Jeans and trouser sizes: waist and inseam in cm
W32 L34 means a waist of 32 inches and an inseam of 34 inches: 81.3 cm and 86.4 cm. The label is a size name, though, and measured waistbands are often larger.
Enter a measurement or a size to highlight the matching row of the chart.
| Waist (W) (in) | Waist (cm) |
|---|---|
| 26 | 66.0 |
| 27 | 68.6 |
| 28 | 71.1 |
| 29 | 73.7 |
| 30 | 76.2 |
| 31 | 78.7 |
| 32 | 81.3 |
| 33 | 83.8 |
| 34 | 86.4 |
| 35 | 88.9 |
| 36 | 91.4 |
| 37 | 94.0 |
| 38 | 96.5 |
| 39 | 99.1 |
| 40 | 101.6 |
| 42 | 106.7 |
| 44 | 111.8 |
| Inseam (L) (in) | Inseam (cm) |
|---|---|
| 28 | 71.1 |
| 30 | 76.2 |
| 32 | 81.3 |
| 34 | 86.4 |
| 36 | 91.4 |
How to use the charts
- Measure your waist where the trousers will sit, and your inseam from the crotch down the inside of the leg.
- Choose waist in centimetres in the finder and enter the measurement. The finder highlights the first size that is large enough.
- Read the inseam in the second chart.
- Compare with the size chart of the brand. It states which body measurement each size is made for.
Without JavaScript the finder is unavailable, but both charts are complete.
What W and L mean
W is the waist and L is the length of the inseam, both in inches. One large jeans maker lists men’s waists from 28 to 38 inches with inseams of 30, 32 and 34 inches. A UK retailer uses the same numbers and calls the inseam inside leg.
Where the inseam ends differs: one retailer measures to the ankle bone, a jeans maker to the bottom of the ankle. Check how the brand measures before you compare lengths.
The label and the tape disagree
A Canadian broadcaster had jeans of seven brands measured by a university researcher in 2022. Of the men’s jeans labelled 38, most measured one to two inches more at the waistband. Women’s jeans differed by up to several inches.
Brands also state different body measurements for the same number. One US maker sells trousers labelled 32 for a waist of 32.5 inches.
This is why the chart cannot tell you which label fits. It converts units. The size chart of the brand, and trying on, decide.
Worked example
Your waist measures 88 cm and your inseam 81 cm.
- 88 divided by 2.54 is 34.6 inches. The first waist that is large enough is W35, which is 88.9 cm.
- 81 divided by 2.54 is 31.9 inches. The nearest inseam is L32, which is 81.3 cm.
- Look for W35 L32. If the brand offers even sizes only, compare its chart for W34 and W36.
Common mistakes
- Reading the label as a measurement of the garment.
- Measuring the waist at the navel for trousers that sit on the hips.
- Swapping W and L. The waist comes first.
- Using a women’s dress size chart for jeans that are labelled in inches. W and L are lengths, not dress numbers.
Sources and checks
The values in the chart are calculated from the definitions in the sources below. They are not copied from another chart. Last checked against the sources on September 28, 2026.
W and L on a label are waist and inseam in inches. Centimetres are inches times 2.54, rounded to one decimal.
The label is a size name, not a guaranteed measurement. Measured waistbands are often larger than the label, and brands state different body measurements for the same number.
These numbers are retail conventions, not a standard. Brands cut differently, and the same number is cut larger by some brands than by others. Use the size chart of the brand and its body measurements when you buy.
Used for: Jeans sizes are waist in inches with inseam lengths of 30, 32 and 34 inches.
Used for: The same waist and inside leg convention in the United Kingdom.
Used for: US size 40 is a chest of 40 inches; trouser size 32 is stated for a waist of 32.5 inches.
Used for: Measured waistbands were often larger than the labelled size: one to two inches for men's jeans, up to several inches for women's.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a 32 inch waist in cm?
- 32 inches are 81.28 cm, or 81.3 cm rounded to one decimal.
- What does W34 L32 mean?
- A waist of 34 inches and an inseam of 32 inches: 86.4 cm and 81.3 cm.
- Why are my jeans bigger than the size on the label?
- Labels are size names. In a 2022 test of seven brands, most waistbands measured larger than the label, by one to two inches for men’s jeans.
- Is inside leg the same as inseam?
- Yes. Inside leg is the British name for the inseam: the length from the crotch down the inside of the leg.
Last updated: September 28, 2026