Fit, measuring and alterations · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read
Knee and midi dress lengths in inches by height
Midi dress length in inches and cm by height, measured from the shoulder and from the waist, with knee lengths too and how to measure your own dress length.
InspirationTypical lengths at a glance
For a woman about 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) tall, a knee-length dress is usually about 36 inches (92 cm) from the top of the shoulder, and a midi that ends at mid-calf about 41 inches (104 cm). Measured from the waist, as for a skirt, knee length is about 22 inches (56 cm) and a mid-calf midi about 27 inches (69 cm).
The shoulder figure starts at the high point of the shoulder, right beside the neck, which is the same place the kameez length starts on our size guide. The waist figure starts at the natural waist. Both are working numbers from average proportions, so use them to check your own measurement, not to replace it.
Lengths by height
The figures below end at the centre of the knee for knee length and at the fullest part of the calf for a classic midi. Each pair gives the length from the shoulder first, then from the waist, rounded to the nearest half inch.
A hem just below the knee adds about 2 inches (5 cm). A lower midi, sometimes called tea length, ends a little above the ankle bone and adds roughly 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) to the mid-calf figure.
- 5 ft 0 in (152 cm): knee about 34 in (86 cm) and 21 in (53 cm); mid-calf about 38 in (97 cm) and 25 in (64 cm).
- 5 ft 3 in (160 cm): knee about 35.5 in (90 cm) and 22 in (56 cm); mid-calf about 40 in (102 cm) and 27 in (68 cm).
- 5 ft 6 in (168 cm): knee about 37.5 in (95 cm) and 23 in (59 cm); mid-calf about 42.5 in (108 cm) and 28 in (71 cm).
- 5 ft 9 in (175 cm): knee about 39 in (99 cm) and 24 in (61 cm); mid-calf about 44 in (112 cm) and 29.5 in (75 cm).
Why your number may differ
Two women of the same height can need lengths a couple of inches apart. A long body and shorter legs move the knee lower on the dress; the opposite moves it higher. A fuller bust uses up length at the front, so a dress measured down the back can ride up at the front hem. If you wear your waist high or low, a skirt measured from that point changes too.
Movement matters as well. A knee-length hem rises when you sit, so if you want the knee covered while seated, choose a hem a couple of inches below it. A midi that stops exactly at the widest part of the calf can make the leg look heavier to some eyes; moving the hem an inch up or down is a common fix.
How to measure your own dress length
A helper makes this easier, but a mirror and a long tape will do. Wear the underwear you will wear with the dress; shoes make little difference for knee and midi lengths, unlike floor length.
- Find the high point of your shoulder where it meets the neck.
- Run the tape down over the fullest part of the bust and straight down the front of the body.
- Stop at the point on your leg where you want the hem, and read the figure.
- For a skirt, measure from your natural waist down the side of the leg to the same point.
- Or lay a dress you own flat and measure from the shoulder seam beside the neck to the hem, then say how much longer or shorter you want it.
Ordering a knee or midi dress
Our guide to measuring for a made-to-measure dress covers the bust, waist and hip figures that go with the length, and the maxi dress guide deals with floor length, where shoes do matter. For a dress of your own design, Send Your Design explains how it works; our shirt dress can also be made to measure. Give your length with a note of where it should end, such as mid-calf, and send it through a design quote. The length is agreed in writing before cutting.
Common questions
Is a 40 inch dress a midi?
It depends on your height. On a woman of 5 ft 0 in, a dress 40 inches from the shoulder ends below mid-calf, which is a midi. On a woman of 5 ft 9 in, the same dress ends just below the knee.
What is the difference between a midi and tea length?
Midi is a broad name for any hem between just below the knee and just above the ankle. Tea length sits at the lower end of that range, a little above the ankle bone, and is sometimes treated as a long midi.
Should I measure a knee-length dress with shoes on?
There is no need. Shoes lift your whole body, so the hem stays at the same point on your leg. Shoes matter for maxi and floor-length dresses, where the hem has to clear the ground.
