You measure your hips around the fullest part of your hips and buttocks, not directly on the hip bones.

Quick Scoop

  • Stand up straight with your feet together in front of a mirror.
  • Wear underwear or thin, close‑fitting clothes so fabric doesn’t bulk up the measurement.
  • Find the widest part of your lower body — usually across the fullest part of your buttocks and upper thighs.
  • Wrap a soft measuring tape horizontally around that spot, keeping it level and parallel to the floor (not tilted up or down).
  • The tape should be snug but not tight — it should touch the body without digging into the skin or compressing your shape.
  • Check in the mirror that the tape is straight all the way around, then read and write down the number where the tape meets.

Extra tips

  • If you struggle to find the spot, many guides suggest starting about 6–8 inches below your natural waist and adjusting to the visually widest area.
  • Measure 2–3 times and use the most consistent value for online size charts or sewing patterns.

In short: hips = widest part of hips/butt, tape level to the floor, snug but not tight.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.