This might look like a lot of reading but I promise you it's worth it!

So the first thing you need to know is that all measurements are taken in inches. The only two measurements that really matter with jeans are the waist and the length. These are more accurate than going by size and the likelihood is that you’ll be much happier with your jeans. There are a few more measurements you can take to really optimize your fit (I've put them in at the end of the article), but you can survive without those.

So how do you take the measurements? 

So to start you’ll need a measuring tape (you might call it a tape measure) or anything else that's flexible and can take measurements. If you don't have this then skip to the paragraph titled ‘I don't have a measuring tape?’. The next thing you need to do is stand up straight, find your natural waistline, and wrap it around your waist, then simply write down the number you get. 

How to measure length?

With trousers, length means inside leg (sometimes called inseam), to measure this it's best to wear just your underwear or if not, then tightly fitting clothes so the measurement aren’t affected by the clothes, then get your flexible measuring tape and place one end of it at the top of your inner thigh, near your groin. Ensure that the tape is positioned right where your leg meets your body. Then gently press the other end of the measuring tape against the inside of your leg and extend it down to your ankle or the desired length of the pants. Make sure the tape follows the natural curve of your inner leg without pulling too tightly. After that you’re done, it's not a bad idea to measure yourself a couple of times to make sure you got it right.

I don't have a measuring tape?

Obviously this makes it slightly harder to measure yourself, but not impossible! There's a couple of ways to improvise, the easiest way is this: Find a piece of string, ribbon, or any flexible material that you can wrap around your body. After wrapping it around the area you want to measure (read above for waist or length), mark where the ends meet with a pen or marker. Then, lay the string flat against a ruler, yardstick, or any straight object with markings to measure the length. If you don't have a way of measuring the string then you can use a standard object, a piece of paper is 11.7 inches for example, or even google how big your phone is and use that.

What are some other measurements I might want?

Hip: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and buttocks. This measurement is important for determining how well the jeans will fit around your hips and seat.

Thigh: Measure around the fullest part of your thigh. This measurement is useful for determining if the jeans will have enough room in the thigh area.

Rise: The rise is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of the front waistband. There are typically three types of rises: low rise, mid rise, and high rise. Knowing the rise measurement can help you find jeans that sit at your desired height on your waist.

Knee: Measure around the knee area while standing. This measurement can help determine if the jeans will be comfortable and provide enough room around the knees.

Leg Opening: Measure around the bottom of the leg opening. This measurement can help you determine how wide or narrow the opening of the jeans will be, which can affect how the jeans fit over your shoes.