Jeans sizes come from two body measurements
Every system encodes the same two things: waist circumference and inseam (the inside leg from crotch to ankle). Men's US jeans state both in inches; women's US, EU and UK use index numbers that map back to a waist measurement.
Men's waist: US inches to EU and UK
| US waist | Waist (cm) | EU |
|---|---|---|
| 30" | 76 cm | 46 |
| 32" | 81 cm | 48 |
| 34" | 86 cm | 50 |
| 36" | 91 cm | 52 |
| 38" | 97 cm | 54 |
| 40" | 102 cm | 56 |
UK men's jeans use the same inch-waist labels as the US. To go from inches to centimeters, multiply by 2.54.
Women's US number to waist, UK and EU
| US | Waist | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 25–26" | 6 | 34 |
| 4 | 26–27" | 8 | 36 |
| 6 | 27–28" | 10 | 38 |
| 8 | 28–29" | 12 | 40 |
| 10 | 30–31" | 14 | 42 |
| 12 | 31–33" | 16 | 44 |
UK women's sizing runs two numbers above the US label. Because of vanity sizing, a "12" today maps to a much smaller waist than it did in the 1950s, so the waist inches are the number to trust.
Measuring waist and inseam without the common mistakes
- Waist — hold the tape level, above the navel and below the ribs, snug but not pulled tight.
- Inseam — measure the inside of the leg, crotch to ankle. The outside seam is longer and is the usual source of a too-long order.
- Between sizes — size up. Cotton jeans shrink up to about an inch in the first few washes, so a snug 32 becomes tight.
Common questions
What does a men's jeans size like 32/34 mean?
The first number is the waist in inches and the second is the inseam, the inside leg length. So 32/34 is a 32-inch waist with a 34-inch inseam. Both are measured on the garment, not on your body directly.
What is EU size 48 in US jeans?
About a 32-inch US waist. For men, EU size is roughly the US waist in inches plus 16, so 32 plus 16 is 48. It is an approximation; always check the brand chart.
Why do the same-size jeans fit differently between brands?
There is no enforced sizing standard for clothing, so every brand sets its own chart. Measure your waist in inches and match it to each brand's table rather than trusting the label number.
