OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Jeans Size Converter
Waist and Leg to W/L, EU, UK and US Sizes
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How the Jeans Size Converter works
This jeans size converter turns a waist and inside-leg measurement into the W/L size printed on jeans labels. Enter the numbers in inches or centimetres and it rounds to the nearest waist and stock leg length, then shows the men's EU size and the women's US, UK and EU equivalents. It suits online orders where you cannot try a pair on.
Jeans are almost always sized by waist (W) and leg length (L) in inches, even in countries that use centimetres for everything else. Two numbers, such as W32 L32, describe the fit. European men's trousers and women's dress sizes use different scales, which is where a converter helps.
How the jeans size converter works
The waist is rounded to the nearest inch and the inseam to the nearest stock length: 28 to 34 in, then 36 in. The formula for the men's EU size is W + 16, so W32 is EU 48. For women's sizes from W24 to W36, the US size is (W − 25) × 2, the UK size is the US size + 4, and the EU size is the US size
First example. A 32 in waist and a 31.5 in inseam round to W32 L31. The men's EU size is 48, and the women's equivalents are US 14, UK 18 and EU 44.
Second example. In centimetres, a 76 cm waist and an 81 cm inseam are 29.9 in and 31.9 in, which round to W30 L32. That is men's EU 46 and women's US 10, UK 14 and EU 40.
How many inches is the leg? The L number is the inside leg in inches, from crotch to hem. Measure a pair that already fits from the crotch seam down the inner seam to the hem; that is more reliable than measuring your own leg.
Jeans waist sizes with centimetres, men's EU size and women's US, UK and EU sizes
| W size | Waist | Men's EU | Women's US | Women's UK | Women's EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W24 | 61 cm | 40 | 00 | 2 | 28 |
| W25 | 64 cm | 41 | 0 | 4 | 30 |
| W26 | 66 cm | 42 | 2 | 6 | 32 |
| W27 | 69 cm | 43 | 4 | 8 | 34 |
| W28 | 71 cm | 44 | 6 | 10 | 36 |
| W29 | 74 cm | 45 | 8 | 12 | 38 |
| W30 | 76 cm | 46 | 10 | 14 | 40 |
| W31 | 79 cm | 47 | 12 | 16 | 42 |
| W32 | 81 cm | 48 | 14 | 18 | 44 |
| W33 | 84 cm | 49 | 16 | 20 | 46 |
| W34 | 86 cm | 50 | 18 | 22 | 48 |
| W35 | 89 cm | 51 | 20 | 24 | 50 |
| W36 | 91 cm | 52 | 22 | 26 | 52 |
| W37 | 94 cm | 53 | – | – | – |
| W38 | 97 cm | 54 | – | – | – |
| W39 | 99 cm | 55 | – | – | – |
| W40 | 102 cm | 56 | – | – | – |
| W41 | 104 cm | 57 | – | – | – |
| W42 | 107 cm | 58 | – | – | – |
| W43 | 109 cm | 59 | – | – | – |
| W44 | 112 cm | 60 | – | – | – |
| W45 | 114 cm | 61 | – | – | – |
| W46 | 117 cm | 62 | – | – | – |
Tips and pitfalls
- Vanity sizing. Many brands label jeans a size or two smaller than the true waist, so a W32 often measures 33 or 34 in. Measure a favourite pair flat across the waistband and double it to compare.
- Stretch changes the fit. Jeans with elastane give an inch or so after wear; rigid denim does not.
- Rise matters too. Low-rise jeans sit lower on the hips, where you may measure larger than your natural waist.
- Women's sizing varies most. The dress-size equivalents are a guide; check each brand's own chart.
FAQ
What does W32 L32 mean?
W32 is a 32-inch waist and L32 a 32-inch inside leg, measured from the crotch to the hem. The two numbers together describe the fit, so a W32 L30 has the same waist but is two inches shorter in the leg.
How do I measure my jeans size?
Measure around your waist where the jeans sit, usually just above the hip bones, with the tape snug but not tight. For the length, measure the inside leg of a well-fitting pair from the crotch seam to the hem.
What is a W32 in EU sizes?
A men's W32 is an EU 48. Each inch of waist adds one to the EU size, so W30 is 46 and W34 is 50. Women's EU sizes run on a different scale, where a W32 corresponds to about EU 44.
What size is a W28 in women's sizes?
A W28 is about a US 6, UK 10 or EU 36. Women's jeans brands vary widely, so check the brand's waist measurement in inches or centimetres as well as the dress size.
Are jeans sizes the same in the UK and US?
Yes, W/L sizes in inches are the same in both. Women's dress sizes differ: a UK size is four larger than the same US size, so UK 12 is US 8 and EU 38.
See also: all Data & Code tools, Units, Images, Audio & Video, Documents.
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