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 Verified | Straight classic; STF shrinks — pre-wash differs | True to waist; check shrink-to-fit vs pre-washed | Varies by fabric (rigid / stretch) |
| 505 Regular | True to Size Partial | Straight regular — between 501 and 550 for thigh ease | True to tagged waist; slightly more thigh room than 501, less than 550 | Often rigid or low stretch |
| 511 Slim | Runs Narrow Verified | Slim through thigh/knee | True to waist; size up if muscular thighs or between | Often low–medium stretch |
| 512 Slim Taper | Runs Narrow Partial | Slim through thigh with taper to ankle — narrower than 505/501 | Usual waist for a taper; size up one for muscular thighs | Often stretch denim |
| 550 Relaxed | Runs Wide Verified | Relaxed seat/thigh with slight taper; room is the cut, not a size error | True to tagged waist; expect roomy seat/thigh vs 501/511 | Often rigid or low stretch |
| Wedgie Straight | Runs Small Partial | Women’s high-rise snug hip/thigh by design; wash/stretch % and Premium vs core change give | Rigid 100% cotton: size up if between; stretch (1–2% elastane) washes often TTS — Premium vs non-premium can disagree | Varies by wash (rigid vs 1–2% elastane) |