How to Measure for Compression

Compression sizing has nothing to do with your shoe size or your dress size. It is based on the circumference of your leg at specific points, plus the length of your leg. Two people who wear the same size shoe routinely need different compression sizes.

Get it wrong and the garment either does nothing, because it is too loose, or it restricts instead of supporting, because it is too tight. At 20-30 mmHg and above that stops being a comfort issue.

Measure in the morning

Legs swell over the course of a day. Measure first thing, before you have been on your feet, or you will size to a leg that is already swollen and end up with a garment that is too large by morning.

You need a flexible tape measure, the kind used for sewing. A metal construction tape will not follow the curve of your leg.

For knee highs and calf styles

1. Ankle. Measure around the narrowest part of your ankle, just above the ankle bone. Take this one first. It is the measurement that determines whether you are small, medium, large or extra large.

2. Calf. Measure around the fullest part of your calf.

3. Length. From the floor to the bend just below your kneecap, on the outside of the leg. This is what decides whether you need short or long.

For thigh highs and pantyhose

Take all three measurements above, then add:

4. Thigh. Measure around the fullest part of your upper thigh.

5. Full length. From the floor to the point where your buttock meets the back of your thigh.

Thigh highs are where self-measurement goes wrong most often, because thigh circumference and length both have to land in the same size band. If they do not, you need a different style, not a different size.

Measure both legs

Legs are rarely identical. If your measurements differ between legs, size to the larger one unless the difference is significant, in which case come in and let us look at it.

Write it down

Keep your numbers. Once you know them, reordering takes thirty seconds instead of starting over. We also keep them on file for anyone we have fitted.

Or let us do it

This is free with any purchase, takes about twenty minutes, and removes the guesswork entirely. We measure both legs, confirm the right compression level, and show you how to get the garment on without a fight, which is the step most people never get taught.

3809 Princess Anne Road, Suite 108, Virginia Beach. Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm. (757) 470-5661.