This guide covers men’s sizing. For women’s, see Where tall women actually buy clothes.
Off the rack, the usual problems are the same: sleeves that stop short of the wrist, shirts that untuck when you reach, and pants that hit the ankle. Here’s where to look, and how to tell whether something will fit before it arrives.
Pants and jeans with long inseams
Most mainstream brands stop at a 34 or 36-inch inseam, and the longest sizes are often out of stock. These brands list 36-inch inseams or longer as standard:
| Brand | Long inseams offered |
|---|---|
| American Tall | 36, 38, 40 in |
| 2Tall | 36, 38, 40 in |
| Todd Shelton | 35–38 in, longer on request |
| Wrangler | 36, 38 in |
| Ariat | 36, 38 in |
| Cinch | 36, 38 in |
| The Perfect Jean | 36, 38 in |
| Dearborn Denim | 36 in |
Source: Todd Shelton’s roundup of jeans for tall men. Availability varies by style and wash.
Brands like Levi’s, L.L.Bean, Lee, 34 Heritage and Bonobos offer 36-inch inseams on some styles, but often only in certain waist sizes or not reliably in stock (Todd Shelton). Specialist tall brands are the safer bet. Some, like American Tall, adjust the whole pattern, including the rise and leg, instead of just adding length at the hem.
Three things to know before you order jeans
- Cuffs eat length. A single short cuff uses about an inch of inseam, and a double cuff two to three (Todd Shelton). If you like a cuff, size up.
- Raw denim shrinks noticeably after its first wash. All-cotton denim keeps its measurements more predictably than stretch denim.
- New jeans can measure long if they were heavily pressed at the factory. Judge the length after a wear, not out of the bag.
Shirts and tops: read the chart, not the label
“Tall” sizing usually means more body length and longer sleeves for the same chest size, but every brand does it differently. Before you buy:
- Measure a shirt you like. Lay it flat and measure from the top of the shoulder seam to the hem, and from the shoulder seam to the cuff.
- Compare against the brand’s size chart, using those two numbers, not just S, M or L.
- Check the sleeve with your arm bent. Cuffs should still reach your wrist when you reach forward.
- Body length matters most for tucked shirts. If a shirt untucks when you sit down, it’s too short.
Where it’s easiest
Specialist tall brands are mostly online, so you can’t try before you buy. Pick ones with easy returns, order two lengths of the same item the first time, and keep the one that fits. After that, reordering is simple.
MadeTall isn’t paid by any brand mentioned here. Inseam options change often, so check each brand’s current size chart.