A leggings size chart for brands should list waist, hip, inside leg and rise, measured from your approved sample, with a note that the fabric stretches. Split the first order of each style with most pieces in S, M and L and fewer in XS, XL, 2XL and 3XL, then let your own sales reshape the next order.
Leggings are harder to size than tops. They are cut smaller than the body and rely on stretch to fit, so the flat measurement of the garment is not the same as the body measurement of the person who wears it. A good chart explains that difference clearly, and a good size split reflects who actually buys.
The measurements that matter
We make leggings and yoga pants in adult sizes XS to 3XL: full-length, 7/8, high-waist, flared yoga pants and biker shorts. For all of them, five measurements carry most of the fit.
| Measurement | How to take it (garment flat) | What it tells the buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Across the top of the waistband, relaxed, then doubled | Whether the band will sit comfortably |
| Hip | Across the widest point, relaxed, then doubled | Fit through the seat |
| Front rise | From crotch seam to top of the waistband at front | How high the waist sits |
| Inside leg | From crotch seam to hem along the inner leg | Where the leggings end on the leg |
| Hem width | Across the hem, relaxed | Important on flared yoga pants |
For biker shorts, inside leg tells customers where the shorts sit on the thigh. For 7/8 leggings, it tells them whether the hem lands above the ankle or nearer the calf on a taller wearer.
Garment measurement or body measurement
Many brands publish a body-measurement chart (waist and hip of the wearer) because that is what customers know. If you do, build it by trying the sample on people of known measurements, not by guessing from the flat garment. Label clearly which kind of chart it is. A chart that mixes the two causes returns.
Waist fit: the part customers notice first
The waistband is where buyers judge fit and quality. A high-waist band sits above the navel and needs to stay up without rolling during movement. A standard waist sits lower and is more forgiving across sizes.
When you test the sample, check:
- whether the band stays in place through a deep squat and a forward bend;
- whether it digs in when sitting;
- whether it rolls down at the front when the wearer bends;
- how the band feels against the skin after an hour of wear.
Options such as a wide band, a hidden pocket or a plain finish are confirmed at quotation. Each changes how the waist sits, so measure the sample with the band you will actually sell.
Building your chart from the sample
- Ask for the sample in M, the size most of your stock will be.
- Measure it flat on each line above.
- Wash it once according to the care label and measure again.
- Ask us for the graded measurements across XS to 3XL for that style.
- Try the sample on two or three people of different heights to check where the hem lands.
- Write the chart using after-wash figures, rounded to the nearest half centimetre.
Nylon-elastane and polyester-elastane both stretch in every direction and recover, but they feel slightly different on the body. If you sell one style in both fabrics, check each one rather than assuming they fit the same.
Splitting a first order across sizes
The minimum is 100 pieces per style, with sizes mixed within it. A first order needs every size represented, but not equally. A sensible starting shape for 100 pieces:
| Size | Pieces |
|---|---|
| XS | 8 |
| S | 20 |
| M | 26 |
| L | 22 |
| XL | 12 |
| 2XL | 7 |
| 3XL | 5 |
Adjust for your audience:
- Yoga studios can often ask members for sizes in advance, which gives a real split.
- Activewear brands with a younger audience often sell more XS and S.
- Online sellers with a size-inclusive message should hold enough 2XL and 3XL to avoid selling out of them first, which disappoints exactly the customers the message is for.
If you sell more than one colour, keep the same size split per colour at first. After the first sell-through, adjust each colour on its own data.
Keeping sizes consistent
Once customers find their size, they expect it to stay the same. Keep the approved sample and your measurement notes, reorder the same style and fabric, and measure a few pieces per size when stock arrives. If the waistband option or fabric changes, treat it as a new chart.
Our page on minimum order and samples explains how the sample stage works. When you are ready, send us the style, fabric, colours and either a size split or a description of your customers, and see the full range on our white label leggings page. We confirm the size and colour split at quotation and make a sample for you to measure first.