Leggings Inseam Lengths: 7/8 vs Full vs Biker, Settled
“Is 7/8 shorter than full length?” is one of the quietly constant questions in activewear — from customers and from founders speccing their first line. Here is the chart, and the merchandising logic.
Quick answer: Standard inseams for a size M: full length ~71 cm (28″) reaching the ankle, 7/8 length ~63–66 cm (25–26″) ending above the ankle bone, capri ~48–53 cm mid-calf, and biker shorts ~13–25 cm. “7/8” describes the proportion of the leg covered, not a size. A launch line rarely needs more than two lengths: 7/8 (the modern default) plus biker for summer.
The chart
| Length | Inseam (size M) | Where it ends |
|---|---|---|
| Full length | ~71 cm / 28″ | At the ankle |
| 7/8 length | ~63–66 cm / 25–26″ | Above the ankle bone |
| Capri | ~48–53 cm / 19–21″ | Mid-calf |
| Biker short | ~13–25 cm / 5–10″ | Mid-thigh |
Why 7/8 became the default
Three practical reasons: it flatters (showing the ankle lengthens the leg line), it travels across heights (on shorter customers a 7/8 wears as a clean full length instead of bunching), and it photographs better with trainers. Most premium lines now cut their hero legging as a 7/8 and offer full length as the second option rather than the first.
Height changes the story
Inseam labels assume an average-height fit model; on a 155 cm customer a 71 cm full length pools at the ankle, and on a 180 cm customer a 7/8 becomes a capri. The honest fixes are stating garment inseam in cm on the size chart (not just “7/8”), and — once volume justifies it — offering the hero style in two inseams. Length grading between sizes is small (±1–1.5 cm per size); the full logic is in sizing & grading.
Length is a knitting decision in seamless
On circular machines, garment length is programmed courses — so cutting a 7/8 from a full-length block is a program change, not a new pattern. That makes multi-length testing cheap at sample stage: knit the same style at two lengths, fit both, keep the winner. Hem finish matters more than usual at 7/8 (the hem sits in sight); clean knit-in hems beat bulky coverstitched ones there.
What a launch actually needs
Two lengths cover most lines at launch: 7/8 as the hero, biker for summer and sets. Add full length when your size data shows demand at the taller end; add capri only if your audience skews to it — it is the weakest seller of the four in most markets. Each added length is a full size-curve of inventory, the same maths as colorways.
How Yesseam handles lengths
Stock styles list garment inseam per size on every product page, and custom programs can sample one style at two lengths in the same 7–10 day round — the cheapest fit experiment in the catalog.
FAQ
Is 7/8 length shorter than full length?
Yes — by roughly 5–8 cm at the same size. A 7/8 ends above the ankle bone; a full length reaches it. The name refers to covering seven-eighths of the leg, not to sizing.
What inseam should biker shorts be?
The market clusters in three bands: 13 cm (5″) fashion-short, 20 cm (8″) the current default, and 25 cm (10″) modest/training cut. 8″ is the safest single choice for a first drop.
Should petite customers size down for length?
No — sizing down changes width everywhere, not just length. The right answers are a stated garment inseam on the chart so they can choose, or a dedicated shorter-inseam option on hero styles.
Do different lengths need different MOQs?
In seamless, length variants of the same style are knitting-program changes, so they are usually treated as one style for development — though each length still needs its own inventory commitment per colour.
Developing this product?
Yesseam is a vertically integrated seamless activewear factory in Xiamen — in-house circular knitting, dyeing partners, sewing and QC, with stock programs from 50 pcs plain or 100 pcs with your logo, and custom development from 500 pcs. Send your idea or tech pack and get options and honest numbers within 24 hours.
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