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How to measure compression stockings to find your size?

Posted by in Compression Stockings Tips on March 22, 2019 . 0 Comments.

 

When looking to buy compression stockings online; shopping for color, style, fabric or even compression level is relatively easy and straightforward. However, when it comes to size, it is not so obvious to know how to measure your compression stockings and to find out your size as accurately as it should be.

Also, sizing compression socks made by Sigvaris may differ significantly from the way Mediven, Jobst, Bauerfeind or Doctor Brace pre-size their measured and ready to wear compression stockings, for women or men.

To help you to find your compression stockings size more easily, We prepared for you a detailed step by step sizing guide, with tips and tutorial videos. You can follow our measuring tips based on your compression socks style: knee high, thigh high or pantyhose (tights).

 

 

How to measure compression stockings to find your size?

 

 

What you should know before sizing your compression stockings:

 

Measured versus custom made compression socks:

Measured compression socks are already pre-sized and ready to wear compression hosiery. They are prefabricated and made to fit within a standard sizing chart. For this type of compression stockings, every brand has its own set of sizing charts and sizes symbols. Per example, Sigvaris measured stockings are sized differently from Mediven or Jobst.

On the other hand, custom made compression stockings are made-to-measure garments. Patient’s measurements are taken by a certified professional. Once done, they are forwarded directly to the manufacturer, where compression socks are made specifically for this patient.

This how to measure compression socks blog is intended to help user to find her or his size for measured compression stockings and not for custom made ones.

In all cases, for best results, it is recommended to have your size taken by a certified professional to avoid any sizing errors.

 

What is the best time to take my measurements?

The best time to size compression stockings is early in the morning, once you get up from bed. This would allow to take the right measurements before the legs are swollen.

 

Does the level of compression affect my compression stockings size?

The compression level does not affect in any way the way how you should measure your compression stockings. Actually, for the same brand, your size remains the same, whether it's a 15-20 mmHg,  20-30 mmHg, 30-40 mmHg or 40-50 mmHg.

 

Are compression socks for men measured differently from women's stockings?

Not at all! Compression socks for men are measured exactly the same way as compression stockings for women. You can follow the same measuring tips.

 

 

How to prepare yourself before measuring your compression stockings or socks:

Immediately, before measuring your compression stockings, whether it is a knee high, thigh high or pantyhose; be sure to apply the following tips:

  1. Use a soft measuring tape (sewing tailor ruler).
  2. Be sure to measure compression socks size directly on a bare skin, without any clothes. This would allow you to get more accurate measurements.
  3. Take off your shoes, stay barefoot. This would allow you to measure your leg length more accurately.
  4. Keep your feet completely flat on the floor.

 

 

Measuring Knee high socks:

 

To measure your knee high compression socks size, take the following measurements:

  1. Measure the ankle circumference just above the ankle bone at the narrowest point.
  2. Measure the circumference of your calf at the widest point.
  3. Measure your leg length from floor up to knee joint. Stop at the knee bend from the rear.
  4. Use the above measurements to know your compression stockings size in the manufacturer’s sizing chart.

 

How to size compression socks knee high - step by step guide

 

Reminder: each brand has its own sizing chart and sizing symbols. To size a Sigvaris, Mediven, Bauerfeind, Jobst or Doctor Brace compression socks; you need to restart the same measuring process above, step by step.

 

Watch also our tutorial video, to get more help about sizing your knee high stockings:

 

 

Example:

As an example, if you are looking to size a Women Compression Stockings Knee High 20-30 Doctor Brace CircuTrend, and your measurements are: 9 inches for ankle, 14 inches for calf and below knee bend leg length is 16 inches; then your size is large. For Mediven, Bauerfeind, Jobst or Sigvaris socks you can follow exactly the same process to measure your compression stockings in knee high.

 

 

Sizing thigh high stockings:

 

You are looking to find a thigh high compression stockings size? If the answer is yes, then you need to follow our tips below:

  1. Take your ankle measurement where the ankle is narrow.
  2. Take your calf circumference where the calf is the widest.
  3. Measure your thigh circumference at the widest point.
  4. Measure the length from the floor up to the buttock line.
  5. To size your compression stockings, use these measurements as input in the sizing chart of the product and brand you are looking to buy.

 

How to size compression stockings thigh high - guide

 

This tutorial video below shows in details how to measure your thigh high compression stockings:

 

 

Example:

For illustrative purpose, let's assume that you are looking to measure a Compression Stockings Women Thigh-High 30-40 Doctor Brace CircuTrend. If your measurements are: 10.5 inches at ankle, 14.7 inches at calf, 26.8 inches at thigh, and your leg length is about 33.7 inches; then your size for this product is an XL. Be aware that your size is function of each manufacturer's sizing chart. In some cases, your sizing may differ slightly among different models, even if both are Mediven or Sigvaris Stockings. 

 

 

Measuring pantyhose or maternity stockings:

 

To measure a compression stockings size for pantyhose style (tights) or maternity compression stockings, take the following measurements:

  1. Ankle circumference above ankle bone, at the narrowest position.
  2. Calf circumference at the widest position.
  3. Thigh circumference at the widest position.
  4. The length going from the floor to the top of you thigh, just under the buttock.
  5. Your hip circumference
  6. Then, find your pantyhose compression size in the sizing chart of the manufacturer, like Sigvaris, Mediven or Jobst, for the product you are looking at.

 

How to find compression stockings size - Pantyhose

 

See also this tutorial video for more details:

 

 

Example:

To help you in sizing a pantyhose compression stockings, let's assume that you are looking to the following product: Pantyhose Compression Stockings 20-30 Doctor Brace CircuTrend. If your ankle cirumference is 7.8 inches, your calf is 13.5 inches, your thigh is 19.1 inches, your leg length is 36.2 inches and your hip circumference is below 42 inches (and below 33.5 inches of waist); then you are a size Medium.

 

 

Popular manufacturers sizing charts links:

 

  • Sigvaris compression stockings: to know your sigvaris socks size, click on Sigvaris product to see specific sizing chart here.
  • Medi compression stockings: to find your mediven stockings size, see the product sizing chart by following this link.
  • Bauerfeind Venotrain stockings: to measure your Bauerfeind compression stockings size, follow the product list link here.
  • For Jobst compression socks size chart, follow this link.
Last update: September 24, 2020

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