Leg opening is the width, usually measured as circumference, of a pair of jeans at the very bottom of the leg, at the hem. It is one of the clearest signals of overall silhouette, since a narrow leg opening reads as a close, tapered fit, while a wide leg opening reads as loose or flared from the knee down.
Fits such as skinny and slim use a narrow leg opening that follows the shape of the calf and ankle closely, while straight, relaxed and wider styles keep the leg opening closer to, or wider than, the opening at the knee. This measurement also interacts with footwear, since a narrow opening usually sits cleanly over a shoe while a wider one may need to be styled with more of a break.
If two pairs share the same waist and inseam but feel very different, the leg opening is often the reason why. See our men's jeans fits and women's jeans fits guides for how leg opening varies by style.
