How to Measure the Rise in Jeans

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By Cheyenne Cartwright
eHow Contributing Writer

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The "rise" on a pair of jeans is the measurement between the waistline and the crotch. Jean manufacturers make their products in many different styles, which of course have rise measurements that vary widely. Knowing what rise measurement fits you most comfortably will make shopping for jeans a lot easier. Here's how to find out what rise fits you best.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

a pair of jeans that fit you well
a flexible tape measure
paper and pencil

Getting Ready

Step 1

Lay the jeans out flat on a table or bed. Make sure they are lying smoothly on the measuring surface.
Step 2

Using the tape measure, measure the front of the jeans from the bottom of the waistband to the bottom of the crotch seam. This measurement is the front rise. Write the measurement down on the paper.
Step 3

Turn the jeans over, again making sure they are lying smoothly on the table or bed. Measure the back of the jeans in the same way, from the bottom of the waistband to the bottom of the crotch seam. This measurement is the back rise. Write it down on the paper.
Step 4

Put the note with your measurements in your purse or wallet, so you'll have it with you when you go shopping. Be sure to take your tape measure along with you, too, so you can check the rise of different pairs of jeans easily.

Tips & Warnings

Rise measurements on jeans vary by style and by the size of the garment, but generally speaking, the waistband on low-rise jeans hits the wearer between an inch and two inches below her natural waistline. The waistband on regular-rise jeans sits right at the wearer's natural waistline. High-rise jeans are cut for long-waisted women, and, again, the waistband should rest right at the natural waistline. Ideally, you would be able to buy jeans with front and back rise measurements that correspond to your own, but in general, the back rise measurement is less critical to decent fit than the front rise, since you'll spend more time bending forward against the front waistband than backward.
The rise measurement is key to correct fit, but it's not the only measurement that matters. The best fit in jeans is a combination of the right size, the right length, and the right rise. The style of the leg also influences fit.