When you step into a department store abroad, the moment you reach for a pair of jeans, you are forced to negotiate three invisible languages: the country’s numeric system, the brand’s proprietary code, and the retailer’s own cut‑and‑sew conventions. In practice this means that a size 38 in one European chain may well be a 10 in a UK high‑street brand, while an American “Medium” could sit somewhere between the two. The result is a perpetual trial‑and‑error routine that erodes confidence, especially for travellers accustomed to one standard. Savvy shoppers mitigate the risk by carrying a small measurement tape and noting the key girths—chest, waist, hips—before they even step onto a showroom floor.
Most travel manuals will tell you where to buy a leather jacket or a summer dress, but they rarely explain how the same label can feel entirely different depending on the material. Stretch‑woven denim, for instance, often tolerates a few centimetres of variance, whereas structured cotton twill holds a tighter tolerance, making a nominal “Medium” feel snug. Likewise, natural fibres like linen shrink after the first wash, so a size that seemed generous in the fitting room may contract by the time you unpack. A practical tip: when buying off‑the‑rack, ask the shop assistant for the garment’s post‑wash dimensions, or opt for a slightly looser cut if the fabric is prone to shrinkage.
Frequent travellers develop a handful of shortcuts that cut through the chaos of disparate sizing charts. One reliable method is to memorise your own body’s key measurements in both centimetres and inches; when you see a label, you can instantly translate it against the retailer’s chart. Another is to focus on the garment’s cut rather than its size—slim, regular, or relaxed—and choose the cut that matches your silhouette. Finally, many global brands now offer an online “size finder” that asks for a few measurements and returns the closest in‑store label, a tool that saves time and reduces the likelihood of returning items after a long journey.
Label sizes used for garments sold off-the-shelf "Extra large" redirects here. For other uses, see Extra Large. This article is missing information about US-Asian conversions, mappings to physical measurements. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (July 2017) Examples of body measurements used for the sizing of clothes Clothing sizes are the sizes with which garments sold off-the-shelf are labeled. Sizing systems vary based on the country and the type of garment, such as dresses, tops, skirts, and trousers. There are three approaches: Body dimensions: The label states the range of body measurements for which the product was designed. (For example: bike helmet label stating "head girth: 56–60 cm".) Product dimensions: The label states characteristic dimensions of the product. (For example: jeans label stating inner leg length of the jeans in centimetres or inches (not inner leg measurement of the intended wearer).) Ad hoc sizes: The label states a size number or code with no obvious relationship to any measurement. (For example: Size 12, XL.) Children's clothes sizes are sometimes described by the age of the child, or, for infants, the weight. Traditionally, clothes have been labelled using many different ad hoc size systems, which has resulted in varying sizing methods between different manufacturers made for different countries due to changing demographics and increasing rates of obesity, a phenomenon known as vanity sizing. This results in country-specific and vendor-specific labels incurring additional costs, and can make internet or mail order difficult. Some new standards for clothing sizes being developed are therefore based on body dimensions, such as the EN 13402 "Size designation of clothes".
[edit] Before the invention of standardized clothing sizes in the early 1800s, all clothing was made to fit individuals by either tailors or makers of clothing in their homes. Then garment makers noticed that the range of human body dimensions was relatively small (for their demographic). Because of the drape and ease of the fabric, not all measurements are required to obtain a well-fitting apparel in most styles. Sizes were based on: Horizontal torso measurements, which include the neck circumference, the shoulder width, the bustline measurements – over-bust circumference, the full bust circumference, the bust-point separation, and the under-bust (rib-cage) circumference – the natural waist circumference, the upper hip circumference and the lower hip circumference. Vertical torso measurements, which include the back (neck-waist) length, the shoulder-waist length (not the same as the back length, due to the slope of the shoulder), the bust-shoulder length, the bust-waist length, and the two hip-waist lengths. Sleeve measurements, which include the under-arm and over-arm lengths, the fore-arm length, the wrist circumference and the biceps circumference. Pit-to-pit measurement is not a tailoring measurement, but a finished garment measure, used in the second-hand internet marketplace, generally the straight line measure across the garment, laid flat, at the bottom of the armpits.
[edit] A variety of plastic size markers commonly attached to a clothes hanger in stores to indicate an item's size International standards[edit] There are several ISO standards for size designation of clothes, but most of them are being revised and replaced by one of the parts of ISO 8559 which closely resembles European Standard EN 13402: ISO 3635:1981, Size designation of clothes: Definitions and body measurement procedure (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-1) ISO 3636:1977, Size designation of clothes: Men's and boys' outerwear garments (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-2) ISO 3637:1977, Size designation of clothes: Women's and girls' outerwear garments (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-2) ISO 3638:1977, Size designation of clothes: Infants garments (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-2) ISO 4415:1981, Size designation of clothes: Men's and boys' underwear, nightwear and shirts (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-2) ISO 4416:1981, Size designation of clothes: Women's and girls' underwear, nightwear, foundation garments and shirts (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-2) ISO 4417:1977, Size designation of clothes: Headwear (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-2) ISO 4418:1978, Size designation of clothes: Gloves (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-2) ISO 5971:1981, 2017, Size designation of clothes: Pantyhose ISO 7070:1982, Size designation of clothes - Hosiery ISO 8559:1989, Garment construction and anthropometric surveys: Body dimensions (withdrawn, replaced by ISO 8559-1) ISO 8559-1:2017, Size designation of clothes: Part 1: Anthropometric definitions for body measurement ISO 8559-2:2017, Size designation of clothes: Part 2: Primary and secondary dimension indicators ISO 8559-3:2018, Size designation of clothes: Part 3: Methodology of the creation of the body measurement tables and intervals ISO 8559-3:2023, Size designation of clothes: Part 4: Determination of the coverage ratios of body measurement tables ISO/TR 10652:1991, Standard sizing systems for clothes (withdrawn) Asian standards[edit] Chinese standards[edit] GB 1335-81 GB/T 1335.1-2008 Size designation of clothes - Men GB/T 1335.2-2008 Size designation of clothes - Women GB/T 1335.3-2008 Size designation of clothes - Children GB/T 2668-2002 Sizes for coats, jackets and trousers GB/T 14304-2002 Sizes for woolen garments Japanese standards[edit] JIS L 4001 (1997) Sizing systems for infants' garments JIS L 4002 (1997) Sizing systems for boys' garments JIS L 4003 (1997) Sizing systems for girls' garments JIS L 4004 (1997) Sizing systems for men's garments JIS L 4005 (1997) Sizing systems for women's garments JIS L 4006 (1997) Sizing systems for foundation garments JIS L 4007 (1997) Sizing systems for Hosiery and Pantyhose Korean standards[edit] KS K 0050 (2009) Men's wear KS K 0051 (2004) Women's wear KS K 0052 Infants KS K 0059 Headgear KS K 0070 Brassiere KS K 0037 Dress Shirts KS K 0088 Socks Thai standards[edit] Wacoal (1981, 1987) Australian standards[edit] L9 - Women's clothing - Apparel Manufacturers Association of NSW - 1959-1970 AS1344-1972, 1975, 1997 Size coding scheme for women's clothing AS1182 - 1980 - Size coding scheme for infants and children's clothing European standards[edit] The European Standards Organisation (CEN) produced a series of standards, prefixed with EN 13402: EN 13402-1: Terms, definitions and body measurement procedure (2001, withdrawn and replace by ISO 8559-1:2020) EN 13402-2: Primary and secondary dimensions (2002, withdrawn and replaced by ISO 8559-2:2020) EN 13402-3: Size designation of clothes. Body measurements and intervals (2004, 2007, 2014, 2017) EN 13402-4: Coding system (2006) These are intended to replace the existing national standards of the 33 member states. It is currently in common use for children's clothing, but not yet for adults.[when?] The third standard EN 13402-3 seeks to address the problem of irregular or vanity sizing through offering a SI unit based labelling system, which will also pictographically describe the dimensions a garment is designed to fit, per the ISO 3635 standard. German standards[edit] DOB-Verband (1983) French standards[edit] AFNOR NF G 03-001 (1977) - Human body - Vocabulary - Pictogram; AFNOR EXP G 03-002 (1977) - Women Measures AFNOR EXP G 03-003 (1977) - Men Measures AFNOR EXP G 03-006 (1978) - Measures of babies and young children AFNOR EXP G 03-007 (1977) - Size designation of clothes for men, women and children AFNOR NF G 03-008 (1984) - Tights - Sizes - Designation - Marking Russian standards[edit] GOST R 53230-2008 (ISO 4415-1981) Size designation of clothes. Men's and boy's underwear, nightwear and shirts British standards[edit] Clothes-size label with EN 13402-3 pictogram and body dimensions in centimetres (found on a high-visibility jacket sold in the United Kingdom) BS 3666:1982 Specification for size designation of women's wear BS 6185:1982 Specification for size designation of men's wear BS 3666:1982, the standard for women's clothing, is rarely followed by manufacturers as it defines sizes in terms of hip and bust measurements only within a limited range. This has resulted in variations between manufacturers and a tendency towards vanity sizing. Yugoslavian standards[edit] Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia still use the JUS (F.G0.001 1979, F.G0.002 1979, F.G0.003 1979) standards developed in the former Yugoslavia. In addition to typical girth measurements clothing is also marked to identify which of 5 height bands: X-Short, Short, Medium, Tall, X-Tall, and body types: Slim, Normal, or Full, it is designed to fit. American standards[edit] US standards[edit] CS-151-50 - Infants, Babies, Toddlers and Children's clothing CS 215-58 - Women's Clothing (1958) PS 36-70 - Boys Clothing (1971) PS 42-70 – Women's Clothing (1971) PS 45-71 - Young Men's clothing PS 54-72 - Girls Clothing ASTM D5585-95 (2001) ASTM D6829-02 (2008) ASTM D5585-11 (2011) (withdrawn, 2020) ASTM D6240-98 ASTM D6960-04 – Women's Plus sizes (2004) There is no mandatory clothing size or labeling standard in the US, though a series of voluntary standards have been in place since the 1930s. The US government, however, did attempt to establish a system for women's clothing in 1958 when the National Bureau of Standards published Body Measurements for the Sizing of Women's Patterns and Apparel. The guidelines were made a commercial standard and were even updated in 1970. But the guide was eventually degraded to a voluntary standard until it was abolished altogether in 1983. Private organization ASTM International started to release its own recommended size carts in the 1990s. Since then, the common US misses sizes have not had stable dimensions. Clothing brands and manufacturers size their products according to their preferences. For example, the dimensions of two size 10 dresses from different companies, or even from the same company, may have grossly different dimensions; and both are almost certainly larger than the size 10 dimensions described in the US standard. Vanity sizing may be partly responsible for this deviation (which began in earnest in the 1980s).
[edit] Comparison table[edit] Comparison of women's dresses and suits sizes Int XXS XS S M L XL XXL US 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 UK 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 DE 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 FR 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 IT 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 KR 44 44 55 55 66 66 77 77 88 88 JP 7 11 15 17 21 Inch-based women's sizes (US/UK)[edit] British (UK) and American (US) standard dress sizes, s, are calculated by bust circumference, b, measured in inches, as follows: US: s = b − 28 UK: s = b − 24 Women's clothing US/UK US 4 6 8 10 12 UK 8 10 12 14 16 Bust 32 in 34 in 36 in 38 in 40 in 81 cm 86 cm 91 cm 97 cm 102 cm Waist 24 in 26.5 in 29 in 31 in 33 in 61 cm 67 cm 74 cm 79 cm 84 cm Hip 35 in 37 in 39 in 41 in 43 in 89 cm 94 cm 99 cm 104 cm 109 cm This pair of tables may be confusing or unclear to readers. In particular, Does "EU" refer to IT, FR or DE?. Please help clarify the pair of tables. There might be a discussion about this on the talk page. (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Women's junior misses dresses and coats EU 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 US 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 UK 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 Women's blouses and sweaters EU 40 42 44 46 48 50 US 32 34 36 38 40 42 UK 34 36 38 40 42 44 Women's jeans sizes: international conversions[edit] International conversions (women's jeans) Jeans Size EU Size INT UK FR IT 23 30 XS 2 32 36 24 32 XS 4 34 38 25 32 XS 4 34 38 26 34 S 6 36 40 27 34 S 6 36 40 28 36 S 8 38 42 29 36 M 8 38 42 30 38 M 10 40 44 31 38 M 10 40 44 32 40 L 12 42 46 33 40 L 12 42 46 34 42 L 14 44 48 36 44 XL 14 46 50 38 46 XXL 16 48 52 40 48 XXL 18 50 54 42 50 3XL 20 52 56 44 52 4XL 22 54 58 46 54 4XL 24 56 60 48 56 5XL 26 58 62 50 58 6XL 28 60 64 52 60 6XL 30 62 66 54 62 7XL 32 64 68 56 64 8XL 34 66 70 58 66 8XL 36 68 72 Korean women's sizes[edit] Korean casual and underwear (KS 051:2009) Dress size 3XS XXS XS S M L XL XXL 3XL 4XL Bust (cm) 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110–115 120–125 Japanese women's sizes[edit] Japanese dresses sizes (JIS L 4005:2001) Dress size 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 Bust (cm) 74 77 80 83 86 89 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 Japanese dresses length modifiers Modifier PP P R T double-petite petite regular tall Body height (cm) 142 150 158 166 Additional hip girth (cm) 0 0 2 4 Japanese dresses fit modifiers Modifier Y A AB B Additional hip girth (cm) 0 4 8 12 Note: a Japanese dress marked 13-Y-PP or 13-Y-P would be designed for someone with an 89 cm bust and 89 cm hips, while a dress marked 13-B-T would be targeted at a taller individual with 105 cm hips, but the same 89 cm bust. The B fitting adds 12 cm and the T height modifier 4 cm to the base hip measurement 89 + 16 = 105 cm. Additionally there are a set of age based waist adjustments, such that a dress marketed at someone in their 60s may allow for a waist 9 cm larger than a dress, of the same size, marketed at someone in their 20s. The age based adjustments allow for up to a 3 cm increase in girth, per decade of life. Continental European women's sizes[edit] Italian (IT), French (FR) and German (DE) standard dress sizes, s, are calculated by bust circumference, b, and body height, h, both measured in centimetres, as follows: IT: s = ⁠b/2⁠ FR: s = ⁠b/2⁠ − 4 = ⁠b − 8/2⁠ DE: s = ⁠b/2⁠ − 6 = ⁠b − 12/2⁠ short, petite, h < 164: s' = ⁠s/2⁠ = ⁠b/4⁠ − 3 = ⁠b − 12/4⁠ tall, h > 170: s' = 2 × s = b − 12 French sizes are also used by Belgian manufacturers and retailers, while German sizes are also used by Austrian, Dutch and Scandinavian ones. Women's clothing sizes (DE/AT/NL/SE/DK) Short size codes 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Standard size codes 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 Tall size codes 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 International XS S M L XL XXL EU tops 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 105 110 116 122 128 EU bottoms 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 94 100 106 112 Shoulder width (cm) 12 13 14 Arm length (cm) 58 59 60 61 62 Bust (cm) 74–77 78–81 82–85 86–89 90–93 94–97 98–102 103–107 108–113 114–119 120–125 126–131 Waist (cm) 58–61 62–64 65–68 69–72 73–77 78–81 82–85 86–90 91–95 96–102 103–108 109–114 Hips (cm) 80–84 85–89 90–94 95–97 98–101 102–104 105–108 109–112 113–116 117–122 123–128 129–134 Inside leg (cm) 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114
[edit] Comparison tables[edit] Men's shirts by neck girth UK / EU / Japan 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 UK / US / AUS 14 14+1⁄2 15 15+1⁄2 15+3⁄4 16+1⁄4 16+1⁄2 17 17+1⁄2 18 18+1⁄2 Japan S M L LL Korea 90 95 100 105 110 International XS S M L XL XXL Men's sports shirts, T-shirts by chest girth EU 36 37/38 39/40 41/42 43/44 45/46 UK / US XS S M L XL XXL chest girth 84 cm 92 cm 100 cm 108 cm 116 cm 124 cm Men's sweaters, jackets EU 38/40 42/44 46/48 50/52 52/54 UK / US S M L XL XXL Men's suits, suit jackets, blazers, overcoats EU / Russia 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 UK / US 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 Japan 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 Korea 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 SML XXS XS S S M M L L XL XXL XXXL Men's jeans, slacks, pants, trousers: Waist EU 64/68 68/72 72/76 76/80 80/84 84/88 88/92 92/96 96/100 100/104 104/108 108/112 112/116 Italy 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 UK / US 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 40 42 44 Men's jeans, slacks, pants, trousers: Length EU 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 UK / US 25/26 27/28 29/30 31 32 33 34 36 Men's underwear EU 1 2 3 4 5 UK / US S M L XL XXL Continental European men's sizes[edit] French (FR) and German (DE) standard suit sizes, s, are calculated by chest circumference, b, measured in centimetres, as follows: FR: s = ⁠b/2⁠ + 0.5 = ⁠b + 1/2⁠ DE: s = ⁠b/2⁠ − 0.5 = ⁠b − 1/2⁠ short, stocky (kurz, untersetzt): s' = ⁠s/2⁠ = ⁠b/4⁠ − 0.25 = ⁠b − 1/4⁠ portly (Bauchgröße): s' = s + 1 = ⁠b/2⁠ + 0.5 = ⁠b + 1/2⁠ tall, lean (lang, schlank): s' = 2 × (s − 1) = b − 3 French sizes are also used by Belgian manufacturers and retailers, while German sizes are also used by Austrian, Dutch and Scandinavian ones. Men's clothing sizes (AT/DE/NL/DK/SE/FI) Standard Size Codes 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 Underwear 4 5 6 7 8 International XXS XS S M L XL XXL 3XL 4XL 5XL 6XL 7XL Chest (cm) 086–89 090–93 094–97 098–101 102–105 106–109 110–113 114–117 118–121 122–125 126-128 129-132 133-136 137-140 141-144 145-148 Waist size (cm) 074–77 078–81 082–85 086–89 090–94 095–99 100–104 105–109 110–114 115–119 120-124 125-128 129-132 133-134 135-138 139-142 Hip circumference (cm) 090–93 094–97 098–101 102–105 106–109 110–113 114–117 118–121 122–125 126–129 Height (cm) 166–170 168–173 171–176 174–179 177–182 180–184 182–186 184–188 185–189 187–190 191-192 193-194 195-196 197-198 199-200 201-202 Short / Stocky (untersetzt) 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Chest (cm) 089–92 093–96 097–100 101–104 105–108 109–112 113–116 117–120 121–124 125-128 129-132 133-136 137-140 141-144 145-148 Waist size (cm) 081–84 085–88 089–92 093–96 097–100 101–106 107–110 111–114 115–118 Hip circumference (cm) 097-100 101–104 105–108 109–112 113–116 117–120 121–124 125–128 129–132 Height (cm) 163-167 166–170 169–173 172–176 175–178 177–180 179–182 181–183 182–183 184 185 186 187 188 189-190 191-192 Portly (Bauchgrößen) 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 Chest (cm) 100–103 104–107 108–111 112–115 116–119 120–123 124–126 127-130 131-134 135-138 139-142 143-146 Waist size (cm) 102–107 108–111 112–117 118–121 122–125 126–129 130-132 133-136 137-140 141-146 147-150 151-154 Hip circumference (cm) 108–111 112–115 116–119 120–123 124–127 128–132 133–137 Height (cm) 168–172 170–174 172–176 174–178 176–180 178–182 180–184 Tall size(schlanke) 90 94 98 102 106 110 114 118 122 Chest (cm) 088–91 092–95 096–99 100–103 104–107 108–111 111-114 115-118 119-122 Waist size (cm) 074–77 078–81 082–85 086–89 090–93 094–98 100-104 105-109 110-114 Hip circumference (cm) 092–95 096–99 100–103 104–107 108–111 112–115 116-119 120-123 124-127 Height (cm) 175–179 178–182 181–185 184–188 186–190 188–192 193-197 196-200 199-203
[edit] Inclusive sizing is the practice of having clothing ranges which do not make a distinction between "regular sizes" and "plus sizes".