Pant sizes like 32×30 mean a 32-inch waist and a 30-inch inseam. To convert to centimeters, multiply by 2.54: 32×30 is 81.3 × 76.2 cm. European labels under EN 13402 show your body measurements in whole centimeters, so the same pant reads about 81 / 76.
Enter your waist, inseam and, if you like, hip in inches or centimeters. The converter gives the US-style waist × inseam size and the metric values a European label would show. Every conversion uses the exact inch definition, so nothing is estimated. What can't be standardized is how a given brand cuts its pants.
How to use this pant size converter
- Choose whether your numbers are in inches or centimeters.
- Enter your waist. You can use a body measurement or the waist number from a label that fits you.
- Enter your inseam or inside-leg length.
- Optionally add your hip measurement. It matters most for women's pants and slim fits.
- Read the waist × inseam size in whole inches and the centimeter values rounded to whole numbers, as EN 13402 labels use.
- Check the result against the brand's size chart, then copy the link to keep it.
How it's calculated
- Inches to cm:
cm = inches × 2.54(the international inch is exactly 2.54 cm, per NIST SP 811) - Cm to inches:
inches = cm ÷ 2.54 - US size: waist and inseam each rounded to the nearest whole inch, written waist × inseam
- EN 13402 values: each measurement rounded to the nearest whole centimeter
EN 13402-3, the European standard for clothing size designation, bases sizes on body measurements in centimeters and uses the nearest whole number for the label. For men's lower-body garments such as trousers, it makes the waist girth the primary dimension that defines the size, with the hip as a secondary dimension to tell figure types apart. For women's lower-body garments, its tables pair waist and hip girth.
Worked examples
A US 34×32 in centimeters
Waist 34 × 2.54 = 86.36 cm and inseam 32 × 2.54 = 81.28 cm. On a European label that becomes 86 cm waist, 81 cm leg.
A European 86 / 76 label in inches
86 ÷ 2.54 = 33.86 in and 76 ÷ 2.54 = 29.92 in, so the nearest US size is 34 × 30.
Women's pants by measurement
A 30-inch waist and 40-inch hip are 76.2 cm and 101.6 cm, or 76 and 102 on an EN 13402 label. Look those numbers up in the brand's chart rather than relying on a numeric size.
Common pant sizes in centimeters
| US size (W × L) | Waist | Inseam |
|---|---|---|
| 28 × 30 | 71.1 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 30 × 30 | 76.2 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 30 × 32 | 76.2 cm | 81.3 cm |
| 32 × 30 | 81.3 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 32 × 32 | 81.3 cm | 81.3 cm |
| 33 × 32 | 83.8 cm | 81.3 cm |
| 34 × 30 | 86.4 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 34 × 32 | 86.4 cm | 81.3 cm |
| 36 × 30 | 91.4 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 36 × 32 | 91.4 cm | 81.3 cm |
| 38 × 30 | 96.5 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 38 × 32 | 96.5 cm | 81.3 cm |
| 40 × 30 | 101.6 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 40 × 32 | 101.6 cm | 81.3 cm |
| 42 × 30 | 106.7 cm | 76.2 cm |
| 44 × 30 | 111.8 cm | 76.2 cm |
Waist size chart: inches to cm
| Waist (in) | Waist (cm) | EN 13402 label |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | 66.04 | 66 |
| 27 | 68.58 | 69 |
| 28 | 71.12 | 71 |
| 29 | 73.66 | 74 |
| 30 | 76.2 | 76 |
| 31 | 78.74 | 79 |
| 32 | 81.28 | 81 |
| 33 | 83.82 | 84 |
| 34 | 86.36 | 86 |
| 35 | 88.9 | 89 |
| 36 | 91.44 | 91 |
| 37 | 93.98 | 94 |
| 38 | 96.52 | 97 |
| 39 | 99.06 | 99 |
| 40 | 101.6 | 102 |
| 41 | 104.14 | 104 |
| 42 | 106.68 | 107 |
| 43 | 109.22 | 109 |
| 44 | 111.76 | 112 |
| 45 | 114.3 | 114 |
| 46 | 116.84 | 117 |
Inseam chart: inches to cm
| Inseam (in) | Inseam (cm) |
|---|---|
| 26 | 66.04 |
| 27 | 68.58 |
| 28 | 71.12 |
| 29 | 73.66 |
| 30 | 76.2 |
| 31 | 78.74 |
| 32 | 81.28 |
| 33 | 83.82 |
| 34 | 86.36 |
| 35 | 88.9 |
| 36 | 91.44 |
How to measure for pants
EN 13402-1 defines each body measurement so that everyone takes it the same way:
- Waist girth: around the natural waistline, between the top of the hip bones and the lower ribs, breathing normally and standing straight with your stomach relaxed.
- Hip girth: horizontally around the fullest part of the buttocks.
- Inside leg: from the crotch straight down to the soles of the feet, standing straight with feet slightly apart and weight on both legs.
Use a soft tape measure and don't pull it tight. If you already own pants that fit well, you can also lay them flat and measure the inseam seam from crotch to hem. That gives you a garment inseam, which is what most US labels mean.
Inseam by height: estimate your inside leg
If you have no tape measure handy, your height gives a reasonable first guess at inside-leg length. The US Army's 2012 anthropometric survey (ANSUR II) measured 4,082 men and 1,986 women with an anthropometer. Crotch height, from the floor to the crotch standing barefoot, averaged 84.59 cm for men and 78.23 cm for women. Their average statures were 175.62 cm and 162.85 cm. Both ratios round to 0.48, so inside leg ≈ height × 0.48 works for either sex. The calculator applies it when you fill in the optional height field.
This is an estimate, not a measurement. Leg length relative to height varies from person to person. When we fitted the ratio to the survey's public data, about two-thirds of people fell within roughly an inch of the estimate. The result is also a body length to the floor. The inseam you buy is usually a little shorter and depends on your shoes and whether you want the hem to break on the shoe or clear the ankle.
| Height | Height (cm) | Inside leg (in) | Inside leg (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′0″ | 152 | 28.8 | 73 |
| 5′2″ | 157 | 29.8 | 76 |
| 5′4″ | 163 | 30.7 | 78 |
| 5′6″ | 168 | 31.7 | 80 |
| 5′8″ | 173 | 32.6 | 83 |
| 5′10″ | 178 | 33.6 | 85 |
| 6′0″ | 183 | 34.6 | 88 |
| 6′2″ | 188 | 35.5 | 90 |
| 6′4″ | 193 | 36.5 | 93 |
| 6′6″ | 198 | 37.4 | 95 |
Worked example: at 5′10″, 70 × 0.48 = 33.6 in (85 cm). Treat that as the longest inseam worth trying, then shorten it for the look you want and check it against pants you already own.
How to measure pants laid flat
Measuring a pair that already fits is often more useful than measuring your body, because it captures how you like pants to sit.
- Button and zip the pants and lay them face up on a flat surface. Smooth out wrinkles without stretching the fabric.
- Waist: measure straight across the top of the waistband from one edge to the other, then double it. A 16½-inch flat width is a 33-inch waistband. Choose "Pants laid flat" in the calculator and it doubles the number for you.
- Inseam: measure along the inner leg seam from the crotch seam down to the bottom of the hem.
- Compare these garment numbers with the brand's garment measurements if it publishes them, rather than with its body-measurement chart.
Garment and body numbers differ because each brand adds its own ease, and the label number need not equal the band's real circumference. A flat measurement of pants you like is therefore the most dependable way to repeat a fit when you switch brands.
How your waist compares with US adults
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics measures waist and hip circumference directly in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Its August 2021–August 2023 reference tables give these percentiles for adults aged 20 and over. A value in the 50th-percentile row means half of adults measured smaller. The calculator places your waist, and your hip if you enter one, on the same scale.
| Percentile | Men's waist | Women's waist | Men's hip | Women's hip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 31.2 in (79.3 cm) | 29.1 in (73.8 cm) | 35.2 in (89.5 cm) | 35.3 in (89.7 cm) |
| 10th | 32.9 in (83.5 cm) | 30.3 in (77 cm) | 36.5 in (92.6 cm) | 36.6 in (92.9 cm) |
| 15th | 34.2 in (86.8 cm) | 31.5 in (80 cm) | 37.2 in (94.5 cm) | 37.6 in (95.5 cm) |
| 25th | 36 in (91.4 cm) | 33.4 in (84.9 cm) | 38.5 in (97.7 cm) | 38.8 in (98.6 cm) |
| 50th | 39.7 in (100.9 cm) | 37.7 in (95.7 cm) | 40.8 in (103.6 cm) | 42 in (106.8 cm) |
| 75th | 44.2 in (112.3 cm) | 43 in (109.2 cm) | 43.6 in (110.8 cm) | 46.5 in (118.1 cm) |
| 85th | 47.2 in (119.8 cm) | 46 in (116.9 cm) | 45.6 in (115.8 cm) | 49.6 in (126 cm) |
| 90th | 48.9 in (124.3 cm) | 47.8 in (121.5 cm) | 47.5 in (120.7 cm) | 51.8 in (131.5 cm) |
| 95th | 52.4 in (133.2 cm) | 50.9 in (129.2 cm) | 50.8 in (129.1 cm) | 54.5 in (138.4 cm) |
These are body measurements, and the landmark matters. NHANES examiners place the tape at the uppermost edge of the hip bone (the iliac crest), while EN 13402 defines the waist higher, between the hip bones and the lower ribs. Pants that sit on the hips may match neither. Use the table to put your number in context, not to pick a size.
Why European sizes step in bigger jumps
US men's pants usually come in 1-inch (2.54 cm) waist steps. EN 13402-3 builds size scales from fixed intervals between adjoining body measurements instead. In its men's upper-body table the waist goes up in 4 cm steps, widening to 5 cm in the larger sizes. Each size covers a range of plus or minus half the interval, and the pictogram rounds those ranges down to whole centimeters. So a size built on an 82 cm waist in a 4 cm scale fits roughly 80 to 84 cm, about one and a half US waist sizes. If you fall between two European sizes, the hip dimension and the cut decide which fits better.
Men's vs women's pant sizes
Men's pants are usually sold by two measurements in inches, which makes conversion simple: the waist and the leg. Women's pants in the US and UK are usually sold by a single numeric size (such as 8 or 12) or by letters (S, M, L), and each brand decides what waist and hip each size fits. We did not find a government or standards-body table that fixes US, UK and EU women's size equivalents, so this page doesn't invent one. The reliable way to buy women's pants across countries is to measure your waist and hip, convert them here, and match them against the retailer's own chart.
Average waist size
For context, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics reports an average measured waist circumference of 40.6 in (103.1 cm) for US men and 38.5 in (97.8 cm) for US women aged 20 and over, from 2021–2023 data. These are body measurements taken by examiners, taken at a fixed body landmark, which may not be where your pants sit, so don't expect them to match label sizes.
Common mistakes
- Measuring over clothes or pulling the tape tight. Both give a size that won't match the chart.
- Measuring at the wrong height. If your pants sit below your natural waist, measure where they actually sit as well, and compare both with the brand chart.
- Mixing up inside leg and inseam. Inside leg is a body length to the floor; inseam is the garment's seam.
- Treating a numeric women's size as universal. A US 8 or UK 12 changes between brands.
- Ignoring stretch. Stretch denim and knits fit tighter measurements than rigid fabrics.
Converting a UK weight too? Use the stone to pounds converter. Tracking a waist-size goal? The weight loss by date calculator plans the calories. For other length conversions, the mm to inches converter uses the same 2.54 factor.
Frequently asked questions
What does 32x30 mean in pant sizes?
The first number is the waist and the second is the inseam, both in inches. A 32×30 pant is made for a 81.28 cm waist and has a 76.2 cm inseam.
How do I convert pant size from inches to cm?
Multiply by 2.54, because one inch is exactly 2.54 cm (NIST). A 34-inch waist is 86.36 cm and a 32-inch inseam is 81.28 cm.
What is a 34 waist in cm?
86.36 cm, which rounds to 86 cm on a European label.
What US pant size is an 86 cm waist?
86 cm ÷ 2.54 = 33.86 inches, so look for a 34-inch waist.
What is a 76 cm inside leg in inches?
29.92 inches, or a 30-inch inseam.
How do I measure my pant size?
Measure your waist around the natural waistline between the top of the hip bones and the lower ribs, breathing normally with your stomach relaxed. Measure the inside leg from the crotch straight down to the floor, standing with feet slightly apart. These are the EN 13402-1 definitions.
What is the difference between inseam and inside leg?
Inside leg is a body measurement from crotch to the soles of your feet. Inseam is usually the length of the trouser's inner seam. They are close but not the same, and your preferred inseam depends on shoes and how you like pants to break.
What is the average waist size in the US?
CDC's National Center for Health Statistics measured an average waist circumference of 40.6 inches (103.1 cm) for men and 38.5 inches (97.8 cm) for women aged 20 and over, in 2021–2023 data.
How do women's pant sizes convert between US, UK and EU?
There is no official conversion. Women's numeric sizes (US 8, UK 12, EU 40) are set by each brand, and we could not find a government or standards source that fixes the equivalents. Compare your waist and hip in inches or centimeters with the brand's chart instead.
What inseam should I get for my height?
As a starting point, multiply your height by 0.48. In the US Army's ANSUR II survey, average crotch height was about 48% of standing height for both men and women, so a 5′10″ (70-inch) person has an inside leg of roughly 33.6 inches. Real legs vary by about an inch either way, and the inseam you buy also depends on shoes and how much break you like, so treat it as a first guess and confirm with a tape measure.
How do I measure the waist of pants laid flat?
Button the pants, lay them flat on a table, and measure straight across the top of the waistband from edge to edge. Double it to get the garment's waist circumference. A 16-inch flat measurement is a 32-inch waistband. The calculator's 'Pants laid flat' option doubles it for you.
Is a 36-inch waist big?
Not by US standards. CDC measurements from 2021–2023 put the median man's waist at 39.7 inches and the median woman's at 37.7 inches, so a 36-inch (91.4 cm) body waist is about 25th percentile for men and about 40th for women. Health guidelines use waist size differently, so this is only a size comparison.
What does W32 L30 mean on jeans?
W is the waist and L is the length (inseam), both in inches. W32 L30 is the same size as 32×30: a 32-inch waist and a 30-inch inseam, or about 81 cm and 76 cm.
Why doesn't my body waist match my pant size?
EN 13402 defines the waist between the hip bones and the lower ribs, and the CDC measures at the top of the hip bone, but many pants sit lower still, on the hips. Brands also add or remove ease. Measure where your pants actually sit and compare that number with the brand chart.
Why does my pant size vary between brands?
Each brand grades its own patterns, adds its own ease and may measure the waist at a different height, so a pant labelled 32 need not measure exactly 32 inches around. Use your body measurements and the brand chart, and check the fabric's stretch.
Sources & method
- NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8 — conversion factors (inch = 2.54 cm exactly)
- EN 13402-3:2013 Size designation of clothes — Part 3: Body measurements and intervals (official SIST preview)
- M. G. Kuhn, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory — BodyDim: EN 13402-1 body dimension definitions
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics — FastStats: Body Measurements (2021–2023)
- CDC NCHS — Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023 (Vital Health Stat 3(50), Tables 12 and 14)
- Gordon et al., 2012 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel (ANSUR II): Methods and Summary Statistics, NATICK/TR-15/007 (crotch height, stature)
Results are estimates for general information. Found an error? It helps everyone — see our methodology.