The terms “inseam” and “outseam” are often used to describe the size of jeans. While you’re probably familiar with length and waist measurements, though, you may not be familiar with inseam and outseam. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult — if not impossible — to find the perfect pair of jeans. If you don’t know the definitions of inseam and outseam, you won’t be able to choose a pair of jeans in the right size, assuming it uses these measurements. So, what’s the difference between inseam and outseam exactly?
Overview of Inseam
Inseam is a measurement that runs vertically through the interior of your jeans. It’s defined as the length of jeans — or any other pants for that matter — from the crotch to the bottom of the pant legs.
You can measure the inseam of your jeans by taking a tape measure and placing it on the crotch, after which you can run it to the bottom of the pant legs where they are hemmed. The distance between the crotch of your jeans and the bottom of the pant legs is known as the inseam.
Overview of Outseam
Outseam, on the other hand, is a measurement that runs vertically through the exterior of your jeans. It’s a vertical measurement that goes from the waist to the bottom of the pant legs. The difference between inseam and outseam, however, lies in the area of the jeans where the measurements are taken. Inseam measurements are taken inside your jeans, whereas outseam measurements are taken outside your jeans.
You can measure the outseam of your jeans by taking a tape measure and running it from the waist of your jeans to the bottom of the pant legs. Of course, you’ll need to take this measurement on the outside of your jeans. If you measure the interior length of your jeans from the waist to the bottom of the pant legs, you’ll get the inseam measurement. For the outseam, you must measure the exterior of your jeans from the waist to the bottom of the pant legs.
Why Outseam Measurements Are Typically Longer Than Inseam Measurements
Although there are exceptions, you’ll typically discover that the outseam measurements for jeans are longer than the inseam measurements. It’s not uncommon for a pair of jeans to have an outseam measurement that’s up to one-quarter longer than their inseam measurement.
There’s a good reason why most have a longer outseam measurement. As previously mentioned, outseam measurements are taken from the waistband to the bottom of the pant legs. In comparison, inseam measurements are taken from the crotch to the bottom of the pant legs. Because outseam measurements cover more space, they are typically longer than inseam measurements.
What About the Rise?
While inseam and outseam are the most common measurements used for jeans, as well as other types of pants, another measurement you may encounter is the rise. What is the rise exactly? In jeans, the rise runs from the waistband to the crotch. It’s called the “rise” because it affects how high or low the jeans rise when worn.
You can measure the rise of jeans using a tape measure. Simply place the end of the tape measure on the waistband, at which point you can run it to the bottom of the crotch. Some jeans have a low rise, meaning they run a short distance from the waistband to the bottom of the crotch. Other jeans, have a higher rise with a greater distance from the waistband to the bottom of the crotch. Regardless, all jeans have a rise, which you can measure by checking the distance from the waistband to the bottom of the crotch.
Why Inseam and Outseam Measurements Are Important
It’s important to choose jeans with the right inseam and outseam measurements. If the inseam is too short, you may struggle to comfortably walk and bend your jeans. If the inseam is too long, however, your jeans may look awkwardly baggy and, therefore, unflattering.
Choosing jeans with the right outseam measurement is equally important. If the outseam is too short, your jeans will fit particularly tight around the waist and hips. If the outseam is too long, they will have too much space in these areas.
How to Get the Right Size Jeans
When shopping for jeans, it’s important to get the right size. If they are too small, or if they are too big, they won’t offer a high level of comfort or aesthetics.
You can avoid the headache of undersized or oversized jeans, however, by ordering from MakeYourOwnJeans. Whether you prefer lightweight denim, heavyweight denim, or even stretch jeans, you can rest assured knowing they will fit perfectly. Here at MakeYourOwnJeans, we offer custom sizing on all our jeans at no additional charge.
Don’t assume that you’ll find jeans in the right size at a local retail apparel store. Most retailers only sell jeans in basic length and width measurements, which generally don’t reflect their inseam and outseam measurements. For the perfect fit, you need to order custom-sized jeans. Custom-sized jeans are designed using your own body measurements. As a result, you aren’t restricted to the manufacturer’s generic length and waist measurements. With custom-sized jeans, you’ll get the perfect each time since you can specify your body measurements with them.
In Conclusion
After reading this, you should have a better understanding of the differences between inseam and outseam measurements. Inseam refers to the distance from the crotch to the bottom of the pant legs, whereas outseam refers to the distance from the waistband to the bottom of the pant legs. Outseam measurements are usually shorter than inseam measurements. When shopping for jeans, though, you should choose consider both measurements to ensure you get the right size. If either the inseam or outseam measurements don’t align with your actual body, the jeans won’t fit right.
