How to read a size chart for men's underwear step by step
Short answer: A size chart for men's underwear compares your measurements with the sizes. Measure your waist and hips, find both numbers in the chart and choose the size that covers them. If you fall between two, choose by cut and fit.
What a size chart actually tells you
A size chart shows which body measurements each size is made for, typically waist and hips. It does not tell you how the underwear feels, but it is your best starting point. Read it as a guide, not as a guarantee, because cut and fabric also affect the fit.
Start by finding your own measurements
Before you look at the chart, you need your numbers. Use a soft tape measure and measure around the waist where the underwear should sit and around the hips at the widest point. With the two numbers at hand you can quickly find the size that suits bamboo underpants for men.
Find the numbers in the chart columns
Look down the columns of the chart and find the row where your waist measurement falls. Then do the same with your hip measurement. If both fall in the same size, you have your answer. If they differ, it suggests your body has slightly different proportions than the chart assumes.
When waist and hips point to different sizes
If the waist points to one size and the hips to another, normally choose the larger of the two for cuts with legs. The waistband can often give a little, but legs and hips cannot be stretched out. For a cut with loose legs the hip number matters less, and the waist can decide.
Between two sizes
If your numbers fall right between two sizes, think about the cut. A loose cut can handle the smaller one, while a close cut is often better in the larger one. Also read the description, where fabric and cut can hint at how much it gives.
The chart only applies to the specific cut
Every chart belongs to one cut, and the same size can fit differently from cut to cut. Always use the chart for the pair you choose. If you also look at bamboo inner shorts, use their own chart, because cut and fit are different.
Use the same approach for other clothes
The same approach works for other garments: measure yourself, find the chart for the garment and choose by both numbers. For tops such as bamboo long sleeve T-shirt for men, chest and sleeve length count, not the waist number from your underwear.
Use what you learn next time
Once you have found a size that fits right, write it down together with the cut you chose. That makes it easy to recognise what suits you next time. If it does not fit quite right, you can use that to adjust the size and choose better next time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a size chart for underwear?
Measure your waist and hips, find both numbers in the columns of the chart and choose the size that covers them. If you fall between two sizes, decide by cut and fit.
Which size do I choose if my waist and hips differ?
Normally choose the larger of the two for cuts with legs, because hips cannot be stretched out. For loose cuts the waist may be the deciding number.
Does the chart apply to all underwear?
No, the chart belongs to the specific cut. Always use the chart for the pair you choose, and check the fit when it arrives.
