Every store in our rotation defines “tall” differently: different height targets, different inseam math, different categories that get a tall cut at all. We track all four catalogs weekly and wear the clothes at 6’2”, and this page is the cross-store cheat sheet: the numbers side by side, then which store to use for what. For depth on any one store, each has a dedicated fit guide.
The four programs at a glance
| Old Navy | Gap | Athleta | J.Crew | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height target | about 5’9”+ | about 5’9”+ | about 5’9”+ | published 5’9” to 6’0” |
| Denim/pant inseam (tall) | about 33.5 to 34 in | about 34 to 35 in | about 31 to 32 in (leggings) | regular plus about 2 in |
| Sleeve/hem gain | about 1.5 to 2 in | about 1.5 to 2 in | torso length added | up to 4 in |
| Letter sizes | S to XXL | XS to XL/XXL | XS to XL | XS to XXL |
| Numeric sizes | about 2 to 18 | waists 27 to 33 | about 0 to 16 | 0 to 20, waists 26 to 33 |
| Tall selection we track | 1,300+ style-colors | hundreds | about 270 | hundreds |
| Price tier | lowest | middle | premium activewear | highest |
| Returns | free in store | free in store | free in store, plus worn-gear guarantee | mail; final sale is final |
Numbers are working figures from tracking the catalogs; the size chart on each product page is always the final word.
Inseams: who actually goes longest
First, our grading scale, because “tall” labels hide a lot. A 36 inch inseam is a great tall inseam: it lands past the ankle with room to move. A 34 inch inseam is acceptable for pants meant to end at the top of the shoe. Anything under 34 is a cropped pant, whatever the product name claims, and we grade it as one. (If any buyer at these brands is reading this: cut a 36. It will sell out.)
By that scale, no mall program is generous. Gap tops the table at about 34 to 35 inches, the only one comfortably clearing the bar, and it scales the rise along with the inseam so the pants sit correctly instead of just reaching. Old Navy hovers right at 33.5 to 34: acceptable, never more than that. J.Crew adds about two inches over regular, which leaves many pants near 32; that’s an ankle pant by our scale, and J.Crew’s real length story is sleeves and hems, not inseams. Athleta’s tall leggings run 31 to 32, the longest in activewear and still a 7/8 read on a 6’0”+ frame. Leggings get graded on their own curve because they’re cut to end at the ankle, but the curve only bends so far.
Sleeves and torso: the quiet differentiators
Inseam gets the attention, but sleeves and torso length are where tall programs earn their keep.
- J.Crew extends sleeves, shirttails and hems by up to four inches, the most aggressive re-grade in the group. It’s the only reliable source of button-ups and blazers whose cuffs reach the wrist bone on long arms.
- Gap scales sleeves about 1.5 to 2 inches and, crucially, re-grades blazers and wovens so shoulders and cuffs move together.
- Old Navy adds similar length in knits and fleece; on structured pieces it’s less consistent.
- Athleta adds torso length rather than sleeve length, which is exactly right for its category: one-pieces that don’t pull and tops that stay put mid-workout.
Height range fine print
All four target roughly 5’9” and up, but the ceilings differ. Old Navy and Gap stay proportional to about 6’3” in our experience. J.Crew’s published 5’9” to 6’0” range is honest about fitted sleeves, though its pants and relaxed cuts work past it. Athleta’s leggings hold up well beyond 6’0”. If you’re 6’1”+ reading this: pants are rarely your constraint at any of the four; fitted sleeves are, and J.Crew’s four-inch extension is ironically both the best sleeve and the one with the published ceiling.
Which store for what
- Everyday basics and volume: Old Navy. The biggest tall catalog in mall retail at the lowest prices, with free in-store returns to dial in sizing. Start here if you’re rebuilding a wardrobe. (Full guide)
- Trend denim and fashion pieces: Gap. The only tall program cutting this season’s silhouettes, with the only inseams that clear the 34 inch full-length bar, and scaled rises. (Full guide)
- Activewear: Athleta. The only premium activewear tall program, same technical fabrics as regular, plus a guarantee that covers worn gear. (Full guide)
- Tailoring and event wear: J.Crew. Blazers, suiting, shirting and dresses in true tall proportions; the four-inch sleeve gain has no substitute. (Full guide)
Returns, ranked by risk
Athleta is the lowest-risk tall purchase in retail: free in-store returns plus the Give-It-A-Workout guarantee on worn gear. Old Navy and Gap share the free in-store return counter, so double-ordering sizes costs nothing but a trip to the register. J.Crew is mail returns on regular purchases and genuinely final on final sale, which is exactly where its deepest tall discounts live. Rule of thumb: gamble on size at Gap Inc brands, never on J.Crew final sale.
The shared reality: shallow runs
Whatever the store, tall gets fewer units per size than regular. The ends of every run (XS and XL, 0 and 16, 27 and 33 waists) sell through first, and clearance in your size is a today decision at all four. That’s the entire reason Tall Report exists: the weekly report tracks what just landed in tall before the runs thin out, and the newsletter puts it in your inbox every week.
Frequently asked questions
Which store has the longest inseams for tall women?
Gap, at about 34 to 35 inches of tall denim inseam. Our scale: 36 inches is great (lands past the ankle), 34 is the minimum for a true full-length pant (top of the shoe), and below 34 is a cropped pant whatever the label says. Gap is the only mall program comfortably at or above that bar. Old Navy sits right at 33.5 to 34, J.Crew often lands near 32 (effectively an ankle pant), and Athleta's 31 to 32 inch tall legging is the longest in activewear but still not full-length on a 6'0"+ frame.
Which store is best for tall jeans?
Gap for style range and the longest inseams, Old Navy for price and depth. Gap is the only one cutting trend silhouettes (barrel, pleated, baggy, wide-leg) in tall; Old Navy wins when you need three pairs of long everyday denim for the price of one elsewhere.
Which tall line works best for women over 6 feet?
Old Navy and Gap stretch the furthest, staying proportional to about 6'3". J.Crew publishes a 5'9" to 6'0" range, and past it fitted sleeves are the first failure point, though pants keep working. Athleta's tall leggings stay wearable past 6'0", but expect a 7/8 read rather than true full-length.
Are Gap and Old Navy tall sizes the same?
No. They share return infrastructure but cut differently: Gap scales the rise and sleeve and fits closer to the body; Old Navy is roomier and adds slightly less tailored length. Start with the same numeric size and expect Gap to feel trimmer.
Which store has the biggest tall selection?
Old Navy, and it isn't close. We track roughly 1,300+ tall style-colors at Old Navy versus around 270 at Athleta, with Gap and J.Crew in between. Depth per size is shallow everywhere, which is why new tall arrivals sell through first.