US standard clothing size

US standard clothing sizes were developed from statistical data in the 1940s-1950s. They were similar in concept to the EN 13402 European clothing size standard.

However, as a result of various cultural pressures, most notably vanity sizing, North American clothing sizes have drifted substantially away from this standard over time, and now have very little connection to it. Instead, they now follow the more loosely defined standards known as US catalog sizes.

Body measurements below are given in inches.

Contents

Women's sizes

Women’s sizes are divided into various types, depending on height. These charts give an indication of size only and are by no means exact as they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer - sometimes by a full inch up and down.

Overview

Height Sizes Bust Back 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
5′1″–5′3″ young junior higher shorter 5/6 7/8 9/10 9/10 11/12 13/14 13/14 15/16
5′1″ junior petite average shorter 3jp 5jp 7jp 9jp 11jp 11jp 13jp
5′1″–5′3″ miss petite average shorter 0mp 2mp 4mp 6mp 8mp 10mp 12mp 12mp 14mp 16mp 16mp
5′2″–5′3″ half lower shorter 10½ 12½ 14½ 16½ 18½ 20½ 22½ 24½
5′4″–5′5″ junior higher shorter 00 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 11 13 15 17 19
5′5″–5′6″ misses average average 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 14 16 16 18 20
women average average 38 40 42 44 46 48 50

'a size 4 is a 28 and size 6 is a 30'Bold text

Details

Misses’ sizes
5'5"–5'6" (165–168 cm) tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/size 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Bust 32-34 34 34 35 36 37½ 39 40½ 42 44
Waist 22-24½ 25½ 26½ 27½ 28½ 30 31½ 33 34½ 36½
Hip 33-35½ 36½ 37½ 38½ 39½ 41 42½ 44 45½ 47½
Back-waist length 14½ 14¾ 15½ 15¾ 16 16¼ 16½ 16¾ 17 17¼
Miss petite sizes
5'1"–5'3" (157.5–160 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back
Dimension/size 0-2mp 4mp 6mp 8mp 10mp 12mp 14mp 16mp
Bust 32-34 34 34 35 36 37½ 39 40½
Waist 21-23½ 24½ 25½ 26½ 27½ 29 30½ 32
Hip 34-35½ 36½ 37½ 38½ 39½ 41 42½ 44
Back-waist length 14 14½ 14½ 14¾ 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾
Junior sizes
5'4"–5'5" (162.5–165 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back
Dimension/size 00 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 18
Bust 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37½ 39 41 43 45
Waist 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29½ 31 33 35 37
Hips 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39½ 41 43 45 47
Back-waist length 13¾ 14 14½ 14¾ 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾ 16 16¼ 16½ 16¾
Junior petite sizes
5'1" (155 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back
Dimension/size 3jp 5jp 7jp 9jp 11jp 13jp
Bust 33 34 35 36 37½ 39
Waist 25 26 27 28 29½ 31
Hip 35 36 37 38 39½ 41
Back-waist length 14 14¼ 14½ 14¾ 15 15¼
Young junior sizes
5'1"–5'3" (155–160 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back
Dimension/size 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 15/16
Bust 28 29 30½ 32 33½ 35
Waist 22 23 24 25 26 27
Hip 31 32 33½ 35 36½ 38
Back-waist length 13½ 14 14½ 15 15⅜ 15¾
Women’s sizes
5'5"–5'6" (165–168 cm) tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/size 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Bust 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Waist 35 37 39 41½ 44 46½ 49
Hip 44 46 48 50 52 54 56
Back-waist length 17¼ 17⅜ 17½ 17⅝ 17¾ 17⅞ 18
Half-sizes
5'2"–5'3" (157.5–160 cm) tall, lower bust, shorter back
Dimension/size 10½ 12½ 14½ 16½ 18½ 20½ 22½ 24½
Bust 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47
Waist 27 29 31 33 35 37½ 40 42½
Hip 35 37 39 41 43 45½ 48 50½
Back-waist length 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾ 15⅞ 16 16⅛ 16¼

Men's sizes

Men’s sizes
Dimension/size
S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL
Chest 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60
Waist 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Neckband 14 14½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½ 18 18½ 19 19½ 20 20½
Shirt sleeve 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 37½ 38 36½
Inseam 30 31 32 32 34 34 34

Girls' sizes

Girls' sizes, including plus sizes (½c)
Dimension/size 7 8 8½c 10 10½c 12 12½c 14 14½c
Chest 29 29 30 29½ 31½ 30 33 35 34½
Waist 23 23½ 28 24½ 29 25½ 30 26½ 31
Hip 27 28 33 30 34½ 32 36 34 37½
Height 50 52 52 56 56 58½ 58½ 61 61
Back-waist length 11½ 12 12½ 12¾ 13½ 13½ 14 14½ 14¾

Boys' sizes

Boys' sizes
Dimension/size 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Chest 26 27 28 30 33½ 35 36
Waist 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Hip 27 28 29½ 31 32½ 34 35½ 37
Neckband 11¾ 12 12½ 13 13½ 14 14½ 15
Height 48 50 54 58 61 64 66 68

Children's sizes

Children's sizes
Dimension/size 1 2 3 4 5 6 6X
Chest 20 21 22 23 24 25 25½
Waist 19½ 20 20½ 21 21½ 22 22½
Hip 21 22 23 24 25 26 26½
Height 31 34 37 40 43 46 48
Back-waist length 8¼ 8½ 9 9½ 10 10½ 10¾
Finished dress length 17 18 19 20 22 24 25

Baby sizes

Infant sizes
Dimension/size NB 0-3 mo 3-6 mo 6-9 mo 9-12 mo 18 mo 24 mo
Weight 5–8 lb 8–12½ lb 12½–16½ lb 16½-20½ 20½–24½ lb 24½–27½ lb 27½–30 lb
Height less than 21½ in 21½–24 in 26½–28½ in 28½–30½ in 30½–32½ in 32½–34 in. 32½–34 in.
Toddlers' sizes
Dimension/size 1/2 1 2 3 4
Chest 19 20 21 22 23
Waist 19 19½ 20 20½ 21
Height 28 31 34 37 40
Finished dress length 14 15 16 17 18

Conversion from catalog sizes

Catalogs have departed from the US standard sizes since approximately the 1980s. Companies now may provide the measurements for their sizes, which may vary even among different styles of the same type of garment. The sizes seen in catalogs generally have roughly the following measurements:

Catalog misses' sizes: 5'5"-5'6" (165–168 cm) tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/size 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Closest standard size 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Est. height 5'4" (162.5 cm) 5'4" (162.5 cm) 5'4.5" (164 cm) 5'5" (165 cm) 5'4" (162.5 cm) 5'6.5" (169 cm) 5'6" (168 cm) 5'6" (168 cm) 5'6.5" (169 cm)
Est. weight lb (kg) 115 (52) 125 (57) 135 (61) 145 (66) 155 (70) 165 (75) 175 (79) 180 (81.5) 195 (88.5)
Bust 34 35 36 37 38.5 40 41.5 43 44.5
Waist 25 26 27 28 29.5 31 32.5 34 35.5
Hip 35.5 36.5 37.5 38.5 40 41.5 43 44.5 46
Catalog women's petite (half-sizes): 5'1/2"-5'4" (153-162.5 cm) tall, lower bust, shorter back
Dimension/size 18W 20W 22W 24W 26W
Closest standard size 12½ 14½ 16½ 18½ 20½ 22½ 24½ 26½ 28½
Est. height 5' 1/2" (153 cm) 5'1" (155 cm) 5'1.5" (156 cm) 5'2" (157.5 cm) 5'2.5" (159 cm) 5'3" (160 cm) 5'3" (160 cm) 5'3.5" (161 cm) 5'4" (162.5 cm)
Est. weight lb (kg) 125 (57) 140 (63.5) 155 (70) 170 (77) 180 (81.5) 190 (86) 215 (97.5) 225 (102) 235 (106.5)
Bust 36 38 40 42 43.5 45.5 47.5 49.5 51.5
Waist 28 30 32 34 35 37 39 41 43
Hip 38 40 42 44 45.5 47.5 49.5 52 53.5
Catalog women's sizes: 5'5"-5'6.5" (165–169 cm) tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/size
Closest standard size 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Est. height 5'5" (165 cm) 5'5.5" (166 cm) 5'6" (168 cm) 5'6" (168 cm) 5'6.5" (169 cm) 5'6.5" (169 cm) 5'6.5" (169 cm) 5'6.5" (169 cm) 5'6.5" (169 cm)
Est. weight lb (kg) 145 (66) 160 (72.5) 175 (79) 190 (86) 205 (93) 220 (100) 235 (106.5) 250 (113) 265 (120)
Bust 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Waist 30 32 34 35.5 37.5 39.5 41.5 43.5 45.5
Hip 39 41 43 46 48 50 52 54 56

With the average American woman's height at about 5'4" (163 cm), both standard and catalog size ranges attempt to address a variety of weights / builds as well as providing for the "shorter-than-average" height woman with "petite" and "half-sizes". However "taller-than-average" women may find their size-height addressed by manufacturers less frequently, and may often find themselves facing issues of slightly too short pant legs and sleeve cuffs, as well as waist lengths.

See also

Bibliography