How to Know Your Spanx Size

Co-authored by Andrea Beaulieu and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: October 15, 2025 References

Nothing boosts your confidence like fantastic shapewear under a great outfit. Whether you're wearing an elegant dress, form-fitting leggings, or a shapely bodysuit, Spanx has got you covered! All you need is a sewing tape measure and a few minutes to find shapewear that hugs you in all the right places.

1

Measure your waist and hips to find your leggings and panties size.

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Wrap a measuring tape around the narrowest part of your waist. Don't pull or tighten the tape, or you'll get an inaccurate measurement. Write down your waist measurement and find where it falls in the Spanx sizing. Then, wrap the tape around the widest part of your hips.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Andrea Beaulieu
Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer

Expert Interview} Here are just a few of their leggings and panties sizes:^{[2]
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- Small: 27 to 30 ¹⁄₂ in (69 to 77 cm) waist and {{convert|35|to|37+1/2|in|cm|abbr=on} hips
- Medium: 31 to 33 in (79 to 84 cm) waist and 38 to 40 ¹⁄₂ in (97 to 103 cm) hips
- Large: 33 ¹⁄₂ to 35 ¹⁄₂ in (85 to 90 cm) waist and 41 to 43 in (100 to 110 cm) hips
- Extra-large: 36 to 39 in (91 to 99 cm) waist and 43 ¹⁄₂ to 45 ¹⁄₂ in (110 to 116 cm) hips

2

Find your height and weight if you're buying hosiery.

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Spanx sizes their hosiery with letters A through G. To learn your size, find the letter that covers your height and weight. This way, the hosiery won't feel like it's too short, which can pull on your torso.^{[3]
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- For example, if you're between 5 and 6 ft (1.5 and 1.8 m) tall and you weigh between 165 and 220 pounds (75 and 100 kg), you'd be a size G according to the Spanx hosiery chart.

3

Take your bust measurements to learn your bra size.

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Wear a lightly-lined bra that fits you well and wrap the tape around your chest. Bring the tape around your back and under your armpits so it meets high on your chest. Write down this measurement—it's your band size. Then, wrap the band around the widest part of your bust. Subtract this measurement and use the difference to find your cup size.^{[4]
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- If your band size is an odd number, just round up to the nearest even number. For instance, if you measure 37 inches (94 cm), your band size is a 38.
- For example, if your band size measures 36 inches (91 cm) and your bust size measures 40 inches (100 cm), your Spanx bra size is a 36D.

4

Find your waist and bust sizes if you're buying a top.

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Wrap a measuring tape around the narrowest part of your waist. Then, measure around the widest part of your chest to get your bust measurement. You can use both of these measurements to find the closest fit. If you're in between two sizes, go for the larger size so the top is sure to fit.^{[5]
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- You don't usually need your hip measurement for most Spanx tops since they're loose around the waist.

5

Use your standard size if you can't take measurements.

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You can use your usual size for some products like tops, panties, and leggings. If you're in a hurry, you might not have time to pull out a measuring tape and find your exact measurements. Don't worry! Several Spanx products have standard sizing that you can use if you don't know things like your waist or bust size.
- For example, you can buy a Spanx top in small if you usually wear a small, or get large leggings if you usually wear a size large in pants.

6

Check the size chart for each Spanx product.

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If you're shopping online, click "Find Your Size" on a product page. This takes you right to the specific measurements for that item.^{[6]
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Andrea Beaulieu
Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer

Expert Interview} Sometimes, a product listing will also tell you how reviewers say it fits.^{[7]
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- You may see a sliding scale that says, "runs small," "true to size, and, "runs large." If you see that a product usually runs large, you may want to consider getting a smaller size.^{[8]
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  Andrea Beaulieu
  Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer
  
  Expert Interview}

7

Go for seamless Spanx if you're in between sizes.

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Search the Power Series Collection for the most flexibility. Spanx recommends that you use seamless shapewear if your measurements fall between 2 different sizes. Once you find a product, like a bodysuit, use your larger measurement to pick the size.^{[9]
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- For instance, if you have a size medium waist measurements, but size large hip measurements, choose a large size for the shapewear.

8

Adjust the compression level for a tighter fit.

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Don't automatically reach for a smaller size if you want snug Spanx. Level 1 compression gives a slight fit while Level 2 offers a little more shaping. For the tightest fit, try Level 3 compression which sculpts. This means that it can help lift your breasts or slim your tummy, for instance.
- If you're shopping online, use the search filters to select which level of compression you want.

9

Choose the next size up if you see bulges.

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If you see skin bulging to the sides, or the Spanx ride up or down, you need to go up a size. You'll probably find that a slightly bigger size feels more comfortable, and the fit is better.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I buy Spanx products online?

Andrea Beaulieu
Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer
Andrea Beaulieu is a Professional Tailor, Fashion Designer, and the Owner of MOORE, a Brooklyn, New York based storefront and apparel workshop for gender-neutral, contemporary streetwear as well as custom-tailored products. Andrea has over 20 years in the fashion design and marketing industries and specializes in pattern making, draping, and the construction of garments. She holds a BS in Fashion Design and Merchandising from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Andrea Beaulieu

Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer

Expert Answer

Check the size chart for the product. Read reviews of the product to see if anyone commented on the sizing. Then choose and buy a product accordingly.

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Question

How do you measure the length of a dress?

Andrea Beaulieu
Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer
Andrea Beaulieu is a Professional Tailor, Fashion Designer, and the Owner of MOORE, a Brooklyn, New York based storefront and apparel workshop for gender-neutral, contemporary streetwear as well as custom-tailored products. Andrea has over 20 years in the fashion design and marketing industries and specializes in pattern making, draping, and the construction of garments. She holds a BS in Fashion Design and Merchandising from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Andrea Beaulieu

Professional Tailor & Fashion Designer

Expert Answer

Usually, you should measure from the shoulder seam to the hem to determine the overall length of dresses.

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If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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