What rise measures
Lay a pair of jeans flat and measure from the crotch seam, where the four seams meet, up to the top of the waistband. That is the rise. A longer rise means the waistband sits higher on the body. A shorter rise means it sits lower, closer to the hips.
Jeans have two rises. The front rise runs up the fly. The back rise runs up the seat seam, and it is longer than the front rise because it has to cover the seat. Size charts usually list the front rise.
Low, mid and high, side by side
These drawings use the same straight leg and change only the rise. The dashed line marks roughly where a navel sits on an average body.
Low rise
Sits on the hips, well below the navel.
Mid rise
Sits a little below the navel.
High rise
Sits at or above the navel.
Low rise
Low-rise jeans sit on the hips, well below the navel. The waistband is cut wider, because it sits at a wider part of the body. Low rises can be comfortable for people with a short torso, since they leave space between the waistband and the ribs. The tradeoff is coverage: when you sit or bend, the back of the waistband can pull down, so many people wear a longer top with them.
Mid rise
Mid rise sits a little below the navel. It is the most common rise and the easiest to wear with tucked and untucked tops. If you are unsure which rise suits you, a mid rise is a sensible place to start.
High rise
High-rise jeans sit at or above the navel. They hold the waist firmly and give full coverage when you sit. Because the waistband sits at the narrowest part of many people's torsos, the waist measurement matters more on high-rise jeans. A pair that fits the hips can gape at the back of the waist, and a pair that fits the waist can feel tight across the hips. Jeans cut with a curved or contoured waistband can help with that gap.
How to tell which rise will feel right
- Measure a pair you like. The front rise of a favorite pair is the best guide. Compare it to the front rise listed on the size chart.
- Think about how you sit. If you sit for most of the day, a rise that is too short tends to dig in at the front and slip at the back.
- Consider your torso. A long torso often suits a longer rise, and a short torso often suits a shorter one, though comfort is personal.
- Check the size. Rise grows with size. A size 36 waist usually has a longer rise than a size 28 in the same style, so compare numbers within the size you will buy.
Rise names are as loose as fit names. One maker's mid rise can match another's high rise. Measure in inches or centimeters and compare the numbers.
Rise and leg shape together
Rise and leg shape are separate choices, though some pairings are common. Wide legs often come with a high rise. Skinny and slim legs come in every rise. Relaxed fits usually have a slightly longer rise to give room in the seat. The fits guide covers leg shapes, and the measuring guide shows how to measure rise on your own jeans.