The inseam is the length from the crotch to the hem of the leg, usually given in inches but sometimes in centimeters. Generally speaking, it’s between 5 and 11 inches and has a big impact on how your shorts look when you’re wearing them. It’s usually considered more flattering if the hem falls an inch or two above the knee. It can be higher on sports shorts, or if you’re confident about your thighs, but not below the knee (unless you’re going for that surfer dude or gangsta look).