How to measure briefs
Every point, drawn on the garment so there is no guessing where the tape goes.
Quick answer
Lay the briefs flat and measure three points in fit order: waist, rise and width. The waistband is taken across one relaxed layer and doubles to the body waist, the reading most listings get wrong by pulling the elastic. Rise and gusset width are single runs you record as-is. Hover or tap each step on the diagram.
A buyer picking briefs reads the waist first, because the band is the one thing that has to fit before anything else feels right. Rise then sets coverage and where the leg openings land. Most guides quote waist alone and leave you guessing. This page draws all three points on the garment, so the cut is as clear as the band size.
- A
Waist
Across the top of the relaxed waistband, edge to edge on one flat layer. Tap this step for the exact line. The band decides whether briefs stay put without pinching, so it leads every fit.Double it for the full waist circumference.
- B
Rise
A vertical run from the front waistband down to the crotch seam, following the center of the garment. The diagram shows the path. Rise sets the coverage and where the leg openings fall on the body.Recorded as-is. Do not double.
- C
Width
Across the gusset at its widest point, taken flat. Tap the step to see the exact span. Gusset width drives comfort through the middle and is the spot a snug brief gives away first.Recorded as-is across one layer. Do not double.
Measure flat and never stretched, the one rule that decides whether a brief reads true, since a stretched knit band can add three or four inches that are not really there. Let the elastic settle before you read it. Of these three, only the waist is an across measurement that doubles to a body circumference. Rise and width are linear runs you record exactly as the tape shows, no doubling.
Briefs size reference
| Size | Waist | Rise | Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 13.5 | 9.5 | 3 |
| M | 15 | 10 | 3.25 |
| L | 16.5 | 10.5 | 3.5 |
| XL | 18 | 11 | 3.75 |
| 2XL | 19.5 | 11.5 | 4 |
Frequently asked
Do I double the waist measurement on briefs?
Yes, the waist only. It is taken flat across one relaxed layer, so the body waist is about double the flat number, putting a 15 inch flat waistband near a 30 inch waist. Rise and gusset width are single runs you never double. The flat waist is the figure a buyer can verify against a pair they already own.
What size briefs am I from a waist measurement?
Measure your own waist where the band rests, then match it to the body waist on the chart rather than the flat number. Briefs track close to pants waist sizing, so a 30 inch waist usually lands at a medium, with knit stretch and brand cut shifting it a size either way. For a cross-brand US, UK and EU view, see our men's international size chart.
What is rise on briefs and why does it matter?
Rise is the vertical distance from the front waistband down to the crotch seam. It controls how high the briefs sit and how much coverage you get, separating a low-rise hipster cut from a full-rise classic brief. Two pairs with the same waist can feel very different if their rise differs, which is why it earns its own line.
How do I measure briefs with a stretchy elastic waistband?
Lay them flat and let the band fully relax, reading it at rest with no tension. A pulled band overstates the size by several inches. For resale, record the relaxed flat waist and note the fabric stretches, since the buyer needs the resting measurement rather than the maximum the elastic can stretch to.
Should I list brief measurements in inches or centimeters?
Either is fine as long as you label it and keep the listing consistent. Sellers shipping internationally do best showing both units, because one buyer reads inches and another reads centimeters. Sizely puts both on every chart so no buyer has to convert the waist or rise in their head.
Related size charts & tools
Men's international size chart
Women's international size chartSources: Sizely garment engine, spec #12 (Briefs), three named measurement points. ASTM D6240 men's body-measurement tables (representative ranges only). Last verified June 2026.
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