How to Measure Hips: A Simple Guide to Accurate Measurements

Many people get confused about where their hips are located on their body. Your hips are not the same as your waist. They are also not the place where you put your hands when someone says "put your hands on your hips." Knowing the exact spot is very important for correct measurements.

Your hips sit below your waist and include your hip bones and bottom area. Your waist is the smallest part of your middle section, usually above your belly button where your body goes in. Your hips are the widest part of your lower body and are completely different from your waist. The place you need to measure is usually 7 to 10 inches below your waist. This depends on how your body is built. This area is the widest part of your lower body. It includes your bottom and the top part of your legs where they meet your hips.

To find your hips, stand up straight and look for the widest part around your lower body. This is usually where your bottom sticks out the most when you look at yourself from the side. Your hip bones are inside this area, but you measure around all the soft parts too. Remember that every person's body is different. Your hips might be a little higher or lower than other people's hips.

Taking correct hip measurements at home is easy when you know what to do. You need a soft measuring tape and a big mirror so you can see yourself clearly. Here's how to measure hips at home correctly:

1. Take off thick clothes like jeans, heavy sweaters, or jackets. You can keep on thin underwear or light clothes that do not make you look bigger. Thick clothes will make your measurement too big.

2. Stand in front of a big mirror with your feet together. When your feet are apart, your hips look wider than they really are. Stand up straight in a normal way. Do not suck in your stomach or push out your hips.

3. Look in the mirror from the side to find the widest part of your lower body. This is usually around the biggest part of your bottom. You might need to move the tape up or down a little to find the exact widest spot.

4. Put the soft measuring tape around your body at this widest part. Hold one end of the tape on your hip. Bring the other end around your back and to the front. Make sure the tape goes straight around your body without twisting.

5. Look in the mirror to check that the tape is straight all around your body. The tape should be level like a straight line around you. It should not be twisted anywhere. The tape should touch your body but not squeeze too tight.

6. Read the number where the end of the tape meets the rest of the measuring tape. Write down this number right away so you do not forget it. Most people use inches or centimeters.

7. Measure two or three times to make sure you get the same number. If you get different numbers, measure again until the numbers are the same.

Hip shapes are very different from person to person, and each type looks unique. Different hip shapes need different ways to measure and different clothing styles to look their best.

1. A-Line Hip Shape

This hip type has curves that go slowly from the waist down to the hips without sharp corners. The body makes a smooth A-line shape from waist to legs. People with this shape usually have a clear difference between their waist size and hip size. The widest part is usually 7-9 inches below the natural waist.

2. Square Hip Shape

Square hips have a straight line from waist to hips with very little curve. The waist and hip measurements are often almost the same size. This makes a more square body shape. The side of the leg looks almost straight up and down. This shape can happen when people have wider hip bones or a thicker waist area.

3. Round Hip Shape

Round hips are very curvy with a bottom that sticks out. This shape makes an attractive curved look when you see it from the side. You should measure at the biggest part of the curves. This might be lower than other hip types. People with round hips often have a clear difference between their waist and hip sizes.

4. Heart Hip Shape

Heart-shaped hips have a small waist that curves out strongly over the hip bones. Then they curve back in toward the legs. This makes a heart-like shape when you look from behind. You might need to measure higher than other shapes because of how the curves fall. This shape often comes with thinner legs.

5. V-Shaped Hips

V-shaped hips are wider at the top near the waist and get smaller toward the legs. This makes an upside-down triangle or V-shape from behind. People with this shape might have wider hip bones but smaller bottoms and legs. You should measure at the widest point, which is usually higher up near the hip bones.