number into the correct size.
What You Need
One thing. A soft fabric measuring tape.
If you don't have one, you have three options:
- Use a piece of string, mark where it overlaps, then measure the string against a ruler.
- Buy a cloth tape for under $3 at any craft store.
- Print a paper measuring tape from Google (search "printable measuring tape cm inches").
Don't use a metal tape from your toolbox
Where to Measure Your Hips
The hip measurement is not taken where your hip bones sit.
You measure at the fullest part of your lower body. For most people that falls around the widest part of the buttocks, roughly 7 to 9 inches below your natural waist.
This spot matters because this is where pants, skirts, and dresses have to slide over. If this part of you is wider than the garment, the garment won't fit. Simple as that.
Here is how to find the right spot:
- Stand in front of a full-length mirror, feet together.
- Turn sideways.
- Look at where your body is widest between your waist and your upper thigh.
- That is your hip measurement point.
If you cannot tell by eye, run the tape around yourself at three different heights — high, middle, low — and take the biggest number. That is your hip measurement.
Step by Step: Measure Your Hips
Follow these five steps exactly.
Wear thin clothing
Measure in your underwear or in leggings. Thick jeans or sweaters add 1 to 2 inches to your reading. That gap is enough to push you into the wrong size.
Stand straight
Feet together, weight balanced on both legs, arms relaxed at your sides. Do not suck in. Do not push out. Just stand.
Wrap the tape around the fullest part
The tape should go all the way around your lower body and meet in front. Keep it parallel to the floor on every side. If one side of the tape droops lower than the other, your reading will be off.
Keep the tape snug but not tight
You should be able to slide one finger between the tape and your skin. If you are pulling the tape in, you are measuring too tight. If the tape sags, you are too loose.
Read the number where the tape meets
Write it down in both inches and centimeters. Most size charts use one or the other, and converting in your head is how sizing mistakes happen.
That is it.
The Five Mistakes Most People Make
Even shoppers who measure their hips get this wrong. Here are the five errors that make the number useless:
Measuring over jeans or bulky clothes
Adds 1 to 2 inches and pushes you one full size up. Strip down to underwear or a thin single layer.
Tape tilted off-level
A sloped tape reads longer than the real number. Check your reflection on every side before reading.
Sucking in or flexing
You will not be holding your breath when you wear the garment. Stand relaxed and breathe normally.
Measuring at the waist instead
The waist sits higher on your body and is almost always smaller than your hips. That number will not help a pair of pants slide over your hips.
Taking one reading only
Measure twice. If the numbers match, you have it. If they do not, measure a third time and take the consistent pair.
What the Number Means for Pants, Skirts, and Dresses
Each garment uses the hip measurement differently.
Pants and Jeans
The hip size decides whether the pants will go on at all. For fitted or skinny styles, go by the hip number, not the waist. For loose or wide-leg styles, the hip number matters less but still affects how the fabric drapes over the seat.
Skirts
Pencil skirts and bodycon skirts live or die by the hip measurement. A-line and flared skirts are more forgiving but still need the waist and hip numbers both.
Dresses
For bodycon or sheath dresses, hip size is one of the three critical numbers, along with bust and waist. For shift and A-line dresses, hip size decides how the bottom half hangs.
Between two sizes? Size up
Hip Size Chart — Women's (General Reference)
Different brands use different charts. Always check the brand's own size chart before ordering.
| Size (US) | Size (UK) | Size (EU) | Hips (inches) | Hips (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS / 0–2 | 4–6 | 32–34 | 33–35" | 84–89 cm |
| S / 4–6 | 8–10 | 36–38 | 35–37" | 89–94 cm |
| M / 8–10 | 12–14 | 40–42 | 37–40" | 94–102 cm |
| L / 12–14 | 16–18 | 44–46 | 40–43" | 102–109 cm |
| XL / 16–18 | 20–22 | 48–50 | 43–46" | 109–117 cm |
| XXL / 20–22 | 24–26 | 52–54 | 46–49" | 117–124 cm |
How to Use Your Hip Size on Any Size Chart
Once you have the number, finding your size takes 30 seconds.
- Open the brand's size chart.
- Find the column labeled "hip" or "hips" (sometimes "low hip" or "seat").
- Locate the range your number falls into.
- That is your size for that brand.
Two important notes.
First, sizes are not universal. A size 10 at one brand is a size 8 at another and a 12 at a third. Always check the size chart, even for brands you have bought before.
Second, size charts sometimes list body measurements and sometimes list garment measurements. Body measurements are your actual size. Garment measurements are the finished size of the piece. If the chart gives garment measurements, look for a "fit" or "ease" note to know how much room the brand builds in.
The One Thing That Saves You From Returns
Measure yourself before you shop. Not after you see something you like.
Keep your numbers in a note on your phone:
- Bust
- Waist
- Hips
- Inseam
When you shop, open the note, open the brand's size chart, match the numbers. You skip the guessing. You skip the returns. You actually get what you ordered. Stores running Tailor Size Guide pair every product with a diagrammed measurement flow so shoppers do this without leaving the page.
FAQs
Can I measure my hips by myself?
Yes. Stand in front of a full-length mirror and use the reflection to check the tape stays level on all sides before you read the number.
Should I measure in inches or centimeters?
Measure in both. Write both down. Different brands use different units and converting in your head is where sizing mistakes creep in.
What if one side of my body is wider than the other?
Take the measurement from the widest side. That is the number a garment has to clear to fit over your body.
How often should I remeasure?
Every six months, or anytime your weight changes by 5 pounds or more. Hip size shifts more than people expect with weight changes.
Why is my measurement different every time?
Common reasons: different clothing underneath, tape not level, measuring at different heights, or measuring at different times of day. Standardize your setup and the number will stay consistent.
I am between two sizes on the chart. Which do I pick?
Size up. You can tailor a garment smaller. You cannot tailor it bigger past the original seam allowance.
Shopify store owner?
Sizing confusion is killing your conversion rate. Tailor Size Guide adds smart size charts and measurement guides directly to your product pages so shoppers find their size without leaving.