Plus Size Dress Length Guide: Where Midi and Maxi Land
Measure from the top of your shoulder to where you want the hem, then compare that number to the dresses' listed length. Choose Petite lengths where offered.
A dress that lands exactly where you planned is a dress you can walk into the room in. The number that makes it happen is already on the product page: the listed length. Pair it with one measurement of your own and you will know, before you order, whether a hem skims your ankle, grazes the floor or stops at mid-calf.
How do you find where a dress will hit you?
Take one measurement: the top of your shoulder to the spot where you want the hem. Compare it to the dress's listed length. If the listed length is longer, the dress falls lower; if it is shorter, it lands higher.
- Wear the bra and shoes you plan to wear with the dress.
- Stand straight, feet together, and have a friend place a soft tape at the highest point of your shoulder, next to your neck.
- Let the tape run straight down over the fullest part of your bust to the floor. Note your shoulder-to-floor number.
- Note two more points on the same line: your ankle bone and your mid-calf. Those are your maxi and midi targets.
- Subtract each target from the listed length to see how far above or below that point the hem will sit.
Dress length is commonly listed from shoulder to hem, but construction varies, so check the product page details for how a specific style is measured.
Listed lengths of our best-selling dresses
Every style below lists its average length on the product page, and most list a petite length too. Use these numbers against your own shoulder-to-hem measurement.
The three 55" styles are true maxis on most women. The 42" swing dress is the midi-to-calf option of the group, depending on your height. Browse the entire Roaman's plus size maxi dress collection and check each product page listing, because lengths differ from style to style.
| Dress | Average Length | Petite Length | Fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeveless Crew Neck Maxi Dress | 55" | 53" | Ultrasmooth® stretch jersey |
| Hand Crinkled Flutter Sleeve Maxi Dress | 55" | 53" | Hand-crinkled rayon |
| Sequin Lace Three-Quarter Sleeve A-Line Gown | 55" | 54.5" | Sequin lace bodice, fully lined |
| Short-Sleeve Swing Dress | 42" | 40" | Ultrasmooth® stretch jersey |
Will a 55" maxi be too long at 5'6"?
It depends on your shoulder-to-floor number, not your height alone. Subtract 55" from that measurement: a positive result is how far the hem sits above the floor; a negative one means extra fabric at your feet.
Work it through with your own measurement:
- Result of 2" or more: the hem lands around the ankle, an easy everyday maxi.
- Result between 0" and 2": the hem grazes the floor. Plan on a little heel or a wedge sandal.
- Negative result: the dress will pool. Choose the petite length where it is offered, or plan a hem.
Two women who are both 5'6" can get different answers, because torso length and bust fullness change the shoulder-to-floor line. That is why the tape beats a height chart every time.
What length works best if you're shorter?
Petite lengths are the first move. On the crinkle flutter sleeve maxi and the crew neck maxi, petite takes the hem from 55" to 53", a 2" lift that can turn a puddle at the floor into a clean ankle line.
- Compare the petite length, not just the average, against your shoulder-to-ankle number.
- On the sequin lace A-line gown, the petite is 54.5", only half an inch shorter, so it still reads as a floor-sweeping gown. Plan your shoes accordingly.
- For a midi, the Ultrasmooth® swing dress lists a 40" petite length against a 42" average.
Petite lengths are only offered where a product page lists them, so check each style before you order.
How curves and fabric change where the hem falls
A fuller bust or hip uses some of the dress's length as the fabric travels over the curve, so the hem can sit a little higher in front than the listed length suggests. Measuring over the bust, as in the steps above, builds that in.
- Ultrasmooth® stretch jersey: smooth and fluid, so the A-line skirt of the crew neck maxi dress drapes close and falls evenly all the way around.
- Hand-crinkled rayon: lightweight and breathable, with princess seams and an A-line cut that let the skirt swing as you move.
- Lined sequin lace: the fully lined A-line gown holds its shape, so its 55" falls as a column of movement to the floor.
Shoes, hemming and styling by length
Choose your shoes before you finalize a length; heel height moves the hem as much as a petite option does. A 2" heel lifts a floor-grazing maxi to just above it.
- Ankle-length maxi: flat or heeled sandals both work. Add a denim jacket for the weekend, as the crinkle maxi's product page suggests.
- Floor-length gown: wear the heels you will dance in. Stepping on a hem all night is the one entrance nobody wants.
- Midi swing dress: a calf-length hem shows off a sandal or a block heel and takes you from workday to weekend.
Ready to find your length? Start with the full range of plus size dresses and suits, or go straight to maxi dresses made to make an entrance.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a maxi dress?
There is no single standard, but most maxi dresses are long enough to reach the ankle or floor. At Roaman's, best-selling maxis list 55" in average length, with 53" or 54.5" petite versions on styles that offer them.
What is the difference between a midi and a maxi?
A midi hem lands somewhere between just below the knee and the lower calf. A maxi falls to the ankle or the floor. The same dress can read as either one depending on your height, so compare the listed length to your own measurement.
Should I size down if a dress looks too long?
No. Size changes width through the bust, waist and hips, not the length you need. Sizing also varies by style, and some customers note certain styles run large, so check each dress's size chart and reviews before choosing.
Can I have a maxi dress hemmed?
Usually, yes. A simple A-line or jersey skirt is a straightforward hem for a tailor. Lace, sequins, linings and hand-crinkled textures take more care, so bring the shoes you plan to wear to the fitting.