Getting your pants hemmed to the right length makes a significant difference in how an outfit looks and feels. Whether you are shortening dress trousers, jeans, or casual pants, taking accurate measurements at home before sending them in for alterations helps ensure a precise, professional result.
Why the Right Pant Length Matters
Pants that are too long bunch at the ankle and create a sloppy silhouette. Pants that are too short can look unintentional and cut off the line of the leg. The goal is a length that works with your shoes, your body proportions, and the style of the pant.
What You Will Need
- A soft measuring tape
- A full-length mirror
- The shoes you plan to wear with the pants
- A helper (recommended for accuracy)
How to Find Your Inseam Measurement
The inseam is the distance from the crotch seam to the bottom of the leg. Here is how to measure it:
- Put on the shoes you plan to wear with the pants.
- Stand straight with your feet about hip-width apart.
- Have a helper place the tape at the top of your inner thigh, at the crotch seam.
- Run the tape straight down the inside of your leg to the point where you want the hem to fall.
- Note that measurement in inches.
If you are measuring alone, you can put on the pants, fold the excess fabric up to your desired length, and measure from the crotch seam to the fold.
Understanding Trouser Break
The "break" refers to how the fabric rests against the top of your shoe. There are three common options:
- No break — The hem falls just above the shoe. Clean and modern, works well for slim or tapered trousers.
- Slight break — The hem touches the top of the shoe with a small fold. The most versatile and classic choice.
- Full break — The hem rests on the shoe with a deeper fold. Traditional and formal, often seen on wider-leg trousers.
When in doubt, a slight break flatters most body types and pant styles.
Tips Before Sending Your Pants In
- Always measure while wearing the shoes you will pair with the pants — heel height changes the ideal length.
- If you are hemming multiple pairs, measure and label each one separately.
- Check whether your pants have a cuff. Cuffed hems require extra fabric and a different finishing technique.
- Jeans with factory-distressed hems may benefit from a technique that preserves the original hem. Mention this when you book.
Professional Pant Hemming at Terry Suber Sewing Alterations
Once you have your measurement, the alteration is straightforward for an experienced tailor. At Terry Suber Sewing Alterations, pants are hemmed by hand or machine depending on the fabric and finish required, with attention to maintaining the original design of the garment.
Mail-in alterations are available nationwide. Order your hemming service below, or call to schedule a phone consultation before mailing your garment.