What is a 31 Inch Waist?

A 31-inch waist is a circumference measurement around the abdomen. And you can use this number for everything from buying clothing to assessing your risk for health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

But it’s critical to measure your waist correctly to know if it really is 31 inches around.

How to Measure Your Waist

To check your waist size, you will need a flexible tape measure. First, wrap the tape measure around your waist parallel to the floor just above your hip bone.

Now pull the tape snug but not so tight that it indents into your skin. Also, take the reading at the end of a normal exhale but do not suck in your stomach. The number where the end of the tape intersects is your waist size.

Is a 31 Inch Waist Normal?

Generally speaking, a 31-inch waist is on the small side. But just how small depends on your gender and to whom you’re comparing yourself. So let’s look at some waist size statistics for women and men.

31 Inch Waist for Women

The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. And a 31-inch waist is smaller than about 75% of typical females.

However, it’s important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese. So you might not want to compare yourself to the general population.

A survey of women in the US Army, who are generally in good shape, shows that their average waist size is 28.2 inches. And a 31-inch waist is actually larger than 85% of fit women.

31 Inch Waist FAQ

Now you know how big a 31-inch waist is for men and women. But you might have more questions about this topic. So here are some quick answers to common queries.

What size is a 31 inch waist?

A 31-inch waist typically corresponds to a US dress size of 10-12. Additionally, this waist circumference should put you in an international size Medium for other women’s clothing.

At the same time, men with a 31-inch waist would likely fall into the Small to Medium size range for most clothing.

What pants size is a 31 inch waist?

A waist size of 31 inches generally corresponds to a pant size of 30-31 for women and 29-30 for men. So your jeans size doesn’t always reflect your actual waist size.

One reason for this is how you wear your pants. For example, women’s pants tend to sit higher on the waist, close to the measurement site. In contrast, men wear their pants lower on their hips, where their waists might be smaller.

In addition, your true waist size may not reflect your pant size due to your body proportions. For instance, you may need to size up if you have thicker thighs or a bigger butt.

Is a 31 inch waist good for a woman?

For women, a 31-inch waist is roughly 5″ smaller than the average female’s. So this would definitely be a good target if you’re trying to improve your overall health and wellness.

However, a 31-inch waist would likely be on the large side among women who exercise regularly. So if your goal is to be in excellent shape, you may need to aim smaller.

In addition, your ideal waist size depends on your body type and height. For instance, a 31-inch waist would be good for a taller woman but not as good for a shorter one.

Is a 31 inch waist good for a man?

For men, a 31-inch waist is about 7 inches smaller than the average male. Even among active guys, a 31” waist is somewhat small. Therefore, it might not be attainable for some men.

Again, whether this waist size is good for you depends on your body type and overall size. To illustrate, a waist size of 31 inches could be normal if you’re an active young man with a small frame. But it may be unrealistic for a bigger, taller guy.