Levi’s cuts share a waist label language but not the same seat, thigh, or taper. 501 Original, 511 Slim, 512 Slim Taper, 550 Relaxed, and Wedgie Straight answer different body shapes — sizing up for stretch vs shrink-to-fit is a separate decision from “does this cut run narrow.”
Treat waist as a ladder, then use cut notes. Cross-check with the Levi’s clothes hub and line compares.
| Cut / line | Verdict | Fit notes | Advice | Stretch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 Original Fit | True to Size Partial | Straight leg; roomier thigh than 511/512; STF variants measure differently before soak | True to waist; check shrink-to-fit vs pre-washed | low / rigid denim |
| 505 Regular | True to Size Partial | Regular straight; more thigh room than 511/512; zip fly | True to size | low |
| 511 Slim | Runs Narrow Partial | Slim through thigh and leg opening vs 501/505 | True to waist; size up if muscular thighs or between | low–medium (varies by wash) |
| 512 Slim Taper | Runs Narrow Partial | Slim seat/thigh with a tapered opening vs 511 | Usual waist for a taper; size up for thigh ease | low–medium |
| 550 Relaxed | Runs Wide Partial | Classic relaxed cut — more thigh/seat than 505/501; tapered slightly toward hem on many lots | True to waist; expect roomy seat/thigh vs 501/511 | low (rigid common) |
| Wedgie Straight | Runs Small Partial | High-rise, cheeky seat, rigid-feeling straight leg; less forgiving than stretchy mom jeans | Size up one waist if between or coming from stretchy denim | low–medium (wash-dependent) |