Type your height: you get your likely inseam among 1,986 women the US Army measured, the length to buy at six brands, and where the hem should land for your leg shape and shoes. Know your inseam already? Type it too.
Height 5 ft 4 in · straight or slim, flats
About a 28.5 in inseamThe middle half of the 329 women 5 ft 4 in tall the US Army measured have 28 to 29.3 in — crotch height minus 2 in, the Army’s own rule for its pants. Measure the pants that fit you best to be sure.
- Your likely inseam
- 28.5 in (72.4 cm)
- Women your height (middle half)
- 28 to 29.3 in
- US Army pants length
- Regular
- Hem for straight or slim
- The top of your foot
- Your ankle bone, off the floor
- about 2.5 in
The length to buy, brand by brand
| Brand | Length to buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| US Army pants | Regular | 28–30 in inseam · US Army sizing memo |
| Gap | Petite (29 in) | hem off about 0.5 in · PureWow (Gap) |
| Dr Denim | Petite (30 in) | hem off about 1.5 in · Dr Denim |
| NYDJ | Petite | up to 5′4″, 28–30 in · NYDJ |
| Abercrombie & Fitch | Regular | 5′4″–5′7″ · PureWow (Abercrombie) |
| Quince | Petite | up to 5′4″, 27–28 in straight and skinny, 28–29 in wide-leg and flare · Quince |
Where the hem lands
Straight or slim Full length that brushes the top of your foot without folding: no longer than the top of your arch
- “With a slim or straight pant, the “right” length is the top of the foot in front, and the top of the shoe in the back (if it is a shoe and not a boot).” — The Wardrobe Consultant
- “the front of the hemline should brush the front of your foot (“the vamp”), and only a half-inch of heel (inch at most) ought to be showing in the back.” — Corporette
- “A straight-legged pant is usually hemmed to not “break” (bend) at the bottom which means no longer than the top of your arch.” — A Well Styled Life
Your shoes
With flats, a full-length hem comes up: your foot sits higher
- “Flat shoes require straight pants to be hemmed shorter because your arch is higher in a flat shoe.” — A Well Styled Life
- “When wearing pumps or flats, you want the pant long enough that the top of your foot is covered and only the shoe peeks out.” — Wardrobe Oxygen
Hem them in the shoes you will wear with them
- “Always hem pants while wearing the shoes you plan to pair with them.” — Wardrobe Oxygen
- “Pants need to be hemmed based on the shoe you plan to wear them with.” — A Well Styled Life
What inseam means, and how to measure yours
Inseam is the length of the inside leg seam, from the crotch seam to the hem
- “Simply put, inseam is the measurement from the crotch seam down to the bottom hem of your jeans.” — NYDJ
- “measured along the inside seam from crotch point to the bottom hem” — Dr Denim
- “inseam, which is the measurement that starts where the fabric sits at the crotch and goes down to the bottom of the pant hem” — PureWow (Gap)
On pants that fit Lay them flat and measure the inside leg seam
On you Floor to crotch with a book, then take off 2 in — the Army’s rule for its pants
- “Stand with your back against a wall, feet 6 to 8 inches apart.” — Brooklyn Bicycle Co.
- “Place a book between your legs, spine up, snug against your crotch.” — Brooklyn Bicycle Co.
- “Have another person measure from the top of the book (the spine) down to the floor.” — Brooklyn Bicycle Co.
- “Inseam was derived from the dimension Crotch Height (I = CH – 2”).” — US Army sizing memo
Where the stylists disagree
One length for flats and heels?
- “This ½” guide works for heels and flat shoes.” — Wardrobe Oxygen
- “No, you can’t wear the same length with flats and heels, so decide how you’ll likely wear your pants and commit for each pair of pants.” — A Well Styled Life
- “When it comes to full length pants I often recommend shortening one pair for heels and one for flats, so you know the length is right for each.” — The Wardrobe Consultant
How close to the floor for wide-leg pants
- “For such pants, you almost want your shoe hidden; the back of the pants or jeans should be ¼” off the floor.” — Wardrobe Oxygen
- “In heels or flats, aim for a length that is 1/2 inch from the floor.” — A Well Styled Life
- “In this case I recommend shortening the length to the top of the heel – where the heel attaches to the shoe.” — The Wardrobe Consultant
Where an ankle pant should end
- “Landing an inch or so above it is ideal for most women and pairs wonderfully with everything from flats to boots.” — NYDJ (ankle jeans)
- “Aim for the hem to land right at or just below your ankle bone, with visible skin above your shoe.” — Wardrobe Oxygen
- “This is a great example of an ankle length pant – it hits right at my ankle bone.” — The Wardrobe Consultant
Straight-leg pants: the top of the foot or the ankle?
- “The goal is that the pant brushes the top of the foot and does not break or puddle, creating a clean, long line.” — The Wardrobe Consultant
- “I recommend having the hem hit the bottom of the ankle before your foot starts.” — Wardrobe Oxygen
- “A straight, slightly wide, faintly bootcut, or menswear-inspired pant, whether it is part of a suit or a pair of ponte knit you wear on the weekends the back of the trousers should be ½” off the floor.” — Wardrobe Oxygen
The brands’ own words
- “If your inseam falls between two lengths, choose the longer one—you can always hem for a perfect fit.” — NYDJ
- “Gap offers five different inseams: Petite (29 inches), Short (30 inches), Regular (31.5 inches), Long (33.5 inches) and Tall (35.5 inches).” — PureWow (Gap)
- “Petite: 30" (about 74–75cm)” — Dr Denim
- “Regular: 32" (about 79–80cm)” — Dr Denim
- “Tall: 34" (about 84–85cm)” — Dr Denim
- “Here’s a general guide to inseams across our core collections:” — NYDJ
- “Per the brand, the inseams are generally made to fit the following heights, though it’s worth noting that these guidelines may differ slightly for everyone, especially those who have proportionately long legs or a long torso.” — PureWow (Abercrombie)
- “The inseams each differ by two inches, which can be helpful to consider if you’re finding a certain length just a bit too short or too long.” — PureWow (Abercrombie)
- “Straight and skinny petite jeans typically have a 27"-28" inseam (vs 30"-32" regular).” — Quince
- “Wide-leg and flare petite jeans run slightly longer to maintain the dramatic silhouette — typically 28"-29" — with the hem hitting at or just below the ankle bone.” — Quince
- “Extra short: 5’0’’ and under” — PureWow (Abercrombie)
- “Short: 5’2’’-5’3’’” — PureWow (Abercrombie)
- “Regular: 5’4’’-5’7’’” — PureWow (Abercrombie)
- “Long: 5’8’’-5’11’’” — PureWow (Abercrombie)
- “Extra Long: 6’0’’ and up” — PureWow (Abercrombie)
Your inseam from the US Army’s survey of 1,986 women (ANSUR II, 2012), crotch height minus 2 in, the Army’s own rule for its pants; the brands’ lengths from their own charts or the brand’s words as a review quotes them; the hems from 9 stylists’ and brands’ pages, each rule on at least two. Checked 2026-10-16. Ours: which length we pick at each brand (the shortest at least as long as yours, as NYDJ advises), and the short line over each quoted list. Sizes differ by brand and style: try them on.
Quick answer: inseam is the inside leg seam of your pants, from the crotch seam to the hem. Among 1,986 women the US Army measured, those 5′4″ have an inseam of about 28.5 inches (the middle half 28 to 29.3); at 5′2″ about 27.5, at 5′6″ about 29.9. Measure the pants that fit you best to be sure.
How to use it
Type your height. You get the inseam women your height most often have, from the US Army’s survey, and the length to buy at six brands for it. Know your inseam already, from a pair that fits? Type it too, and it wins. Then pick the leg shape and your shoes: the page shows where the hem should land, in the stylists’ and brands’ own words, and where they disagree.
What inseam means
NYDJ: “Simply put, inseam is the measurement from the crotch seam down to the bottom hem of your jeans.” Dr Denim measures it “measured along the inside seam from crotch point to the bottom hem”. So the inseam is a length of the pants, not of your leg: it ends where you want the hem. The US Army writes its pants’ inseam as your crotch height minus 2 inches — “Inseam was derived from the dimension Crotch Height (I = CH – 2”).” (US Army sizing memo, 2020) — and that is the rule this calculator uses on the ANSUR II women.
Inseam by height: 1,986 women the US Army measured
| Height | Women measured | Middle half | Middle woman | Ankle bone off the floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′11″ | 43 | 25.3–26.6 in | 26.1 in | 2.3 in |
| 5′0″ | 85 | 25.8–27 in | 26.4 in | 2.3 in |
| 5′1″ | 143 | 26.5–27.7 in | 27.2 in | 2.4 in |
| 5′2″ | 222 | 26.9–28.2 in | 27.5 in | 2.4 in |
| 5′3″ | 304 | 27.6–28.7 in | 28.1 in | 2.5 in |
| 5′4″ | 329 | 28–29.3 in | 28.5 in | 2.5 in |
| 5′5″ | 270 | 28.7–30 in | 29.3 in | 2.5 in |
| 5′6″ | 243 | 29.3–30.7 in | 29.9 in | 2.6 in |
| 5′7″ | 134 | 29.9–31.2 in | 30.6 in | 2.5 in |
| 5′8″ | 91 | 30.3–31.6 in | 30.9 in | 2.6 in |
| 5′9″ | 61 | 31–32.3 in | 31.7 in | 2.6 in |
| 5′10″ | 30 | 31.5–32.7 in | 31.9 in | 2.7 in |
Heights are rounded to the nearest inch; each row is every woman of that height in the Army’s public file (the middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile). Heights with fewer than 30 women use the line through all 1,986. The Army’s sample is not everyone: “Despite the presence of reservists in the sample, it is still not an approximation of the US Civilian population.”
Pant length chart: the length to buy by height
| Height | Inseam | US Army pants | Gap | NYDJ | Abercrombie & Fitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′11″ | 26.1 in | Short | Petite (29 in) | Petite | Extra Short |
| 5′0″ | 26.4 in | Short | Petite (29 in) | Petite | Extra Short |
| 5′1″ | 27.2 in | Short | Petite (29 in) | Petite | Extra Short or Short |
| 5′2″ | 27.5 in | Short | Petite (29 in) | Petite | Short |
| 5′3″ | 28.1 in | Regular | Petite (29 in) | Petite | Short |
| 5′4″ | 28.5 in | Regular | Petite (29 in) | Petite | Regular |
| 5′5″ | 29.3 in | Regular | Short (30 in) | Regular | Regular |
| 5′6″ | 29.9 in | Regular | Short (30 in) | Regular | Regular |
| 5′7″ | 30.6 in | Long | Regular (31.5 in) | Regular | Regular |
| 5′8″ | 30.9 in | Long | Regular (31.5 in) | Regular | Long |
| 5′9″ | 31.7 in | Long | Long (33.5 in) | Tall | Long |
| 5′10″ | 31.9 in | Long | Long (33.5 in) | Tall | Long |
What is ours: the length picked at each brand. Where a brand sells by inseam (the Army’s two-inch bands, Gap’s five lengths, Dr Denim’s three) we take the shortest that is at least as long as yours, as NYDJ advises: “If your inseam falls between two lengths, choose the longer one—you can always hem for a perfect fit.” Where a brand sells by height (NYDJ, Abercrombie & Fitch, Quince), its own height bands. Sizes differ by brand and by style: try them on.
Where the hem should land
- Straight or slim: the top of your foot. The Wardrobe Consultant: “With a slim or straight pant, the “right” length is the top of the foot in front, and the top of the shoe in the back (if it is a shoe and not a boot).”
- Wide-leg: about ¼ to ½ in off the floor. Wardrobe Oxygen: “For such pants, you almost want your shoe hidden; the back of the pants or jeans should be ¼” off the floor.”
- Bootcut or flare: about ¼ to ¾ in off the floor. Wardrobe Oxygen: “A bootcut is between the classic and the wide-leg styles; you can go with ¼” to ½” from the floor.”
- Skinny: the narrowest part of your ankle. Wardrobe Oxygen: “Skinnies should end at the top of the ankle, but if they gather or pool a bit it’s okay.”
- Ankle: at or just above the ankle bone. NYDJ (ankle jeans): “The short answer: your ankle jeans should sit right at or just above your ankle bone.”
- Cropped: above the ankle, up to mid-calf. YouLookFab: “They can be cropped anywhere from right above the top of the ankle bone and up to six inches above it.”
Shoes change the full lengths only. The Wardrobe Consultant: “For example, pants worn with heels will need a longer hem compared to those worn with flats.” Skinny, ankle and cropped lengths work with both, A Well Styled Life says: “Skinny leg pants are the most versatile because the length works with both heels and flats.”
Worked examples
- 5′2″, straight leg, flats: about a 27.5 in inseam; Short in US Army pants, Petite (29 in) at Gap.
- 5′7″, wide-leg, heels: about a 30.6 in inseam; Regular at NYDJ, Regular (31.5 in) at Gap, hemmed in your heels about ¼ to ½ in off the floor.
- 5′4″ with a 31-inch inseam: longer than most women that height (the middle half is 28 to 29.3); Long in US Army pants, Regular (31.5 in) at Gap.
Common mistakes
- Measuring your leg and calling it your inseam. Floor to crotch is longer than a pants inseam: the Army takes off 2 inches.
- Hemming in the wrong shoes. Wardrobe Oxygen: “Always hem pants while wearing the shoes you plan to pair with them.”
- Buying the shorter length. Between two, take the longer and hem it.
- Cutting a wide leg or flare a lot shorter. It moves the flare: buy a shorter length instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is inseam on pants?
The length of the inside leg seam, from the crotch seam down to the hem. It tells you how long the pants are on you; the waist is the other number on the tag, as in W28/L32.
How do I measure my inseam?
Lay the pants that fit you best flat and measure from the crotch seam straight down to the hem. With no pants that fit, stand against a wall with a book snug between your legs, measure the floor to the book’s spine, and take off 2 inches, the Army’s rule for its pants.
What inseam should a 5′4″ woman wear?
About 28.5 inches: the middle half of the 329 women 5′4″ the US Army measured have 28 to 29.3. That is Petite at NYDJ (28–30 in), Petite (29 in) at Gap and Regular in the Army’s pants.
What inseam for a 5′2″ woman?
About 27.5 inches (the middle half 26.9 to 28.2): Short in the Army’s pants and Short at Abercrombie & Fitch; at Gap, the 29-inch Petite with a little hemmed off.
How long should jeans be?
It depends on the leg: straight and slim to the top of your foot, wide-leg and flares about ¼ to ¾ inch off the floor, skinny at the narrowest part of the ankle, ankle jeans at or just above the ankle bone, crops anywhere above it up to mid-calf.
Should pants be longer with heels?
Full lengths, yes: a heel tips your foot down, so the same pants look short. Stylists split on one length for both; skinny, ankle and cropped lengths work with flats and heels alike.
What is a petite inseam?
Brands cut petite for women about 5′4″ and under, with a shorter inseam: NYDJ’s petite runs 28 to 30 inches, Quince’s straight and skinny petites 27 to 28, Gap’s Petite length is 29.
On Needle Style
To wear them: ankle boots and the hem length that works with them, shoes for cropped jeans, capri pants outfits, how to style wide-leg jeans, high-waisted pants styled to flatter and boots with jeans.
More free tools: the torso length calculator, the women’s size converter and the body shape calculator.