How to Find Your Size in Baggy Jeans (Without Getting It Completely Wrong)

By Ella Blake, Tellar Stylist

Finding your size in baggy jeans is not the same as finding your size in skinny jeans — and if you treat it that way, you'll either end up looking like you've borrowed your dad's trousers or squeezing into a pair that defeats the entire point of the style. The honest answer is this: for baggy jeans, you size by your hip and waist measurements first, then adjust for fit preference — not by your usual denim size.

Why Baggy Jeans Sizing Is a Different Beast Entirely

I'll be straight with you — I got this wrong the first time I bought baggy jeans. I ordered my usual size 12 in a pair of wide-leg, low-rise baggies from ASOS, thinking they'd look like the editorial shots. They arrived and looked… completely shapeless in all the wrong ways. Too tight across the hips (ironic, given the whole "baggy" premise), but with gaping at the waist. Classic fit fail.

The thing is, baggy jeans are cut with extra room through the thigh and leg, but they still need to fit at the hip and waist. That's the anchor point. Get the hip measurement right, and the rest of the silhouette will fall into place as intended.

Step One: Measure Your Hips and Waist

Before you even look at a size chart, grab a tape measure. Stand naturally (don't suck it in — the jeans won't know you're doing that) and take two measurements:

Hips: measure around the fullest part of your bottom, usually about 20cm below your natural waist.
Waist: measure around your natural waist — or, for low-rise baggy styles, measure at the point where the waistband will actually sit (often at the hip bone).

These two numbers are your starting point. Don't guess, and don't go by what you "usually" are — sizing varies wildly across brands.

Step Two: Understand How Each Cut Affects Sizing

Not all baggy jeans are equal. There are a few distinct cuts, and each one behaves differently:

Barrel-leg jeans — wider through the thigh and tapered at the ankle. These tend to run slightly more generous; many people size down one.
Straight baggy jeans — consistently wide from hip to hem. Size as per your hip measurement.
90s-style low-rise baggies — sit at the hip rather than the waist. Measure at the hip bone for the waistband fit.
Carpenter/utility baggies — often have a more structured cut; sizing tends to run true to measurements.

Knowing which cut you're shopping makes a big difference before you even open a size guide.

High Street: Where to Shop and What Size to Pick

Here's the honest breakdown of how major high street brands cut their baggy jeans — and this is based on trying a fair few of them:

Levi's — their baggy styles (the 94 Baggy and 568 Stay Loose) are sized in inches by waist and length. Measure your actual waist or low hip depending on rise. Run fairly true to measurement, though the 94 can come up slightly small in the waist — size up if you're between sizes.
ASOS — enormous range of baggy styles and brands. Use the measurement tool on each product listing as cuts vary by brand. Their own-label baggy jeans tend to run generous.
Mango — their straight-leg baggies are a cult favourite. They run slightly small; go one size up if you're curvier through the hip.
Zara — notoriously inconsistent sizing, but their baggy jeans tend to be generous. Check the specific product's measurements rather than relying on your usual Zara size.
H&M — good value entry point, sizes run slightly large. Check the waist measurement specifically as waistbands can be wide.
Urban Outfitters — stock a brilliant range of baggy and skater-cut styles. Sizing is US-based; their jeans run slightly small, especially across the hip.
Topshop (via ASOS) — their Editor straight and baggy fits are well-cut. Tend to run true to size.
Abercrombie & Fitch — worth knowing they've become one of the best high street brands for fit. Their baggy and '90s Ultra High Rise styles are excellent. Use their measurement guide — they provide actual garment measurements which is really helpful.
Calvin Klein — clean, straight baggy cuts. Run true to size but are cut slim through the waist relative to hip; if you have a curvy figure, size up.

Premium and Designer Baggy Jeans: Sizing Differences

Once you move into premium denim, things get more nuanced. Premium brands often use raw denim or selvedge, which can shrink slightly — worth factoring in.

Citizens of Humanity — one of the best for fit. Their Horseshoe and Ayla baggy styles are generously cut. Size as per your hip measurement; they typically have good stretch.
Paige — their Carly and Jessie styles are baggy without being overwhelming. Paige runs true to size; for their non-stretch styles, size up half a size if between measurements.
Agolde — a firm favourite at Tellar. Their 90s Pinch Waist is a sell-out for good reason. These run small; most people go up one full size. Measure your hip and cross-reference with their detailed size chart.

Two Independent Brands Worth Knowing

I always try to flag a couple of brilliant smaller brands alongside the big names, and for baggy jeans these two are genuinely great:

Nudie Jeans (nudie-jeans.com) — Swedish denim brand with brilliant sustainable credentials and excellent fit guides. Their Gritty Jackson baggy style is superb. Sizing runs true; use their online tape measure guide for precision.
Boyish Jeans (boyishjeans.com) — LA-based sustainable brand with incredibly flattering baggy cuts for petite and regular frames. Their size guide is detailed and accurate; measure hip and waist before ordering.

The Golden Rules of Buying Baggy Jeans Online

Always check the actual garment measurements, not just the size label — a "size 12" in baggy jeans across different brands can vary by up to 5cm at the hip.
For low-rise baggies, measure where the waistband sits on your body, not at your natural waist.
If you're between sizes, size up — it's far easier to add a belt than to wrestle with a waistband that's too snug.
Check the inseam length — baggy jeans often come in one standard length and are intended to be worn with a slight break or even cropped, but if you're tall, this can be an issue.
Read reviews specifically for fit mentions — phrases like "runs small through the hip" or "generous in the waist" are gold dust.

What If You're Between Sizes?

For baggy jeans specifically: size up. The whole aesthetic relies on a relaxed fit — a pair that's slightly too generous will look intentional; a pair that's slightly too small will look like a fit error. You can always add a belt, tuck in the waistband slightly, or style with a fitted top to balance the proportions.

Also worth knowing: non-stretch baggy denim will ease slightly after a few wears, so if something feels just a touch snug on the first wear but fits your measurements, it's likely to settle.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

If you're tired of the size lottery every time you shop for jeans (or honestly, anything), Tellar.co.uk is the tool you need. It's the UK's leading free sizing platform — enter your measurements once and get your exact size across 1,500+ brands instantly, with no downloading, no subscriptions and no faff.

Measure once — bust, waist, hip or existing brand size
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — Levi's, Citizens of Humanity, ASOS, Mango, Zara and hundreds more
Always free — works in-browser, no account needed

Plus, the Tellar Fashion Hub is stacked with free posts from our in-house stylists — honest, unbiased and independent. From fabric guides to trend edits, it's style advice you can actually trust.

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