Finding Petite Scrub Pants that Actually Fit: A Shorter Girl’s Guide
The funny thing about having a specific work uniform (like scrubs) that you absolutely have to wear every day, is that you quickly learn how many clothing companies still try to build one-size-fits-all catalogues. It’s almost as if they think petite women, tall ladies, or anyone who falls outside of the Small to Extra Large range are just optical illusions.
Finding petite scrub pants is one of the toughest challenges.
Why are so many scrubs for petite women automatically “low rise”, or only designed for people with tiny waists?
At some point, you get a little tired of just “making do” with clothes that don’t really fit. Eventually (with a little luck), you’ll stumble onto a brand like Dolan that understands what size inclusivity actually means. Before then though, it’s a good idea to rethink how you approach the search for petite scrub pants that don’t drive you insane.
Defining “Petite Scrub Pants” (It’s About More than Leg Length)
I might be preaching to the choir here, but you’d be surprised how many shorter women (and men for that matter), think “petite” sizing is just about height.
The length matters, obviously, but petite choosing a petite fit is more about “proportion”. You need something that fits your legs and the rest of your body.
It’s crazy how many companies advertise “scrubs for petite women”, but actually just design pants made for people who are shorter and smaller in the waist. As one of Dolan’s customers said, just because she’s larger in frame doesn’t mean she’s six feet tall.
Petite doesn’t mean narrow, dainty, or just generally “small”. I know plenty of shorter nurses who wear larger sizes and still need an inseam under 27 inches. That’s why I appreciate brands that offer petite options across the whole size chart, not just XS and S.
Finding the Right Fit for Petite Scrub Pants: Measuring Guide
Wouldn’t it be great if you could click the “petite section” on a scrubs website, and just feel confident that you’re going to end up with a great fit? Unfortunately, since there’s more than one flavor of “petite”, you’re probably going to need to get the hang of measuring yourself first.
Don’t panic. Most actually inclusive companies give you plenty of size guidance. Dolan even has a “fit quiz” to help guide you to the best option based on your body type.
But if you’re new to all this, here’s a quick insight into what to measure first (and how to get the right numbers).
Measuring The Real Inseam
The inseam is the one number that’s absolutely worth knowing. I spent years assuming mine was 27" because that’s what I saw printed on most pants. Then I measured it one day and it was 24.5". I’d been buying the wrong size for years, and then complaining about drooping in the crotch.
If you want the easy method, grab your best-fitting pants, lay them flat, measure from crotch seam to hem. Make a note of your number and stop trying to will your body to fit the “average”.
“I hadn’t purchased new scrubs in probably 3-4 years because I’m 4’11” with an inseam that’s impossible to find anywhere. I’m usually a 23” inseam, and the petite short are almost PERFECT! I could not believe it honestly.”
Checking The Rise
Nothing makes me feel more uncomfortable than a low rise.Petites usually need a high-rise that’s actually designed for small frames.
“I am pleasantly surprised! I work in xray and I've tried a bunch of different brands of scrubs. Figs, mandala, landau forward, Cherokee, healing hands, barco, beyond scrub, med couture, greys anatomy, koi, Carhartt, Dickies... But these pants, especially with the high waist might be my new favorite. I feel like they actually fit pretty true to size, which I can't say for most brands.”
Hips: Measure Them, Don’t Guess
A lot of petite scrub sets are built like petites have no hips. Or thighs. Or curves. I wish. If you’re curvy or athletic, measure the widest part of your hips. It keeps you from sizing down for length and then suffocating your legs.
“I went with a small, and that's the right size for me. The waist and the hips fit - no gaping waist nor tight hips/thighs. The thighs even have a little extra room, or maybe I've just never known the feeling.”
Petite Scrub Pants Styles: Which Style is Best?
The moment you stop assuming all petite scrub pants were basically the same, everything gets easier. There’s no magic “petite shape.” Some of us are curvy. Some straight-up athletic. Some tiny-waisted with strong thighs from doing a thousand “I forgot something in my car” laps.
Honestly, the style that works best for you will depend a bit on your own personal preferences, and a little on what your employer actually asks you to wear. But if you have choices, here are some of the best options (in my humble opinion).
· Joggers: I resisted joggers for years because most brands made them look like ankle balloons on me. But the right ones? Total game changer. They taper where they should and keep the lines clean, so you don’t look swallowed by fabric.
· Straight-Leg Pants: If joggers make you feel too “sporty” at work, straight-leg cuts are great for petites. They create a long, uninterrupted line, which somehow makes me feel taller, even if I’m not.
· High-Waisted Styles: I used to avoid high-rise anything because I thought it would shorten my torso even more. Turns out it does the exact opposite for petites; it stretches your frame visually and keeps everything lifted instead of droopy.
· Curvy Petite Fits: Bless the brands that finally recognized curvy petites exist. If you’ve ever had pants fit your hips but gap at the waist, or the opposite, curvy cuts solve that without you needing a tailor. If you’ve got hips, thighs, or both, curvy petite is usually the cleaner, comfier, more realistic choice.
Extra-Short vs. Petite vs. Regular + Hemming
This is the secret petite lesson no one tells you: the inseam categories matter too:
· Extra-short works for inseams around 23–25 inches.
· Petite usually hits 26–28.
· Regular + hemming is great if you’re struggling to find the perfect fit.
That last one is underrated. If a brand offers hemming (Dolan does for free), you’re far more likely to end up with a good fit.
Matching Petite Scrub Pants to Petite Tops
Once you figure out how to choose the best petite scrub pants, you’re going to want to handle the rest of the outfit. Some full uniform sets designed for petite girls are perfect, but sometimes you do have to be willing to take the “mix and match approach”.
Quick tips for polishing off your uniform:
· Check the top cut: Some petite scrub uniforms get the pants right but ignore the top entirely. And when the top is too long, it shortens your legs instantly. When it’s too boxy, it swallows your shape. When it’s too fitted, you start questioning your posture and your life choices.
· Think in Lines, Not Pieces: One of the best accidental discoveries I made was that a monochrome setup, matching petite scrub sets, always makes me look taller. It’s like visual trickery. Top and bottom blend together, so your body reads as one continuous line instead of two separate “sections.”
· If You’re Curvy, Pay Attention to Shoulder Fit: Curvy petites always get railroaded by tops that assume you’re either tall and curvy or short and straight. If the shoulders are too wide, the whole top looks like it belongs to someone else. If they’re too narrow, you lose mobility.
One final recommendation on uniform sets: keep colors consistent. If you’re mixing brands, the top will almost always look a different shade than the pants. It’s why I eventually gravitated toward brands that design colors to match across tops, joggers, straight legs, and everything else.
Finding the Ultimate Petite Scrub Pants
After years of wrestling with petite scrub pants that felt like they were designed by someone guessing what a short person looks like, Dolan was the first brand that made me feel genuinely seen.
The inseam options alone feel like an apology letter to petites everywhere. Extra-short lengths, true petite lengths, and regular sizes you can get hemmed for free. Plus, every size from XXXS through 6XL comes in petite lengths, which is almost unheard of. Petite doesn’t mean small; it means short. Dolan gets that.
The fabric is another win. It drapes instead of ballooning. It doesn’t get crunchy after five washes. The waistband stays where it should. A reviewer said, “Looks good tucked and untucked,” which sounds tiny, but honestly? That’s kind of the whole appeal, nothing feels wrong.
So if you’re worn out from hemming, rolling, tugging, or pretending that “close enough” is good enough, Dolan is where I’d start. They design scrubs for petite women in a way that feels genuinely thoughtful. You get pieces that actually match your proportions, sit right, and don’t fight you through a 12-hour shift.
