Finding Scrubs that Fit: How to Measure Yourself for Scrubs that Actually Fit
It’s funny how much you’re willing to ignore about your work uniform. You expect it to be unflattering, boring, and probably not available in your favorite color. What’s weird is a lot of us accept the fact that it won’t fit perfectly, or feel comfortable either.
Then we wonder why we finish even “good” days feeling irritated.
Honestly, this “whatever” attitude is something a lot of us were forced into thanks to years of finding scrubs that fit in the waist but strangle the thighs, or feel roomy enough, but don’t match our leg length. We’re resigned to a “best of a bad job” perspective.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are companies that sell scrubs that fit real bodies, not just mannequin-style sizes. You just need to know how to measure yourself first.
Why Scrubs That Fit Matter
I feel like I shouldn’t really need to write this part, but you’d be surprised how many of my colleagues have complained to me about petite scrubs that are still too long, or plus-sized scrubs that are too tight, and then proceeded to do nothing at all about it.
The thing about scrubs that don’t fit, is that they’re not just unflattering. They’re annoying. They add mental load to a day that’s already packed full of stress.
Bad fit is loud. It’s constant. It’s that tiny, nonstop irritation in the background of your day. The waistband that rolls when you sit. The joggers that slowly slide south every time you walk fast. The top you keep tugging down without even realizing you’re doing it. You don’t think, wow these scrubs are awful, you just feel more tired than you should.
It’s not just women’s scrubs, either. I’ve heard the same thing from guys who thought scrubs were just uncomfortable by default. Then they tried mens scrubs that actually fit and suddenly stopped complaining altogether.
“The most comfortable he’s ever worn.”
Fit changes how you move. How you stand. How much mental energy you waste on your clothes. It’s worth getting it right.
How to Measure Yourself for Scrubs that Fit: Prep Work
Okay. Before you grab a measuring tape and spiral a little (totally normal, by the way), there are a few things I wish someone had told me the first time I tried to “figure out my size” for scrubs that fit.
First: don’t do this half-dressed, rushed, or annoyed. I tried measuring once at midnight in leggings and a hoodie and then wondered why nothing I ordered worked. That one’s on me.
You want:
· A soft measuring tape (not a belt, not your phone charger, not vibes)
· A mirror
· Light clothing, or honestly just a bra and underwear
· Somewhere to write numbers down so you don’t “round” them later
Second: don’t suck anything in. Not your stomach, not your breath, not your ego. Scrubs are for working, sitting, bending, reaching, squatting. If you measure yourself like you’re posing for a photo, your scrubs uniform will punish you for it.
Third, measure where your scrubs actually sit. Not where your jeans sit. Not where you wish they sat. Where your scrubs live during a real shift.
This matters a lot for high-waisted scrubs, especially if you’ve ever felt like your waistband was either cutting you in half or slowly migrating south. Same goes for petite scrubs and tall scrubs, where an inch in the wrong place throws off everything else.
As a review on Dolan’s website said:
“I used to have to pay extra to have my scrubs altered. These ones actually fit all around.”
That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when measurements are honest.
Measuring Yourself for Scrubs that Fit: What to Measure
Now let’s dive into the parts of your body you need to measure to get that fit just right. Some people recommend measuring things like shoulder width, but I’d probably skip that part, since most companies don’t offer custom shoulder sizes anyway.
Measuring your Bust / Chest
Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust or chest. Keep it straight across your back. You should be able to breathe and move normally.
This measurement controls more than people realize. When there isn’t enough room through the chest, fabric gets pulled forward, which shortens the front of the top and messes with how it drapes everywhere else. That’s why a top can technically “fit” but still ride up every time you reach.
I’ve seen this difference clearly in tops like the Halo V-Neck and Mayfair V-Neck, both leave enough room through the chest so the hem actually stays where it’s supposed to.
“The neckline doesn’t pull or gape, even when I’m leaning forward.”
If you’ve been sizing up in women’s scrubs just to survive the chest area, this number is the reason everything else feels off.
Measuring your Waist
Measure where your scrub waistband naturally sits during a real shift. For high-waisted scrubs, that’s usually higher than your jeans and lower than your ribcage.
This measurement affects:
· Waistband roll
· Sliding when you walk
· That constant adjusting that drains your patience
Pants like the District High-Waisted Pant and Restore Pant work because the waistband is designed to support, not squeeze, but only if the waist measurement is accurate.
“The thicker waistband keeps them in place. I don’t have to pull them up all day.”
If sitting down feels like a negotiation with your pants, your waist or rise choice needs rethinking.
Measuring your Hips
Measure around the fullest part of your hips and butt, feet together, tape relaxed.
This is the number that decides whether curvy scrubs, plus-size scrubs, or regular fits will actually work for you. If pants fit standing but feel wrong sitting, or the legs are either baggy or tight with no in-between, this is usually why.
Joggers like the Hope 11-Pocket and Lyra FLEX work well here because they’re shaped through the hips and thighs, not just scaled up.
“XL too small, 2X too big, this finally fits.”
Measuring your inseam
Measure from your crotch to where you want the hem to hit, barefoot, standing normally.
Wrong inseam throws off rise, pocket placement, and how the leg hangs. That’s why petite scrubs often feel sloppy when they’re just shortened regular pants, and why tall scrubs can still slide if the rise isn’t balanced.
Dolan offering inseams from 25” to 32” means you don’t have to sacrifice fit everywhere else just to get length.
“Thank Dolan for making 25” inseams for us!”
Optional: Measuring Shoulders, Arms & Torso
As I said, this doesn’t matter for everyone, but if it does for you, measure just in case.
Pay attention to where shoulder seams land and how far tops ride up when you lift your arms. This matters a lot if you’re tall, long-torsoed, or petite.
Tops like the Alpine Dolman or the Cypress easy-fit top work because they allow movement without pulling fabric upward. Sleeve length matters too, especially for anyone who’s ever felt swallowed by their sleeves or weirdly exposed.
“I’ve never found a long sleeve scrub top I liked until this one.”
How to Use Size Charts Without Spiraling
Size charts get a bad rap, and honestly, they’ve earned it.
Half the time they feel like they were written by someone who’s never actually worn a scrubs uniform for more than twenty minutes. Too many numbers, not enough context, and zero help if your body doesn’t line up neatly with one column.
Here’s the way I’ve learned to use them without losing my mind.
First, don’t try to match every measurement perfectly. That almost never happens. Pick the two numbers that matter most for the item you’re buying. For pants, that’s usually hips and inseam. For tops, bust or chest and torso length matter more than waist.
If you’re between sizes (most of us are), choose based on where you need the most freedom to move. Thighs tight when you sit? Go by hips. Waist rolls or digs? Go by waist and look for supportive rises like you’ll find in high-waisted scrubs such as the District or Restore styles.
“They are true to size and super comfortable. Worth every penny.”
Second, pay attention to whether the chart separates regular, curve, and plus. This matters more than the number itself. Someone wearing a size small in curvy scrubs can have the same hip measurement as someone wearing a medium regular. The difference is shape, not size.
Third, use fit quizzes when they’re available, but treat them like a second opinion, not gospel.
When I used Dolan’s True Fit size guide that can be found on the little TRUEFIT button near the sizes: alongside my actual measurements, the results lined up in a way guessing never did.
Finally, read reviews with intent. Skip the ones that just say “love them.” Look for people mentioning height, body type, and where things usually go wrong for them.
“I am long legged and short waisted… these are perfect.”
Fit Reality Checks I Wish I’d Learned Sooner
This is the stuff that doesn’t show up on size charts, but absolutely decides whether your scrubs feel fine… or drive you insane by hour four.
1. If it “fits” but annoys you, it’s probably the style
Same size, totally different experience. Joggers, straight-leg, wide-leg; they all move differently. A well-designed jogger (like the Hope) stays put and forgives movement. A badly designed one will have you adjusting all day.
If you’re constantly tugging, clock-watching, or fidgeting, don’t assume your body is the issue. Try a different silhouette.
2. Fabric matters more after hour three than at checkout
Some fabrics feel amazing for twenty minutes and then quietly give up. Knees bag out. Waistbands loosen. Everything looks tired.
Good stretch isn’t about how far it stretches, it’s about whether it snaps back. That’s why pants like the Lyra FLEX or Restore still feel good late in the shift.
“They’re so soft and stretchy… even when I’m crawling on the floor, I’m comfortable.”
3. Plus-size and curvy are not interchangeable
If you’ve ever been stuck between sizes, this is probably why.
· Plus-size scrubs = more room everywhere (belly, bust, arms, hips)
· Curvy scrubs = smaller waist, fuller hips/thighs
That “XL too small, 2X too big” feeling isn’t indecision. It’s bad design.
4. Length affects everything, not just hems
Inseam isn’t just about where pants hit the floor. It affects rise, pocket placement, and how pants behave when you sit.
That’s why petite scrubs and tall scrubs fail so often when they’re just shortened or lengthened versions of a regular fit.
“I’m 5’9 and all legs… grateful for anything above a 32” inseam.”
5. “Average” bodies aren’t real, stop dressing like they are
Long legs, short torso. Short legs, long torso. Curvy petite. Tall plus-size. Real bodies don’t fit neat assumptions. The right fit is the one you stop thinking about.
If you want some final tips, here’s what worked for me:
· I stopped buying full sets right away. Pants fail more often than tops, so I test one pair first and wear them through a real shift. If I’m thinking about them all day, they’re not it.
· I quit sizing up “just in case.” Every time I did that, something else broke: sliding waistbands, droopy shoulders, pockets in the wrong place. Bigger never fixed comfort, it just moved the problem.
· I stopped trusting mirror tests. Standing still tells you nothing. Sitting, bending, reaching, speed-walking, that’s where bad fit shows up.
· I asked for help sooner. Fit quizzes and support exist so you don’t have to brute-force your way through returns.
I also started taking advantage of the options available to me. Dolan, for instance, offers a “try before you buy” option for some of their scrubs, which is why I think so many people end up coming back.
“I ordered one set just to try out and have since ordered several more.”
Their customer support is amazing too. If you have any questions, they’re always on hand to answer. They even go above and beyond in some cases, like offering free hemming if you find their petite scrubs aren’t short enough for your legs.
Finding Scrubs that Fit
If you’re like me, you’re sick of people thinking that uncomfortable scrubs are just part of the deal. Something you agree to when you sign your contract. We shouldn’t have to live that way.
These are the clothes we spend the majority of our lives in. They should fit properly.
Once you know how to measure yourself correctly, the next step is just finding a company that actually recognizes your body exists. That’s Dolan.
They’re the only company I’ve found that offers everything, from petite scrubs to tall sizes, curve fits, and plus-sized options, all in a range of styles you won’t really find anywhere else.
If you’re tired of relying on “almost right” scrubs, this is your sign. Use what you’ve learned here, and buy yourself a uniform that actually works for you.
