Leggings Size Chart
| US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 6 | 34 |
| S | 8 | 36 |
| M | 10-12 | 38-40 |
| L | 14-16 | 42-44 |
| XL | 18-20 | 46-48 |
Sizing conventions vary by brand and cut. See how this chart is compiled.
Leggings sizing depends more on fabric stretch percentage than on any other garment category on this site
Because leggings rely almost entirely on stretch fabric to fit a range of bodies at one labelled size, the actual fabric's elastane content changes what a given size chart number really means far more dramatically here than for a woven garment — a high-elastane four-way-stretch legging tolerates a size range generously, while a lower-stretch cotton-blend legging behaves closer to a fitted woven garment's precision requirements.
Waist rise height changes which body measurement actually determines fit
A high-rise legging's waistband sits at or above the natural waist and its size is driven primarily by waist circumference, while a low-rise or mid-rise legging sits lower and is driven more by hip circumference — converting a legging size accurately means knowing which rise height a specific style uses, since the same body can need a different size in a high-rise style than in a low-rise style from the identical brand.
Compression-level leggings size deliberately tighter than casual leggings at the same nominal size
A graduated-compression or medical-grade compression legging is engineered to fit noticeably snugger than a casual everyday legging at an identical converted size, since compression is the entire functional point of that specific product category — converting a casual legging size directly into a compression-specific product without checking that category's own chart typically produces a garment that's too loose to deliver its intended compression.
Length categories (full-length, capri, cropped, ankle) interact with height more than with the core size number
A legging's length category is scaled to an assumed height the same way trouser inseam is, so a correctly converted circumference size can still run notably long or short in the leg for someone taller or shorter than that brand's fit-model height — checking a specific brand's inseam figure for its stated length category catches this before ordering.
Seamless leggings behave more like a single stretched garment than a tailored one
A fully seamless legging, knitted in one continuous piece rather than sewn from cut panels, distributes stretch more evenly across the body than a paneled legging does, generally making seamless styles slightly more forgiving of a borderline size call than heavily paneled, structured leggings with less overall give.
Maternity leggings follow the same current-measurement logic as other maternity garments
A dedicated maternity legging uses a full or demi belly-panel system sized to current bump measurements rather than pre-pregnancy size, following the same logic covered on the maternity chart elsewhere on this site, rather than the standard pre-pregnancy-size approach used for regular maternity clothing generally.
Faux-leather and coated leggings have far less stretch than standard knit leggings
A faux-leather or PU-coated legging generally has considerably less stretch recovery than a standard jersey or spandex-blend legging, since the coating itself restricts the base fabric's give, meaning sizing true-to-converted-measurement (rather than assuming the usual legging stretch tolerance applies) matters more for this specific material than for a standard knit legging.
Kids' leggings track the general kids'-clothing age/height ambiguity
Children's leggings are generally sized against the same age/height convention covered on the kids'-clothing chart rather than a separate leggings-specific scale, so the same advice about checking a brand's actual height figures over its age label applies here as much as for any other children's garment category.
Fleece-lined leggings run differently in fit than unlined leggings of the identical printed size
A fleece-lined winter legging has an inner layer that takes up real space and reduces the base fabric's ability to stretch as freely, so it can feel snugger at the same converted size than an unlined summer-weight legging from the same brand — checking whether a specific listing is lined, not just the printed size, avoids a surprise once the item arrives.
Pattern and print leggings occasionally shift size perception without changing the actual fit
A bold or busy print can visually distort how a legging appears to fit in a product photo compared with a solid-color pair of the identical size and fabric, purely as an optical effect of the pattern rather than a real difference in the garment's dimensions — judging fit from the stated size and fabric content is more reliable than judging from how snug or loose a printed pair looks in marketing photography.
Running and athletic-specific leggings sometimes add compression zones that shift the fit locally
A running-specific legging can include targeted compression paneling around the calf or thigh for muscle support, distinct from the overall garment's general stretch, meaning the same converted size can feel appropriately snug through the body while feeling notably more compressive at these specific targeted zones — this is a deliberate design feature rather than a sizing inconsistency.
Plus-size legging lines rebuild proportions rather than scaling a standard pattern
As with plus-size swimwear covered elsewhere on this site, a dedicated plus-size legging line generally rebuilds its waist-to-hip-to-thigh ratio assumptions specifically for that size range rather than uniformly scaling up a standard-size pattern, so checking that line's own dedicated chart avoids the common mismatch of a uniformly-scaled pattern that doesn't reflect real body proportions at that range.
Legging waistband style (fold-over, wide elastic, drawstring) adds its own small forgiveness factor
A fold-over or wide elastic waistband has genuine adjustable range built in, similar in spirit to a drawstring, letting the wearer fold or roll the waist to fine-tune rise and snugness after the size itself has been chosen — this small design detail makes an otherwise borderline size call meaningfully more forgiving than a legging with a fixed, non-adjustable waistband.
Yoga-specific leggings prioritize squat-proof opacity over maximum compression
A yoga-specific legging is generally engineered for squat-proof opacity and deep range of motion in floor poses rather than maximum muscle compression, which can mean a slightly different stretch-to-recovery balance than a running-specific legging at the same converted size, worth checking against that activity's own specific chart rather than assuming general athletic-legging sizing transfers directly.
Frequently asked questions
Does fabric stretch percentage matter more for leggings than other clothing?
Yes, and it's worth checking the fibre content line specifically rather than trusting the marketing description alone — a legging listed with meaningful spandex or elastane content behaves close to the high-stretch end regardless of what the product name implies, while a cotton-majority pair marketed as 'leggings' can behave much closer to a fitted woven garment despite the name.
Can I convert my casual legging size into a compression-legging size?
Not reliably, and it's worth checking one more detail beyond just the size chart — many compression legging brands also rate compression level in mmHg (millimetres of mercury, the same unit used for medical compression garments), so two leggings in the identical labelled size but different mmHg ratings can fit and feel meaningfully different even within the compression category, not just compared with a casual legging.
Do faux-leather leggings stretch as much as standard jersey leggings?
No, and the coating itself is worth checking specifically — a thinner, more flexible PU coating retains noticeably more give than a thicker, glossier faux-leather finish, so two pairs both marketed as 'faux-leather' at the identical printed size can differ meaningfully in how forgiving they actually are.
Should I use age or height to size kids' leggings?
Height, and specifically the inseam figure where a brand publishes one separately from the general age/height chart — leggings are worn snug against the leg, so a child who is tall for their age but has proportionally shorter legs can still end up with the correct waist and a legging that bunches noticeably at the ankle.
Do fleece-lined leggings fit the same as unlined leggings at the identical size?
Not always, and the fleece's own weight (measured in grams per square metre on some brands' tags) is the more useful figure to compare than 'lined' versus 'unlined' alone — a light brushed-fleece lining changes the fit far less than a heavy thermal-fleece lining does, even though both would be labelled the same way.
Can a bold print make a legging look like it fits differently in photos?
Yes, and the effect runs the other way too on some fabrics — a bold horizontal or geometric print is sometimes printed on a slightly heavier base fabric than the brand's plain solid-colour version to stop the pattern show through at the seams, which can make a printed pair feel marginally less stretchy than the identical size in the plain colourway.
Why do my running leggings feel tighter around the calf than elsewhere?
Beyond the compression paneling itself, check whether the specific pair uses a bonded seam down the calf — a bonded seam sits flatter and grips more evenly than a sewn seam at the identical compression rating, so two leggings claiming the same calf compression level can feel noticeably different purely because of how that seam is finished.
Do plus-size leggings just scale up a standard pattern?
No, and one specific place this shows up is the waistband height — a dedicated plus-size line commonly raises the waistband itself, not just the circumference, since a proportionally taller rise sits more comfortably on a fuller midsection than a standard-height waistband scaled up in width alone would.
Do yoga leggings size the same as running leggings from the same brand?
Not always, and the opacity-testing method used by some yoga brands is worth knowing about specifically: a handful of retailers publish a 'squat test' pass/fail rating alongside the size chart, which is a fabric-thickness spec that a running-legging chart from the same brand generally doesn't bother including at all.
Does a legging's rise height (high-waist versus low-rise) change whether waist or hip actually determines the fit?
Yes, and it's worth checking a specific style's own listed rise before ordering — a legging marketed simply as "high-waist" by one brand can still sit a full size chart's worth lower than another brand's "high-waist" line, so the label alone is a rougher guide to which measurement drives fit than checking that brand's own stated rise height in inches or centimetres.
Does a specific branded fabric name (rather than a generic material description) tell me anything reliable about stretch?
Not on its own — a proprietary fabric brand name is a marketing label, not a standardized stretch specification, so two different companies' 'signature' fabrics can behave very differently at the same percentage-stretch claim; checking a specific brand's own fit notes or reviews is more useful than trusting a fabric's branded name alone.