Tights are sized by height, weight and hips on the pack, but most people only know one of those numbers well. The result is often a pair that is too short in the body, baggy at the knee or tight at the waist. This calculator uses the hip measurement as the main number, as the chart’s hip ranges do not overlap, and then checks your height so tall wearers move up a size.
How to use the tights size calculator
- Measure your hips. Stand with your feet together and wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of the hips and bottom, level all the way round.
- Enter your hips and height. Inches and centimetres both work.
- Read the size. The calculator shows the size, its hip and height ranges and whether the size was chosen by hips or moved up for height.
- Check the pack. Brands use their own sizes, so compare with the pack before buying.
Tights size formula
if your height > that size’s maximum height, move to the next size up
The chart is the Ladies’ Hosiery tights guide for Aristoc from Sockshop (retrieved 2026-10-16). Hip ranges are given in inches and centimetres on the page; the centimetre ranges below are the page’s figures rounded as printed. Heights and weights overlap between sizes, which is why hips come first.
| Size | Hips (in) | Hips (cm) | Height (cm) | Weight (lb) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Small | 29.5 – 34 | 75 – 86 | 142 – 157 | 86-137 | 39-62 |
| Small | 34 – 38 | 86 – 97 | 152 – 168 | 97-155 | 44-70 |
| Medium | 38 – 42 | 97 – 107 | 152 – 173 | 104-164 | 47-74 |
| Large | 42 – 48 | 107 – 122 | 163 – 178 | 111-174 | 50-79 |
| Extra Large | 48 – 54 | 122 – 137 | 163 – 183 | up to 224 | up to 102 |
Worked example
Your hips measure 36 inches and you are 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) tall.
- Hips of 36 inches fall in Small (34 to 38 inches).
- Small covers heights from 152 to 168 cm, and 172 cm is taller than that.
- Medium covers 152 to 173 cm, so the result is Medium, sized up for height.
Choosing the right tights
- Thin or thick. Sheer tights stretch more than opaque ones, so go larger in thick, fleece-lined or very opaque styles.
- Waist. Tights that are tight at the waist but long in the leg are a sign that you need a different shape rather than a different size.
- Length. A crotch that sags is a sign the size is too tall or too long for you.
- Other legwear. For stockings, hold-ups and knee-highs the same guide uses height and weight only, so use the pack.
The result is general guidance based on one brand’s chart. For other measurements see the Hip Size Calculator, the Underwear / Panty Size Calculator and the Sock Size Calculator.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these pages, read directly on the date shown. Brand names are used only to identify published guides.
- Sockshop — Aristoc ladies’ hosiery size guide (tights: hips, height and weight by size) — retrieved 2026-10-16
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my tights size?
Use hips and height. Measure the fullest part of the hips, then find the size on the chart whose hip range contains it. If your height is taller than that size’s maximum, choose the next size up, as this calculator does. Weight ranges on the chart are a guide only.
Why do tights charts list height and weight?
Tights are a one-piece garment that has to cover the hips, the legs and the length from waist to ankle. A person who is tall for their hip measurement needs more leg length even though a smaller size would stretch around their hips.
What if I am between sizes?
On the chart the hip ranges touch each other, for example 38 inches is both the top of Small and the start of Medium. This calculator gives the larger size at a boundary. Sheer, thin tights stretch more than thick opaque ones, so you can go down for thin and up for thick or fleece-lined.
Do all brands use the same tights sizes?
No. The chart here is the Aristoc ladies’ tights guide from Sockshop. Brands differ in how they name sizes, using letters, numbers or S–XL, and in where the ranges start and stop. Always check the guide on the pack or the shop’s page.
Are there sizes between small and medium?
The Aristoc guide lists extra Small/Medium and Medium/Large tights for some ranges, with hips of 34–40 and 40–48 inches. Those cover two sizes at once, so a shopper between two sizes can look for them. See the Hip Size Calculator for measuring your hips and the Leggings Size Calculator for leggings.