Quick answer: To measure your hips, stand with your feet together and wrap a tape measure around the fullest part of your bottom, keeping it level all the way round. Hold it snug but not tight and read where it meets the zero end. For reference, UK size 12 charts typically list a hip of about 98 to 102 cm.
The hip measurement is the one that decides whether skirts, trousers and fitted dresses close comfortably, yet it is also the one people most often take in the wrong place. This guide shows exactly where the tape goes, how to check it on your own, and how to read the result against UK size charts. It is part of our body and clothing measurement guides.
Where exactly should you measure your hips?
Measure round the widest part of your bottom, which is usually lower than people expect. It is not the hip bones you can feel at your sides, and it is not where the waistband of low-rise jeans sits.
The European clothing size standard, BS EN 13402-1, defines hip girth as the horizontal girth measured round the buttocks at the level of maximum circumference. In plain terms: the biggest horizontal loop you can make round your lower body. UK retailers describe it the same way. Hobbs asks customers to measure round the fullest part of the hips with their legs together, and ASOS gives a rough guide of about 20 cm down from the natural waistline.
That 20 cm figure is only a starting point, because body shapes vary. The fullest point on some people sits close to the top of the thighs. The only reliable way to find it is to slide the tape up and down and watch the number.
What do you need?
- A flexible tape measure marked in centimetres and inches. A metal DIY tape cannot follow the curve of the body. If you are unsure how to read the scale, see how to read a tape measure.
- Thin, close-fitting clothing or underwear only. Jeans with seams and back pockets add bulk and inflate the reading.
- A full-length mirror, so you can check the tape is level at the back.
- A piece of string, if you do not have a soft tape. Mark it and measure the string against a ruler afterwards.
How do you measure your hips step by step?
- Stand straight with your feet together. Standing with your feet apart spreads the hips and changes the reading. Keep your weight even and your muscles relaxed.
- Wrap the tape round your lower body, starting at one side, and bring the zero end round to meet the rest of the tape at the front.
- Find the widest point. Slide the tape slowly up and down over your bottom. The number rises and then falls again; stop where it is largest.
- Check it is level. Turn side-on to the mirror. The tape should be horizontal all the way round, not dipping at the back or riding up at the front.
- Pull it snug, not tight. The tape should lie flat against you without pressing in. If you can slide a finger under it with a little resistance, it is about right.
- Read and record the number where the tape meets the zero end. Take it again and use the larger reading if they differ.
If someone can help, ask them to check the back of the tape while you stand still. Twisting round to look yourself tends to tilt the tape.
What is the difference between high hip and full hip?
The full hip is the widest part of the bottom; the high hip is a smaller measurement taken higher up, near the top of the hip bones. Shop size charts use the full hip. The high hip mainly appears in home dressmaking, where some patterns use it to fit the area just below the waist.
If you are sewing, follow the pattern company’s own instructions, because each one says where it expects the tape to sit. Pattern size charts also differ from high street sizes, so a pattern labelled 12 will not necessarily match a shop’s size 12.
What hip size is a UK size 12?
A UK size 12 hip is about 98.5 cm on the ASOS chart and 102 cm on the Hobbs chart. The gap of several centimetres between two well-known retailers shows why you should always compare your measurement with the chart of the shop you are buying from.
| UK size | ASOS hips (cm) | ASOS hips (in) | Hobbs hip (cm) | Hobbs hip (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 86 | 33.9 | 88.5 | 34.8 |
| 8 | 88.5 | 34.8 | 91 | 35.8 |
| 10 | 93.5 | 36.8 | 96 | 37.8 |
| 12 | 98.5 | 38.8 | 102 | 40.2 |
| 14 | 103.5 | 40.7 | 108.5 | 42.7 |
| 16 | 108.5 | 42.7 | 114 | 44.9 |
| 18 | 116 | 45.7 | 120 | 47.2 |
Centimetre figures are as published in each retailer’s size guide (ASOS dresses; Hobbs women’s body measurements). Inch figures are converted at 2.54 cm per inch and rounded to one decimal place.
How do you choose a size from your hip measurement?
For skirts and trousers, size by your hips; for dresses, compare all three of bust, waist and hips and go with the largest. A garment can be taken in at the waist, but there is rarely enough fabric to let it out across the seat.
If your hip falls between two sizes, look at the fabric. Stretch fabrics and elasticated waists are forgiving, so the smaller size often works. Woven, non-stretch fabrics such as cotton twill or linen usually need the larger size. Pair the hip with an accurate waist measurement and, for dresses and tops, your bust size. For trousers, length matters as much as width: see our guide to measuring inside leg.
Do men measure hips the same way?
Yes: the method is identical, round the widest part of the seat with feet together. Men’s trousers are normally sold by waist size, so the hip figure matters mostly for tailored trousers, swimwear and made-to-measure clothing, where a tailor or retailer will ask for it.
Is the hip measurement used for health checks?
Not in current UK guidance, which uses your waist and height instead. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises adults to keep their waist measurement to less than half their height. Waist-to-hip ratio is sometimes used in research, but it is not the measure NICE recommends for checking your own risk. If you are worried about your weight or health, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Measuring at the hip bones. This gives a figure several centimetres too small and can lead to trousers that will not close over the seat.
- Letting the tape drop at the back. A tape that slopes down behind you measures a longer, diagonal loop. Check it in a mirror.
- Standing with feet apart. This flattens and widens the hips. Keep your feet together.
- Pulling the tape tight. It is tempting to round down, but a squeezed measurement leads to clothes that pull across the seat.
- Using one chart for every shop. As the table shows, the same UK size can differ by 5 cm or more in the hip between retailers.
Need your measurement in the other unit? Our cm to inches converter handles it instantly. Hip size also feeds into underwear sizing.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you measure your hips for clothes?
Round the widest part of your bottom, with your feet together and the tape level all the way round. It is lower than the hip bones you can feel at your sides.
How many inches are hips for a UK size 10?
It depends on the retailer. ASOS lists a size 10 hip of 93.5 cm (about 36.8 in) and Hobbs lists 96 cm (about 37.8 in).
Should I measure my hips over clothes?
Measure over underwear or thin, close-fitting clothes only. Jeans and thick trousers add bulk and make the reading too large.
What if my hips and waist are different sizes?
Choose skirts and trousers by your hip measurement, then have the waist taken in if needed. For dresses, go with whichever of bust, waist or hips is the largest size.
Can I measure my hips without a tape measure?
Yes. Wrap a piece of string round the widest part of your hips, mark or pinch where it meets, then lay it flat and measure it with a ruler or metal tape.
Sources
- BSI: BS EN 13402-1 Size designation of clothes: definition of hip girth.
- ASOS women’s dresses size guide: hip measurements and measuring instructions.
- Hobbs size guide: women’s body measurements by UK size.
- NICE: keep your waist to less than half your height: UK guidance on waist-to-height ratio.