Jeans are the garment most likely to be returned because of fit. They have little stretch, they sit at the hip rather than the waist, and every brand has a different idea of what a size 8 or a 32 means. This calculator starts from body measurements and a published chart. It gives women a US number size with UK and EU equivalents, and men a waist × length size.
How to use the jeans size calculator
- Pick women’s or men’s sizing.
- Measure your waist around the narrowest part of the torso, keeping the tape horizontal, and your hips around the fullest part, tape horizontal.
- For men, enter the inseam you want the jeans to have (30 to 36 inches is the usual shop range).
- Read the result. The size by waist, the size by hips and the recommended size are shown; when they differ the hip size is recommended.
Jeans sizing formula (chart lookup)
size by hips = first size whose body hip ≥ your hips
recommended = size by hips (Nike: “order the one indicated by your hip measurement”)
The charts are Nike’s published body-measurement tables (retrieved 2026-10-15). The measurements are of the body, not of the garment. The centimetre columns are calculated by multiplying inches by 2.54.
Women’s numeric sizes
| US size | Bust (in) | Waist (in) | Hip (in) | Waist (cm) | Hip (cm) | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | 28.5 | 23 | 31.5 | 58.4 | 80.0 | — | — |
| 0 | 29.5 | 23 | 32.5 | 58.4 | 82.5 | 4 | 32 |
| 2 | 31 | 24.5 | 34 | 62.2 | 86.4 | 6 | 34 |
| 4 | 32.5 | 26 | 35.5 | 66.0 | 90.2 | 8 | 36 |
| 6 | 34 | 27.5 | 37 | 69.8 | 94.0 | 10 | 38 |
| 8 | 35.5 | 29 | 38.5 | 73.7 | 97.8 | 12 | 40 |
| 10 | 37 | 30.5 | 40 | 77.5 | 101.6 | 14 | 42 |
| 12 | 38.5 | 32 | 41.5 | 81.3 | 105.4 | 16 | 44 |
| 14 | 41 | 34 | 43.5 | 86.4 | 110.5 | 18 | 46 |
| 16 | 43.5 | 36 | 45.5 | 91.4 | 115.6 | 20 | 48 |
| 18 | 46 | 38 | 47.5 | 96.5 | 120.7 | 22 | 50 |
| 20 | 48.5 | 40 | 49.5 | 101.6 | 125.7 | 24 | 52 |
| 22 | 51 | 42 | 51.5 | 106.7 | 130.8 | 26 | 54 |
Men’s numeric (waist) sizes
| Size (waist label) | Body waist (in) | Body hip (in) | Body waist (cm) | Body hip (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 27.5 | 33.5 | 69.8 | 85.1 |
| 28 | 29.5 | 35.5 | 74.9 | 90.2 |
| 30 | 31.5 | 37.5 | 80.0 | 95.2 |
| 32 | 33.5 | 39.5 | 85.1 | 100.3 |
| 34 | 35.5 | 41.5 | 90.2 | 105.4 |
| 35 | 36.5 | 42.5 | 92.7 | 108.0 |
| 36 | 37.5 | 43.5 | 95.2 | 110.5 |
| 37 | 38.5 | 44.5 | 97.8 | 113.0 |
| 38 | 39.5 | 45.5 | 100.3 | 115.6 |
| 40 | 41.5 | 47.5 | 105.4 | 120.7 |
| 42 | 43.5 | 49.5 | 110.5 | 125.7 |
| 44 | 45.5 | 51.5 | 115.6 | 130.8 |
| 46 | 47.5 | 53.5 | 120.7 | 135.9 |
| 48 | 49.5 | 55.5 | 125.7 | 141.0 |
The UK and EU columns are Nike’s own conversions for the same size. Other shops convert differently: for example one European retailer’s chart lists German sizes two below Nike’s EU figure, so check the shop’s table when ordering abroad.
Worked examples
Women: waist 28 in, hips 38 in.
- Waist 28 is above size 6 (27.5) and within size 8 (29) → US 8.
- Hips 38 are above size 6 (37) and within size 8 (38.5) → US 8.
- Both agree: US 8, UK 12, EU 40.
Men: waist 33 in, hips 39 in, inseam 32 in. Waist 33 is within size 32 (33.5); hips 39 are within size 32 (39.5). The jeans size is 32 × 32.
Tips for buying jeans
- Check the rise. A low-rise pair sits on the hips and a high-rise pair near the natural waist, so the same waist number feels different.
- Allow for stretch. Rigid denim should fit snugly at the start; stretch denim may need a size down.
- Length: if the inseam is too long, a tailor can hem it; if it is too short, it cannot be lengthened.
- Brands differ by a size or more. Where a brand publishes a garment chart, compare the flat waist and inseam to a pair that fits you.
For trousers and belts use the Pants / Trouser Size Calculator and Belt Size Calculator; to estimate an inseam from your height use the Inseam Calculator. The results are general guidance and no promise of fit for a particular brand.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these pages, read directly on the dates shown. Brand names are used only to identify the published charts.
- Nike — women’s numeric size chart (body measurements, international conversions) — checked 2026-10-15
- Nike — men’s bottoms numeric size chart (waist, hip, waist × inseam explanation) — checked 2026-10-15
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my jeans size?
Measure your waist at its narrowest and your hips at their fullest, then look both up on the chart. When they point to different sizes, Nike’s chart says to order the size indicated by your hips, which is what this calculator uses.
Why is my jeans size bigger than my waist?
The charts here list body measurements for a size. Men’s size 32 corresponds to a body waist of 33.5 inches, because jeans are labelled by a nominal waist and sit lower than the natural waist. Brands differ, so also check the garment measurements.
What do the two numbers in 32 × 34 mean?
The first is the waist size and the second is the inseam, the length of the inside leg seam of the jeans from crotch to hem. Nike describes inseam as the length of the garment, not of your body.
What if I am between two sizes?
Nike advises ordering the smaller size for a tighter fit or the larger size for a looser fit. The calculator rounds up to the next chart value, which is the looser choice.
Do women’s jeans use the same sizes as dresses?
Many brands use the same US numbers, but the cut is different and denim has less stretch. Use the Pants / Trouser Size Calculator for trousers, and a brand’s own jeans chart when it publishes one.