Type your height: the length of every dress and skirt for you, from a micro mini to the floor, and where a dress of any length lands on you, read off 1,986 women the US Army measured. What each length is called comes quoted from the brands’ own guides.
Height 5′4″ · a midi dress
Midi for you: 37–45 in shoulder to hemOn a woman 5′4″ tall that lands from just below your knee to mid-calf, read off the US Army’s survey of 1,986 women. Bodies differ: hold a tape to yourself to be sure.
- Shoulder to knee
- 36 in
- Shoulder to mid-calf
- 43.6 in
- Shoulder to floor
- 53.7 in
- Your knee, off the floor
- 17.6 in
- Size range
- Petite (5′4″ and under)
Your length chart
| Length | Lands | Dress, shoulder to hem | Skirt, waist to hem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro mini | Mid-thigh | 28–30 in | 13–15 in |
| Mini | Above the knee | 30–35 in | 15–20 in |
| Knee length | At the knee | 35–37 in | 20–22 in |
| Midi | Below the knee to mid-calf | 37–45 in | 22–29 in |
| Tea length | Lower calf | 47–48 in | 32–33 in |
| Maxi | Ankle to just off the floor | 50–53 in | 35–38 in |
| Floor length | The floor | 53–54 in | 38–39 in |
What the pages call it
Below the knee Midi
- “Midi dress length: finishes below the knee” — Needle & Thread
- “sitting below the knee but above the ankle” — Nadine Merabi
- “Between the knee and mid-calf” — Falguni Shane Peacock
Mid-calf Midi, or midaxi
- “The hem generally hits mid-calf, with a dress length of about 40 to 50 inches from the shoulder, depending on style and height.” — Aza Fashions
- “Midaxi dress length: finishes at the mid-calf” — Needle & Thread
- “Falling at or just below the knee, or grazing mid-calf” — Mac Duggal
Keep a hem off the widest part of your calf: a little longer or shorter
- “avoid hems that cut across the widest part of your calf” — Falguni Shane Peacock
- “A common mistake is a hem that cuts the leg at its widest part; a slightly longer or shorter midi can be much more flattering.” — Aza Fashions
- “your midi hem should be at least 1-2 inches below the fullest part of your calf muscle.” — Aza Fashions
The brands’ lengths, on you
- Mac Duggal mini (34–38 in, shoulder to hem): on you from above the knee to below the knee. “a 34"–38" dress will typically fall above the knee (mini)” — Mac Duggal
- Mac Duggal midi and tea length (43–52 in, shoulder to hem): on you from mid-calf to at the ankle. “midi and tea-length dresses , typically between 43 and 52 inches” — Mac Duggal
- Mac Duggal gown (54–61 in, shoulder to hem): on you from the floor to past the floor. “which range from 54 to 61 inches, are designed to sweep the floor” — Mac Duggal
- Nadine Merabi mini (30–35 in, shoulder to hem): on you from mid-thigh to above the knee. “mini dresses are usually between 30 and 35 inches long, sitting at the mid-thigh” — Nadine Merabi
- Nadine Merabi midi (40–50 in, shoulder to hem): on you from below the knee to lower calf. “They’re typically between 40 and 50 inches long, sitting below the knee but above the ankle.” — Nadine Merabi
- Nadine Merabi maxi (50–60 in, shoulder to hem): on you from lower calf to past the floor. “A maxi dress typically falls between the ankle and floor, anywhere between 50 and 60 inches depending on your height.” — Nadine Merabi
- Aza Fashions midi (40–50 in, shoulder to hem): on you from below the knee to lower calf. “The hem generally hits mid-calf, with a dress length of about 40 to 50 inches from the shoulder, depending on style and height.” — Aza Fashions
How to measure a dress or a skirt
Dress A dress: from the top of the shoulder, where a bra strap sits, straight down to the hem
- ““Shoulder to hem” is the measurement from the top of your shoulder (where a bra strap would sit) straight down to the bottom of the dress hem.” — Mac Duggal
- “Find the top of the shoulder seam (where the strap meets the body) or the highest point of a strapless dress (think right above the collarbone).” — Terani Couture
- “Place the starting edge of the measuring tape on the front side of your shoulder and allow the tape to hang.” — Falguni Shane Peacock
Skirt A skirt: from the waist down to the hem
- “the skirt length, measured from the natural waist down to the hem” — Nadine Merabi
- “Place the tip of the measure in the middle of the waist, and drag it to the end of the skirt.” — Kiwi Sizing
- “Stand in a straight, natural posture, and from the middle of your waist, measure till the area you want your skirt to end.” — Kiwi Sizing
Gown A gown to the floor: measure in the shoes you will wear
- “we recommend measuring from your hollow (the dip between your collarbones) to the floor while wearing your event shoes to ensure a flawless drape” — Nadine Merabi
Online A dress in a photo: the model’s height tells you where it will land on you
- “The models shown in the image below are approximately 5’9" tall.” — Mac Duggal
- “All of our dresses are measured on a 5”6’ / 168cm model” — Needle & Thread
- “Look for a model’s height and compare it to the dress in the photo.” — Terani Couture
Where the pages differ
A dress at mid-thigh: mini or micro mini?
- “mini dresses are usually between 30 and 35 inches long, sitting at the mid-thigh” — Nadine Merabi
- “Well above the knee (mid-thigh or shorter)” — Falguni Shane Peacock
- “Micro mini dress length: finishes at mid-thigh” — Needle & Thread
Where tea length ends
- “(of a dress or skirt) falling below the knee and above the ankle, typically three to four inches above the ankle” — Dictionary.com
- “Tea-length hits above the ankle, while maxi reaches the feet.” — Falguni Shane Peacock
- “usually fall somewhere around mid-calf, from the bottom of the knee to the ankle” — Terani Couture
How wide “midi” is
- “A dress with a hemline falling anywhere between the knee and the ankle.” — Aza Fashions
- “Between the knee and mid-calf” — Falguni Shane Peacock
- “Midi dress length: finishes below the knee” — Needle & Thread
Petite: short or just below the knee?
- “If you have a petite body, go for well-fitted miniskirts that elongate your legs, instead of long, voluminous skirts that may make you look shorter.” — Kiwi Sizing
- “Choose a hemline that hits just below the knee or slightly lower, rather than at the widest part of your calf.” — Aza Fashions
Your body from your height: the US Army’s survey of 1,986 women (ANSUR II, 2012), the line through all of them for each spot. What each length is called and where it lands: 10 brands’ and guides’ pages and a dictionary, each name on at least two. Checked 2026-10-17. Ours: the shoulder point (halfway between the base of the neck and the shoulder tip, where a bra strap sits), mid-thigh and mid-calf (halfway), a 1-inch band around each spot, and the short line over each quoted list. Bodies and dresses differ: try it on.
Quick answer: on a woman 5′4″, a knee-length dress is about 35–37 in from the shoulder, a midi 37–45 in, a tea-length dress 47–48 in and a floor-length gown 53–54 in (in flats). A skirt, from the waist: knee length 20–22 in, midi 22–29 in, maxi 35–38 in. Type your height above for yours.
How to use it
Type your height and pick a dress or a skirt. You get the length to buy for each named length, from a micro mini to the floor, drawn on a figure of your height. Looking at a dress online? Type its length from the product page, shoulder to hem (or waist to hem for a skirt), and the page tells you where it will land on you and what that length is called. Pick your heels: a floor-length gown needs the extra inches.
Dress length chart by height
| Height | Mini | Knee length | Midi | Tea length | Maxi | Floor length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′11″ | 28–32 in | 32–34 in | 34–41 in | 43–44 in | 46–49 in | 49–50 in |
| 5′0″ | 29–33 in | 33–35 in | 35–42 in | 44–45 in | 47–50 in | 50–51 in |
| 5′1″ | 29–33 in | 33–35 in | 35–42 in | 45–46 in | 48–50 in | 50–51 in |
| 5′2″ | 30–34 in | 34–36 in | 36–43 in | 45–46 in | 48–51 in | 51–52 in |
| 5′3″ | 30–34 in | 34–36 in | 36–44 in | 46–47 in | 49–52 in | 52–53 in |
| 5′4″ | 30–35 in | 35–37 in | 37–45 in | 47–48 in | 50–53 in | 53–54 in |
| 5′5″ | 31–36 in | 36–38 in | 38–45 in | 48–49 in | 51–54 in | 54–55 in |
| 5′6″ | 31–36 in | 36–38 in | 38–46 in | 49–50 in | 52–55 in | 55–56 in |
| 5′7″ | 32–37 in | 37–39 in | 39–47 in | 50–51 in | 53–56 in | 56–57 in |
| 5′8″ | 32–37 in | 37–39 in | 39–47 in | 51–52 in | 54–57 in | 57–58 in |
| 5′9″ | 33–38 in | 38–40 in | 40–48 in | 51–52 in | 54–58 in | 58–59 in |
| 5′10″ | 33–38 in | 38–40 in | 40–49 in | 52–53 in | 55–59 in | 59–60 in |
| 5′11″ | 33–39 in | 39–41 in | 41–50 in | 53–54 in | 56–59 in | 59–60 in |
| 6′0″ | 34–39 in | 39–41 in | 41–50 in | 54–55 in | 57–60 in | 60–61 in |
Measured from the top of the shoulder, where a bra strap sits, straight down to the hem: the way Mac Duggal lists every dress (““Shoulder to hem” is the measurement from the top of your shoulder (where a bra strap would sit) straight down to the bottom of the dress hem.”). Each range is the length that puts the hem in that spot, read off the US Army’s survey of 1,986 women for your height.
Skirt length chart by height
| Height | Mini | Knee length | Midi | Tea length | Maxi | Floor length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′11″ | 14–18 in | 18–20 in | 20–27 in | 29–30 in | 32–34 in | 34–35 in |
| 5′0″ | 14–18 in | 18–20 in | 20–27 in | 29–30 in | 32–35 in | 35–36 in |
| 5′1″ | 15–19 in | 19–21 in | 21–28 in | 30–31 in | 33–36 in | 36–37 in |
| 5′2″ | 15–19 in | 19–21 in | 21–28 in | 31–32 in | 34–37 in | 37–38 in |
| 5′3″ | 15–20 in | 20–22 in | 22–29 in | 31–32 in | 34–37 in | 37–38 in |
| 5′4″ | 15–20 in | 20–22 in | 22–29 in | 32–33 in | 35–38 in | 38–39 in |
| 5′5″ | 16–20 in | 20–22 in | 22–30 in | 33–34 in | 36–39 in | 39–40 in |
| 5′6″ | 16–21 in | 21–23 in | 23–30 in | 33–34 in | 36–39 in | 39–40 in |
| 5′7″ | 16–21 in | 21–23 in | 23–31 in | 34–35 in | 37–40 in | 40–41 in |
| 5′8″ | 16–21 in | 21–23 in | 23–32 in | 35–36 in | 38–41 in | 41–42 in |
| 5′9″ | 17–22 in | 22–24 in | 24–32 in | 35–36 in | 38–42 in | 42–43 in |
| 5′10″ | 17–22 in | 22–24 in | 24–33 in | 36–37 in | 39–42 in | 42–43 in |
| 5′11″ | 17–22 in | 22–24 in | 24–33 in | 37–38 in | 40–43 in | 43–44 in |
| 6′0″ | 17–23 in | 23–25 in | 25–34 in | 37–38 in | 40–44 in | 44–45 in |
From the waist: the Army measures it at the navel. Nadine Merabi: “the skirt length, measured from the natural waist down to the hem”. A skirt that sits higher, at the narrowest part of your waist, needs that much more length.
What each length is called, and where it lands
- Micro mini: mid-thigh. Needle & Thread: “Micro mini dress length: finishes at mid-thigh”.
- Mini: above the knee. Needle & Thread: “Mini dress length: finishes above the knee”; Terani Couture: “Short dresses that often hit the mid-thigh or slightly above the knees are called mini dresses.”
- Knee length: at the knee. Terani Couture: “A dress that hits your knees or is slightly above them is considered knee-length.”
- Midi: below the knee, often to mid-calf. Falguni Shane Peacock: “Between the knee and mid-calf”; Aza Fashions: “The hem generally hits mid-calf, with a dress length of about 40 to 50 inches from the shoulder, depending on style and height.”
- Tea length: the lower calf, a few inches above the ankle. Dictionary.com: “(of a dress or skirt) falling below the knee and above the ankle, typically three to four inches above the ankle”.
- Maxi: the ankle, or between the ankle and the floor. Nadine Merabi: “A maxi dress typically falls between the ankle and floor, anywhere between 50 and 60 inches depending on your height.”
- Floor length: the floor. Falguni Shane Peacock: “Reaches the floor (covers feet)”; Needle & Thread: “Gown length: finishes floor length but can accommodate a higher heel”.
How tall is the model? The same dress on you
A brand’s length is a length on its model. Mac Duggal: “The models shown in the image below are approximately 5’9" tall.” Needle & Thread: “All of our dresses are measured on a 5”6’ / 168cm model”. On a woman 5′4″, Mac Duggal’s 34 to 38 inch minis run from above the knee to below the knee, and its 54 to 61 inch gowns from the floor to past the floor: type a dress’s length above to see where it lands on you.
Petite and tall
Petite is 5′4″ and under (Gaala: “Petite-size clothing is crafted specifically for women 5’4" (162 cm) and under.”), and petite dresses are cut shorter. On a woman 5′0″ a midi is 35–42 in from the shoulder, against 38–46 in at 5′6″. Aza Fashions: “Choose a hemline that hits just below the knee or slightly lower, rather than at the widest part of your calf.”
Tall is 5′9″ and up (NYDJ and American Tall). Aza Fashions: “Look for "tall" sizing if you want to ensure the waistline and hem hit at the intended spots.” At 5′11″ a floor-length gown is 59–60 in from the shoulder in flats.
Heels and the floor
Heels lift you, so every hem sits higher off the floor. Nadine Merabi: “Make sure to account for heels, as elevating the frame will make the dress sit shorter.” A gown cut to the floor in heels drags in flats; Nadine Merabi measures its gowns “we recommend measuring from your hollow (the dip between your collarbones) to the floor while wearing your event shoes to ensure a flawless drape”. At 5′4″, floor length is 53–54 in in flats and 56–57 in in 3-inch heels.
Where the numbers come from
Your body comes from the US Army’s ANSUR II survey of 1,986 women (2012): for each spot (the base of the neck, the shoulder tip, the navel, the crotch, the middle of the kneecap, the ankle bone) the straight line through every woman’s height, made from the public file. The lines sit within about half an inch of the middle woman of every height the Army measured 30 or more of: at 5′4″, 329 women, whose middle woman’s knee is 17.56 in off the floor (the line says 17.6). The sample is not everyone: ANSUR II (US Army): “Despite the presence of reservists in the sample, it is still not an approximation of the US Civilian population.”
What is ours: the shoulder point, halfway between the base of the neck and the shoulder tip, where a bra strap sits; mid-thigh and mid-calf, halfway between the spots on either side; a band of 1 inch either side of each spot; and a heel lifting the whole body by its height. Bodies and dresses differ: try it on.
Common mistakes
- Reading the length off the model. A dress on a 5′9″ model sits higher on her than on you: compare heights first.
- Measuring a skirt from the wrong waist. A high-rise skirt sits above the navel, so it needs more length to land in the same spot.
- Cutting across the widest part of the calf. Falguni Shane Peacock: “avoid hems that cut across the widest part of your calf”.
- Hemming a gown in flats you won’t wear. Hem it in the event shoes.
Frequently asked questions
What is tea length?
A dress or skirt that ends on the lower calf, below the knee and above the ankle: “typically three to four inches above the ankle”, Dictionary.com says. On a woman 5′4″ that is about 47–48 in from the shoulder.
How long is a midi dress?
It ends below the knee, usually by mid-calf. Brands list about 40 to 50 inches from the shoulder (Nadine Merabi, Aza Fashions) and Mac Duggal 43 to 52 for midi and tea length together. For you it depends on your height: about 36–43 in at 5′2″, 37–45 in at 5′4″ and 39–47 in at 5′8″.
How long is a knee-length dress?
At 5′4″, about 35–37 in from the shoulder to the hem; at 5′2″ 34–36 in, at 5′8″ 37–39 in. A skirt to the knee is 20–22 in from the waist at 5′4″.
How long is a maxi dress?
Long enough to reach the ankle, or to fall between the ankle and the floor: about 50–53 in from the shoulder at 5′4″. Nadine Merabi lists its maxis at 50 to 60 inches “depending on your height”.
What is the difference between midi and maxi?
Length. A midi ends between the knee and the ankle, most often mid-calf; a maxi reaches the ankle or the floor. Aza Fashions: “A midi dress ends mid-calf (between the knee and ankle), while a maxi dress is longer, ending at the ankle or floor.”
How do I measure dress length?
From the top of the shoulder, where a bra strap sits, straight down to the hem; for a strapless dress, from the top edge. A skirt from the waist down. For a gown to the floor, measure in the shoes you will wear.
What length dress for a petite woman?
Petite is 5′4″ and under, and the same named length is shorter on you: a midi about 35–42 in at 5′0″. Aza Fashions suggests a midi “just below the knee or slightly lower, rather than at the widest part of your calf”; a guide from Kiwi Sizing suggests minis instead of long, full skirts. Both are printed in the tool’s section on where the pages differ.
On Needle Style
To wear them: the types of dresses, summer maxi dresses, mini skirt outfits, long skirt outfits, wedding guest dresses, and outfits for short and curvy women.
More free tools: the dress code decoder, the inseam calculator, the torso length calculator and the bra for your dress.