How to Read a Men’s Underwear Size Chart Online

A men’s underwear size chart connects your body measurement with the size label used by a specific brand. To read it correctly, measure your waist where the underwear waistband normally rests, keep the tape level without pulling it tight, and match that number to the corresponding range in the brand’s chart.

That sounds simple, but several details can change the result. A chart may show inches, centimeters, body measurements or garment measurements. Size letters are also not universal. A medium from one brand may cover a different waist range than a medium from another.

The safest approach is to use your current measurement, read the chart for the specific brand and then consider how the chosen cut should fit. For Gigo briefs, trunks and jockstraps, the waist measurement is the main reference.

What Does a Men’s Underwear Size Chart Actually Show?

A men’s underwear size chart translates measurements into familiar labels such as S, M, L, XL and 2XL. Each label usually represents a range rather than a single number.

The current Gigo Size Guide uses the following waist ranges for lower-body garments:

The first column identifies the size shown on the product. The other columns show the waist measurements that correspond to that size.

These ranges apply to Gigo lower-body categories such as briefs, trunks, jockstraps, G-strings, swim briefs, swim trunks, shorts and pants. Tops and upper-body garments use a different reference based on the chest, so always confirm that you are reading the correct section.

Body Measurements vs Garment Measurements

Before using any chart, check whether its numbers describe the body or the physical garment.

A body measurement is taken around your waist. If your waist measures 33 inches, you locate 33 in the waist column and select the size containing that number.

A garment measurement is taken directly from the underwear while it is lying flat. That number may represent half the waistband width before stretching. It should not be compared directly with the full circumference of your body.

The Gigo size guide uses body measurements, not the unstretched dimensions of the garment. This distinction matters because an elastic waistband will normally look smaller when laid flat than the body it is designed to fit.

One common mistake when buying underwear online is measuring a garment across the front and comparing that number with a full waist circumference. The two measurements describe different things.

How to Measure Your Waist for Gigo Underwear

For briefs, trunks and jockstraps, Gigo prioritizes the waist circumference.

1. Stand naturally with your abdomen relaxed.
2. Place a soft measuring tape around the area where the waistband normally rests.
3. Keep the tape parallel to the floor.
4. Let it touch your body without pressing into the skin.
5. Breathe normally and record the number without pulling the tape tighter.

For many Gigo lower-body styles, the measuring point will be around the lower waist, typically just above the hip bones. The exact position can vary slightly depending on where you prefer the waistband to sit and whether the garment has a lower or more traditional rise.

Do not suck in your abdomen to obtain a smaller number. Do not leave the tape hanging loose either. The goal is to reproduce the way a comfortable waistband rests against your body.

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How to Match Your Measurement to the Size Chart

Once you have your waist measurement, reading the chart becomes a sequence of three simple decisions.

Choose inches or centimeters

Use the unit you measured with. If your tape shows both systems, select one and follow the same column from beginning to end.

Avoid making an approximate mental conversion. Small rounding differences can matter when your measurement falls near the boundary between two sizes. The Gigo chart shows inches first and centimeters as an additional reference.

Locate your waist range

Find your number inside the waist column and then follow the row back to the Gigo size.

If your waist measures 33 inches, it falls within the 31 to 34-inch range, which corresponds to a medium. If it measures 37 inches, it falls within the 36 to 39-inch range, which corresponds to an XL.

Do not select a size simply because it is the label you usually wear in pants or another underwear brand. Your familiar letter size is useful context, but your current body measurement and the brand-specific chart should lead the decision.

Understand boundary measurements

Some size ranges meet at the same number. In the Gigo chart, for example, 31 inches appears at the end of the small range and the beginning of the medium range.

This reflects the flexibility of the fabric and the fact that fit preference can influence how a garment feels at a boundary.

Gigo tip: if your measurement falls between two sizes or directly on a shared boundary, choose the larger size for greater comfort and freedom of movement.

What to Do When You Are Between Two Sizes

Being between sizes is normal. Bodies do not divide themselves into fixed retail categories, and underwear fabrics can differ in stretch and structure.

For Gigo underwear, the recommended starting point is the larger size when your waist falls between two ranges. This provides more room and reduces the chance of unnecessary pressure at the waistband, pouch or leg openings.

The larger size can be especially useful when:

• You prefer a comfortable fit instead of a highly compressed feeling.
• Your abdomen changes slightly during the day.
• You are trying a new cut for the first time.
• The product uses a firmer fabric or structured construction.
• You want more freedom when walking, sitting or bending.

Choosing the larger size does not mean the garment should look loose. It should still remain stable, support the body and preserve the shape intended by the design.

Why the Same Size Can Feel Different Across Brands and Cuts

Size labels are not universal. Every brand establishes its own ranges, patterns and fit standards. That is why a medium in one company may not match a medium from another.

Even within one brand, two garments carrying the same size can feel different because of:

• Waistband width and firmness
• Fabric stretch and recovery
• Rise and waistband position
• Pouch shape and depth
• Side width
• Leg-opening construction
• Rear coverage
• Seams and decorative panels

A size chart provides the correct starting point, but the cut determines how that size interacts with the body.

First identify your size from the waist measurement. Then review the silhouette, fabric and fit notes on the product page. For a broader explanation, read How to Choose the Perfect Size of Men’s Underwear.

Reading the Chart for Briefs, Trunks and Jockstraps

Gigo uses the waist as the main size reference for all three silhouettes, but each one distributes the fit differently.

Briefs

A brief has no extended leg, so its fit is especially noticeable at the waistband, pouch, leg openings and back. After choosing the size indicated by your waist, check that the openings follow the body without digging into the thighs.

A style such as the Colors Yellow Brief demonstrates how a close brief silhouette frames the waist and legs. The correct size should preserve its intended shape without forcing the edges into the skin.

Trunks

A trunk adds fabric around the upper thigh. The waist measurement still leads the size choice, but thigh shape and leg-opening tension influence how the garment feels.

With the Khanal Black Trunk, the waistband should remain level while the lower edge stays stable during movement. If the waist feels correct but the leg opening creates isolated pressure, the issue may relate to the cut rather than the overall size.

Jockstraps

A jockstrap has a supportive front, a waistband and rear straps instead of full back coverage.

For the Skin Black Jockstrap, begin with the same waist measurement used for other Gigo lower-body products. Then confirm that the waistband lies evenly, the pouch supports without flattening and the rear straps stay in their intended position.

Do not automatically size down because the back is open. Minimal coverage is part of the design and does not change the waist reference.

Common Size Chart Mistakes When Shopping Online

Using pants size without measuring

The number printed on a pair of pants may not match your current body measurement. Brand conventions, garment rise and changes in the body can all create a difference.

Assuming every medium is identical

Letter sizes are brand-specific. Always compare your measurement with the chart shown by the store where you are purchasing.

Reading the wrong category

Gigo lower-body products use the waist, while tops use the chest. Make sure you are not using the upper-body chart for underwear.

Mixing inches and centimeters

Confirm the unit before selecting a row. A chart with both systems is expressing the same ranges in two different units.

Measuring the narrowest part automatically

For Gigo underwear, measure where the waistband normally rests. That point may be lower than the narrowest area of the torso, particularly with low-rise underwear.

Pulling the tape too tightly

The measuring tape should touch the body without creating compression. A deliberately smaller reading can lead to an unnecessarily tight garment.

Ignoring the product’s cut

The chart identifies the recommended size, but briefs, trunks and jockstraps do not feel identical. Review the construction after finding your size. You can also learn how specific areas should behave in the guides to men’s underwear waistband fit and men’s underwear leg-opening fit.

How to Check the Fit After Your Gigo Arrives

The size chart gives you the best starting point. Movement gives you the final confirmation.

Try the garment for a few minutes and complete three simple movements:

1. Walk normally.
2. Sit down and stand up.
3. Lift your legs slightly or take a few controlled steps.

The fit is likely appropriate when:

• The waistband stays in place without rolling or sliding.
• The elastic feels secure but does not dig into the body.
• The pouch supports the anatomy without flattening or painful pressure.
• The leg openings remain stable.
• The back or straps stay in their intended position.
• You do not need to adjust the garment constantly.

If pressure appears throughout the garment, the size may be too small. If the waistband slides, the pouch loses support or excess fabric moves around, it may be too large.

If the waist feels correct but one area remains uncomfortable, the cut may not be the best match for your body. Comparing another silhouette can be more useful than changing the size automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What measurement determines men’s underwear size?

For Gigo briefs, trunks and jockstraps, the principal measurement is the waist circumference taken where the waistband normally rests.

Should I use my pants size to buy underwear?

Your pants size can be a reference, but it should not replace a current waist measurement. Measure your body and use the chart supplied by the underwear brand.

Are the numbers in the Gigo size chart body measurements?

Yes. The Gigo lower-body chart uses body measurements, not the unstretched width of the garment.

What should I do if my measurement is between two Gigo sizes?

Gigo recommends choosing the larger size for greater comfort and freedom of movement.

Should a jockstrap use a different size from a brief?

Both begin with the Gigo waist chart. However, construction, fabric, pouch shape and strap placement can change how each garment feels, so review the individual product details.

How tight should the measuring tape feel?

It should lie flat and remain in contact with the body without pressing into the skin. Keep it level and breathe normally.

Choose Your Gigo Size with Confidence

Reading a men’s underwear size chart online is not about guessing which letter looks familiar. It is about understanding what the numbers represent and connecting them with an accurate body measurement.

Start with your waist where the underwear waistband normally sits. Keep the tape straight and comfortably fitted, choose the correct unit, and locate your number in the Gigo chart. If you fall between two sizes, select the larger option for more comfort and freedom of movement.

Finally, remember that size and cut work together. The chart identifies your starting point, while the brief, trunk or jockstrap construction determines how the garment supports, covers and moves with your body.

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