US jeans sizes: the conversion chart for French sizing

How do you read a US jeans size?

W: waist circumference

W is short for waist. The number expresses waist circumference in inches. In theory, W28 measures 28 × 2.54 = 71.1 cm. Many denim brands use this system, including in France.

L: leg length

L is short for length. It indicates inside-leg length from crotch to hem, also in inches. Jeans marked W30 L32 therefore have a 30-inch waist and a 32-inch inside leg, around 81 cm. W and L often appear side by side on the label as W30 L32. At Freeman there is no L option: each style has its own length, given in centimetres on the product page.

Why W does not always match your centimetres

Brands add ease, cut more or less generously, and some round down to flatter (vanity sizing). Our own men's chart shows the result: W30 corresponds to an 84 cm waist. The inch calculation would give 76.2 cm. Remember the rule: W is a reference size, not a measurement accurate to the centimetre. Always compare with the brand's chart. This is even more important for vintage or second-hand jeans, whose fabric may have shrunk through washing. For international sizes in other clothing, such as tops and jackets, each brand also publishes its own chart.

Women's jeans size conversion

Body measurements from the size guide on our product pages. FR means French size; measurements list waist first, then hips.

• W22 = FR 32 (XXS): 60 cm / 86 cm.
• W23 = FR 32/34: 62 cm / 88 cm.
• W24 = FR 34 (XS): 64 cm / 90 cm.
• W25 = FR 34/36: 66 cm / 92 cm.
• W26 = FR 36 (S): 68 cm / 94 cm.
• W27 = FR 36/38: 70 cm / 96 cm.
• W28 = FR 38 (M): 72 cm / 98 cm.
• W29 = FR 38/40: 74 cm / 100 cm.
• W30 = FR 40 (L): 76 cm / 102 cm.
• W31 = FR 40/42: 78 cm / 104 cm.
• W32 = FR 42 (XL): 80 cm / 106 cm.
• W33 = FR 42/44: 82 cm / 108 cm.

Our women's jeans come in sizes 24 to 34 (34 corresponds to French 44). Find them in our women's jeans collection.

How do you find your US size?

Nothing replaces trying clothes on, but when shopping online a tape measure and two minutes are enough to find your jeans size.

1. Measure your waist where you wear your jeans waistband, keeping the tape flat without pulling tight.
2. Measure your hips around the widest part of your hips and bottom.
3. Check both measurements against the chart. If they fall into different sizes, choose the larger for a fitted cut.
4. Measure the inside leg of well-fitting jeans, laid flat, from crotch seam to hem. Compare it with the length under “View dimensions” on our product pages.
5. Read the fit note: “true to size” means your usual size; “runs large” means one size down.

Between two US sizes, consider the cut and fabric. High-rise slim jeans sit close to the body: the right size matters more than on wide-leg jeans. Stretch denim with elastane is forgiving of a slightly tight fit. Rigid pure cotton loosens slightly with wear but does not get bigger: take the size up. Our jeans sizing guide explains measuring, and our jeans cut guide explains how the cut changes the feel of the same size.

US jeans sizing FAQ

What French size is W32 L32?

W32 corresponds to French 42 for women and men in our charts. L32 means an inside leg of around 81 cm.

What US size is French 42?

French 42 corresponds to W32, for both our women's and men's jeans.

What is W34?

W34 corresponds to French 44. For men, that is XL (92 cm waist in our chart).

What does W36 correspond to?

W36 corresponds to French 46, or men's XXL (96 cm waist). At Freeman, size 36 is available in men's jeans, not women's, which stop at 34.

Are US sizes the same for men and women?

The principle is the same (waist in inches), but the associated body measurements differ. In our charts, women's 30 means a 76 cm waist, men's 30 an 84 cm waist. A man and woman who both wear 30 therefore do not have the same waist measurement.