Dress Lengths and Petite Sizes, Explained

The short answer

A dress length names where the hem falls on the leg. From shortest to longest, the common names are mini, knee-length, midi (also called tea length) and maxi. Floor-length gowns go one step further and reach the ground.

Of the 1,705 dresses listed on Wiki Shopping on October 26, 2026, 1,116 state a length. Maxi dresses are the largest group (536), followed by mini (371) and midi (209).

Dress length chart

The designer Tadashi Shoji's length guide gives typical measured lengths, taken from the top of the shoulder to the hem:

These are measured lengths of the dress, not your height. The same dress lands at a different spot on a taller or shorter person, so the name on a listing is a starting point.

How to measure a dress you already own

The easiest way to compare is to measure a dress whose length you like:

1. Lay it flat, front up, and smooth out folds and straps.
2. Put the end of the tape at the top of the shoulder strap (or the top of the shoulder seam on a dress with sleeves).
3. Measure straight down to the hem. For a strapless dress, put it on and measure from the hollow of your neck, just above the collarbone; a helper makes this easier.

Then compare that number with the length in the product details or the brand's size chart.

Midi vs maxi dress

• Midi dresses end between the knee and the ankle, often near the calf. Tadashi Shoji notes that a hem that stops at the widest part of the calf can make the leg look shorter, so a midi that ends a little higher or lower may be more flattering.
• Maxi dresses fall to the ankle and suit both casual days and dressier events.

If a maxi drags on the floor or a midi lands at an awkward spot, a petite cut may fix it.

What is a petite dress size

Stitch Fix's guide defines petite sizes as clothes cut for women 5 feet 4 inches and under, at any size from extra small to plus. Regular sizes, by the same guide, are designed for women from 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 8 inches.

Petite pieces are often marked with a "P" and have:

• shorter hemlines, so a midi still lands where a midi should;
• shorter sleeves;
• knee and armhole placement adjusted for a smaller frame.

Height is the main rule, not the only one. A shorter woman with a long torso may prefer regular tops, and a taller woman with a small frame may like some petite cuts.

Shopping by length on Wiki Shopping

Browse all dresses or filter by budget: under $100, under $75 or under $50. Not every listing states a length, so check the measurements on the store page before you buy.

How we count

Each dress's length is read from its store listing. Dresses whose listing names no length are left out of the chart. The counts change as listings are added or removed.

Shop by spec

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Sources

1. tadashishoji.com: how to measure dress length dress length guide...
2. stitchfix.com: what is petite size