Waist and inseam are the two numbers buyers look for first, so put them at the top of your size chart and give the waist both relaxed and stretched. Then add hip, thigh and rise, which explain how the joggers actually fit, and split your first order towards M and L unless your own sales say otherwise.
Elastic waistbands make bottoms easier to size than tailored trousers, because one size covers a range of waists. They also make size charts easier to get wrong, because a single waist number does not tell the buyer much. This post explains what to measure, how shorts differ, and how to plan size ratios for our joggers, sweatpants, shorts and tracksuit bottoms in S to 3XL.
The core of a joggers size chart
Here is the layout we suggest. The first three columns are what most buyers check; the rest explain the fit.
| Joggers size chart | Waist | Inseam | Waist stretched | Hip | Thigh | Front rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | ||||||
| M | ||||||
| L | ||||||
| XL | ||||||
| 2XL | ||||||
| 3XL |
We leave the values blank here on purpose. Fill the chart from the measurements of your approved sample, which we send you. Generic charts copied from elsewhere do not match the garment your buyers receive.
How to measure each point
All points are measured with the garment flat.
- Waist relaxed: across the top of the waistband, unstretched. Double it for the full measurement if you show it that way.
- Waist stretched: across, with the waistband fully stretched. Tells buyers the largest waist it will go over.
- Inseam: from the crotch seam down the inside leg to the hem or cuff edge.
- Hip: across, at the widest point below the waistband.
- Thigh: across the leg, just below the crotch.
- Front rise: from the top of the waistband to the crotch seam at the front.
- Leg opening: across the cuff or hem.
State in your chart whether you show flat or full measurements. Mixing the two is one of the most common size-chart errors.
Waist: why one number is not enough
An elastic waist with a drawcord fits a span of waist sizes. If your chart only shows the relaxed waist, buyers with a larger waist may think the joggers will not fit; if it only shows the stretched waist, buyers may expect them to sit loose. Showing both, or a range, solves this.
Rise also matters. Two joggers with the same waist can sit very differently if one has a higher rise. Write a plain line in your listing, such as “sits at the natural waist”, so buyers can picture it.
Inseam and leg shape
Inseam is where joggers and sweatpants differ most.
- Joggers have a cuff, so the inseam is measured to the cuff edge. A little extra length gathers above the cuff, which is part of the look.
- Sweatpants have an open hem. Streetwear buyers often want them long enough to stack at the ankle, so a longer inseam can suit them.
- Tracksuit bottoms in polyester knit usually sit cleaner and slimmer than fleece joggers in the same size.
One inseam per size is standard. If you sell to buyers with a wide range of heights, mention the model’s height and size in your photos so buyers can compare.
Shorts sizing
Shorts use the same waist measurements, but the leg length is the design choice. Measure the inseam on shorts too, and add the outseam (waistband to hem down the side) if your buyers care about where the hem sits on the thigh. Say in words where the shorts fall on the model, such as “above the knee”. The leg length is confirmed on your sample.
Size ratios for a first order
Our minimum is 100 pieces per style, with sizes mixed across S to 3XL. A starting split many brands use is weighted to the middle sizes:
| Size | Joggers (100 pieces) | Shorts (100 pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 15 | 15 |
| M | 25 | 25 |
| L | 25 | 25 |
| XL | 20 | 20 |
| 2XL | 10 | 10 |
| 3XL | 5 | 5 |
This is only a starting point. If you already sell hoodies or T-shirts, use your own sales by size, and remember that bottoms do not always follow the same curve as tops. For tracksuit sets, the top and bottoms each have their own 100 pieces; keep the splits close, but you do not have to make them identical.
If you split a style across colours, keep the same ratio in each colour so you do not end up short in a popular size of one colour.
Checking sizing on the sample
When your sample arrives, measure it against the chart you agreed and try it on someone at your sample size. If you can, also try it on someone at your smallest and largest size. Check that the waist stays up without the drawcord pulled tight, the rise is comfortable when sitting, and the inseam falls where you expect. Our post on French terry, fleece and polyester knit explains how the fabric affects drape and fit.
If you sell on a marketplace, confirm its size-chart format with the marketplace and build your chart from our measurements. The full style list and size ranges are on our white label joggers page.
Send us your styles and the size split you have in mind, and we will quote it and send the sample measurements once you approve the sample.