Short answer: a training hakama is sized by your height, because what matters is that the hem reaches the ankle. Everyday hakama pants come either in letter sizes chosen by height and weight, or in one size with a tie or belt waist that adjusts across a wide range. Measure from just below the navel to the ankle bone, and if you fall between two sizes, choose by height.
How to measure for a hakama
You need two numbers. The first is the length: stand straight and measure from the point just below your navel, where the top of the front panel sits, down to the ankle bone. The second is the waist at that same height, measured snugly around the body. The size charts on each product page come from the manufacturer's own flat measurements, and our how we measure page explains how to read them.
Cotton Kendo Hakama: size by height
The Cotton Kendo Hakama is sized the traditional way, by height. Cotton shrinks a little in the first wash, about 3 cm in length, so the chart gives both lengths. If you are between two heights, take the taller size.
| Size | Your height | Length | Length after washing |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 155 cm (61 in) | 87 cm (34.5 in) | 84 cm (33 in) |
| XS | 160 cm (63 in) | 90 cm (35.5 in) | 87 cm (34.5 in) |
| S | 165 cm (65 in) | 94 cm (37 in) | 91 cm (36 in) |
| M | 170 cm (67 in) | 98 cm (38.5 in) | 95 cm (37.5 in) |
| L | 175 cm (69 in) | 102 cm (40 in) | 99 cm (39 in) |
| XL | 180 cm (71 in) | 105 cm (41.5 in) | 102 cm (40 in) |
| XXL | 185 cm (73 in) | 109 cm (43 in) | 106 cm (41.5 in) |
Letter sizes: height and weight
The Dark Cotton Hakama Pants have an elasticated back, so the waist adapts across a size. Choose by height first, then check the weight range.
| Size | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 160-165 cm | 50-58 kg |
| S | 165-170 cm | 58-65 kg |
| M | 170-175 cm | 65-73 kg |
| L | 175-180 cm | 73-80 kg |
| XL | 180-188 cm | 80-88 kg |
The Kendo Samurai Trousers follow a similar ladder:
| Size | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 160-168 cm | 48-55 kg |
| S | 165-173 cm | 55-65 kg |
| M | 170-178 cm | 65-73 kg |
| L | 175-183 cm | 73-80 kg |
| XL | 180-185 cm | 80-88 kg |
One-size hakama: waist range and length
These cuts adjust at the waist with a tie or a buckled belt, so one size covers a wide range. Check the length against your own measurement: on a shorter frame the hem falls longer, which most people like on a wide hakama.
| Hakama | Waist | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Wide Pleated Japanese Hakama Pants | 62-104 cm (24.5-41 in) | 97 cm (38 in) |
| Pleated Hakama Style Pants | 64-115 cm (25-45.5 in) | 89 cm (35 in) |
| Belted A-Line Hakama Pants | 70-105 cm (27.5-41.5 in) | 91 cm (36 in) |
| Belted Hakama Trousers | 63-111 cm (25-43.5 in) | 99 cm (39 in) |
Getting the fit right
The hem should fall to about the ankle, a little higher at the back than the front. Tie the waist just below the navel, not on the hips. If a tie-waist pair feels long, raise the front by two or three centimetres before you knot it. Our step-by-step guide shows how to tie a hakama, and what a hakama is covers the parts. Split-toe tabi socks show at the ankle when the length is right.