What size swim shorts?
A straight answer.
Most size charts ask for your waist. For swim shorts, that's the least useful measurement you can give them — and it's why so many people order the wrong size.
Updated 26 July 2026 · 4 min read
Why waist size misleads you
Swim shorts have an elastic waistband with a drawstring. A pair labelled for a 30–33" waist will comfortably stretch to 36" or more. The waistband is not the thing that limits fit — it's the most forgiving part of the garment.
So when a chart tells you "Small = 30–33 inches," it's answering a question that barely matters. What actually determines whether swim shorts look and feel right is the length of the leg and the room through the seat and thigh — and those track your overall build far better than your waist measurement does.
A real example. A man 177 cm tall with a 31" waist is a Small by the waist chart. He is not a Small. The waistband fits fine, but the shorts sit too short and too lean through the seat. He needs a Medium — and the chart never would have told him that.
Use height instead
Height is a better single predictor because it correlates with leg length and overall frame, which is what the size is really scaling. Start here:
Men
| Height | Size |
|---|---|
| Up to 170 cm (5'7") | Small |
| 170–180 cm (5'7"–5'11") | Medium |
| 180–188 cm (5'11"–6'2") | Large |
| 188–195 cm (6'2"–6'5") | X-Large |
| 195 cm and above | XX-Large |
Then check your waist as a constraint, not a starting point. If your waist sits near the top of your height's range — say you're 168 cm with a 38" waist — size up. Waist should only ever push you to a larger size, never a smaller one, because the elastic handles slim builds on its own.
Boys and youth
Children's sizing is already height-based, which is why it works better. Go by the child's height rather than their age — a tall eight-year-old and a small ten-year-old often need the same size.
| Height | Size |
|---|---|
| Up to 102 cm | 2/3 years |
| 102–113 cm | 3/4 – 4/5 years |
| 113–124 cm | 5/6 – 6/7 years |
| 124–132 cm | 7/8 years |
| 132–146 cm | 9/10 years |
| 146–156 cm | 11/12 years |
| 156 cm and above | 13/14 years |
Above about 156 cm, a teenager will usually be better off in men's Small than the largest youth size.
Skip the tables
Enter a height and get the size. Takes five seconds, and it applies the waist rule for you.
Try the size finderHow to tell if they actually fit
Once they're on, four checks:
- The drawstring should do something. If you have to pull it tight to keep them up, they're too big. If you can't loosen them, too small.
- Length should land above the knee. Mid-thigh to just above the kneecap. Below the knee reads baggy and drags in water.
- You should be able to sit down comfortably. If the seat pulls when you sit, size up.
- The liner should sit flat. A bunching mesh liner is the clearest sign the shorts are too small.
When in doubt, size up
This is the single most useful rule, and it's worth stating plainly. Swim shorts that are slightly loose look intentional. Swim shorts that are slightly tight look like a mistake — and they're uncomfortable wet, when the fabric clings.
If you're between two sizes, or you prefer a relaxed fit, take the larger one. The drawstring exists precisely so a slightly larger pair still works.
Buying for someone else
You almost certainly don't know their waist measurement, but you probably know roughly how tall they are — which is another reason height-based sizing is more practical. Use the tables above, round up if you're unsure, and check the returns policy before you buy.
A note on measurements in charts
Size charts, including ours, list garment measurements taken flat and unstretched. They describe the item, not the person who fits it. Two brands can print identical numbers and fit completely differently depending on cut. Treat any chart as a starting point, then use the fit checks above.
Still unsure? Email icecross@theicecross.com with a height and we'll tell you which size to order. It's faster than a return for both of us.