By That Girl Whitney Team
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If you’re tall and plus size, you know the feeling. You finally find jeans that fit your hips and waist, then look down and see your ankles. A “regular” inseam on most plus size jeans lands somewhere around 30 or 31 inches, which turns full-length jeans into accidental capris on a tall frame.
Shopping gets harder because most stores treat “tall” and “plus” as separate customers. The tall section stops at smaller sizes, and the plus section stops at regular lengths. You end up stuck in the gap between them, scrolling through product pages that never mention inseam at all.
The fix starts with knowing your numbers. Once you know your inseam and rise, you can filter out the pairs that will never work and focus on the brands that make true tall lengths in extended sizes. This guide shows you how to measure and how to shop without wasting money on returns. The same steps work for shoppers in the U.S. and Canada.
Measuring Your Inseam and Rise
Your inseam is the distance from your crotch to the bottom of your ankle. The easiest way to measure it is with a pair of pants you already love. Lay them flat, then measure along the inside seam from the crotch point to the hem. Write that number down.
Most tall women need an inseam of 33 inches or longer for full-length jeans, though your own number is the one that counts. If you wear boots or heels often, add half an inch to an inch so the hem doesn’t ride up when you add height.
Rise matters just as much as length on a tall plus size body. Rise is the distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband. Tall women often have a longer torso, so a “high rise” on a regular pair can hit lower than you expect. Measure the rise on your favorite pants too. When a product page lists a rise measurement, compare it to yours before you buy.
Reading Product Pages Like a Pro
Many brands hide length details, so you’ll need to dig. On each product page, look for these details:
- a listed inseam measurement for your size, not a single number for the whole size range
- a “tall” or “long” length option in the size selector
- a rise measurement in inches, not only a label like “high rise”
- reviews from shoppers who mention their height
Reviews are your secret weapon. Search the review section for words like “tall” or “inseam,” or search your height. A reviewer who’s 5’11” and wears your size gives you more useful information than any size chart.
Pay attention to stretch, too. Jeans with a small percentage of elastane (often listed as spandex) give you movement through the thigh and seat. Jeans with a high stretch percentage can sag by the end of the day, which makes them look shorter on you as they lose shape.
Brands to Check First
Some plus size retailers offer tall inseams on many of their jeans. Lane Bryant and Torrid both list tall or long length options on a large share of their denim, though availability changes by style and season. Always check the size selector on the specific pair you want.
Amazon is worth searching too, as long as you filter carefully. Search for “tall plus size jeans” along with your inseam number, then read the product details for listed lengths. Several Amazon sellers offer long inseams that department stores skip. Lee is a good brand to start with, since several of its plus size styles come in a “Plus Long” length. The Lee Legendary Mid Rise Bootcut lists a 34-inch inseam in Plus Long, and the Lee Relaxed Fit Straight Leg also comes in long lengths. If you shop from Canada, run the same search on Amazon.ca, since stock and sellers differ between the two sites.
Don’t overlook wide-leg and flare styles. These cuts often run longer by design, and a little extra length looks intentional. A wide-leg jean that grazes the floor in flats can still work with a low heel. The Lee Legendary High Rise Trouser Jean and the Lee Legendary Mid Rise Flare both come in Plus Long with a 34-inch inseam.
Keep a simple note on your phone with the brands and sizes that work for you. That list will save you hours the next time you shop.
Making Almost-Right Jeans Work
Sometimes you’ll find a pair that fits everywhere but comes up a little short. You still have options before you send them back.
Check the hem first. Some jeans have a deep hem allowance that a tailor can let down to add an inch or more. A tailor can tell you in a few seconds whether there’s enough fabric to work with.
Change the style instead of the jeans. A cropped look is a choice when you pair it with the right shoes. Ankle boots or loafers make a shorter hem look planned. A cuffed hem does the same thing for straight-leg styles.
Choose your shoes with length in mind. Flats and sneakers make your jeans fall longer, while heels pull the hem up. If a pair is just barely long enough, save it for flat-shoe days.
Shopping Smarter From Here
Finding tall plus size jeans takes more homework than it should, but the homework pays off. Once you know your inseam and rise, product pages become easier to read and reviews tell you what size charts won’t. You’ll spend less time on returns and more time wearing jeans that reach your ankles.
Save this guide and your measurements in one place so the next search goes faster. For more tall-friendly picks beyond denim, read our tall plus size clothing guide.
Shop Whitney’s favorite plus size finds on her Amazon storefront. Follow @thatgirlwhitney on Instagram for more plus size outfit ideas.