Gap bottoms run large. Generous fit in the hips and thighs. Gap denim tends to run larger than most European brands.
Bottoms notes
Get a personal size recommendation for Gap bottoms, accounts for the brand's cut tendency and your saved measurements.
GENERAL BRAND GUIDANCE
This is a general brand-level sizing summary, not an exact product recommendation. For your specific size, paste a product link into the fit checker.
Gap bottoms run large. Generous fit in the hips and thighs. Gap denim tends to run larger than most European brands.
Best starting point
Gap denim runs generous in the seat and thigh compared to European brands.
Cut note
Size down if you prefer a closer fit.
Examples
Think jeans, trousers, skirts, and shorts. Denim pieces get called out below.
Default to sizing down in Gap bottoms if you want a clean line rather than oversized. Gap denim runs generous in the seat and thigh compared to European brands.
Choose the slimmer feel
Go down one size for a neater line, especially when this category already leans toward closer-fitting cuts.
Choose the roomier feel
Stay at your usual size if you want extra ease or like the look of closer-fitting cuts.
Variability and caveats
Cut
Structured pieces often cancel out some of the extra room, so they can feel closer than the brand’s usual direction.
Fabric stretch
Rigid fabrics can reduce extra ease, so the fit may feel more exact than usual.
Styling
Different collections or sub-lines can use different fit blocks, so styling changes may matter as much as the label size.
Gap bottoms cut note: Gap denim runs generous in the seat and thigh compared to European brands. Size down if you prefer a closer fit.
Gap pioneered 'vanity sizing' in US retail, progressively increasing actual garment measurements while keeping the labelled size the same. A Gap Medium in 2026 is approximately equivalent to a Large from a European brand. This gives customers psychological comfort but creates confusion when cross-shopping.
Compare measurements side-by-side using the label rows below.
Fit notes below call out cut and measurement differences that matter most on smaller screens.
| Size | Waist | Hips | EU | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
XS | 26–27" | 36–37" | 32-34 | 4-6 |
S | 28–29" | 38–39" | 36 | 8 |
M | 30–32" | 40–42" | 38-40 | 10-12 |
L | 33–35" | 43–45" | 42 | 14 |
XL | 36–38" | 46–48" | 44 | 16 |
Measurements are shown in inches where numeric values are available.
Chart footnotes
Gap bottoms usually run large.
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