Trousers, chinos, shorts and leggings are bought by a size that combines your waist and hips, and sometimes the leg length. A letter size such as M is easy to remember; a number size is more precise. This calculator takes your waist and hip measurements and returns both, using Nike’s published body-measurement charts for women and men.
How to use the pants size calculator
- Choose women’s or men’s sizing.
- Measure your waist around the narrowest part of the torso, tape horizontal.
- Measure your hips around the fullest part, tape horizontal.
- Enter both in inches or centimetres. The calculator shows the letter size, the number size and the body measurements that letter covers.
Pants size formula (chart lookup)
letter by hips = size whose hip range contains your hips
recommended = letter by hips
The ranges come from Nike’s alpha bottoms charts and the number sizes from its numeric charts (retrieved 2026-10-15). A value on the upper edge of a range belongs to that size. Nike lists body measurements, so the chart already allows for garment ease.
Women’s bottoms (XXS–XXL)
| Size | Waist (in) | Hips (in) | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 21.25 – 23.5 | 30.5 – 33 | 0 | 2 | 30 |
| XS | 23.5 – 26 | 33 – 35.5 | 0–2 | 4–6 | 32–34 |
| S | 26 – 29 | 35.5 – 38.5 | 4–6 | 8–10 | 36–38 |
| M | 29 – 31.5 | 38.5 – 41 | 8–10 | 12–14 | 40–42 |
| L | 31.5 – 34.5 | 41 – 44 | 12–14 | 16–18 | 44–46 |
| XL | 34.5 – 38.5 | 44 – 47 | 16–18 | 20–22 | 48–50 |
| XXL | 38.5 – 42.5 | 47 – 50 | 20–22 | 24–26 | 52–54 |
Men’s bottoms (XXS–4XL)
| Size | Waist (in) | Hips (in) | Waist (cm) | Hips (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 22.5 – 25.5 | 28.5 – 31.5 | 57 – 65 | 72 – 80 |
| XS | 25.5 – 29 | 31.5 – 35 | 65 – 74 | 80 – 89 |
| S | 29 – 32 | 35 – 37.5 | 74 – 81 | 89 – 95 |
| M | 32 – 35 | 37.5 – 41 | 81 – 89 | 95 – 104 |
| L | 35 – 38 | 41 – 44 | 89 – 97 | 104 – 112 |
| XL | 38 – 43 | 44 – 47 | 97 – 109 | 112 – 119 |
| XXL | 43 – 47.5 | 47 – 50.5 | 109 – 121 | 119 – 128 |
| 3XL | 47.5 – 52.5 | 50.5 – 53.5 | 121 – 133 | 128 – 136 |
| 4XL | 52.5 – 57 | 53.5 – 58.5 | 133 – 145 | 136 – 149 |
Worked examples
Women: waist 30 in, hips 40 in.
- Waist 30 falls in the 29 to 31.5 band → M.
- Hips 40 fall in the 38.5 to 41 band → M.
- Recommended letter: M, covering US 8–10; numeric size by hip: US 10.
Men: waist 33 in, hips 39 in → letter M (waist 32–35 in, hips 37.5–41 in), waist label 32.
Waist, rise and length
- Rise: trousers with a high rise sit near your natural waist, while low-rise styles sit on your hips, so waist measurement matters less for them than hip.
- Length: regular, short and tall versions differ by about 2 inches (5 cm) in inseam on Nike’s charts. Use the Inseam Calculator for an estimate.
- Stretch: sweatpants and leggings forgive a size error; tailored trousers do not.
- Belts: for a belt, see the Belt Size Calculator, which uses the pants size plus a margin.
For denim specifically, the Jeans Size Calculator gives a waist × length size. This page offers general sizing information; individual brands differ, and a garment chart from the brand is the final word.
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 bottoms size chart (alpha, hips, tall/short notes) — checked 2026-10-15
- Nike — men’s bottoms size chart (alpha, waist, hip) — checked 2026-10-15
- Nike — women’s numeric size chart — checked 2026-10-15
- Nike — men’s numeric bottoms chart — checked 2026-10-15
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my pants size?
Measure your waist at its narrowest and your hips at their fullest, then look up both on the chart. Nike’s guide says that if the two measurements point to different sizes you should order the size indicated by your hips, so the calculator recommends the hip size.
What is the difference between letter and number sizes?
Letters (S, M, L) cover a band of body measurements, while numbers describe one point. An M covers a 29 to 31.5 inch waist for women on Nike’s chart, whereas a US 8 or 10 is a narrower range. The calculator shows both.
How do I get the inseam?
Men’s trousers are often sold as waist × inseam, for example 32 × 34, where the second number is the inside leg length of the garment, from crotch seam to hem. Nike describes it that way. Estimate yours with the Inseam Calculator.
Do tall and short sizes exist?
Yes, for some styles. Nike’s notes say that tall bottoms have a 2 inch (5 cm) longer inseam than regular, and short bottoms a 2 inch shorter inseam. The size on the waist and hips stays the same.
What if I am between sizes?
Nike advises the smaller size for a tighter fit and the larger size for a looser fit. The calculator uses the larger because it rounds a measurement up to the next chart value.