US Standard Clothing Sizes    Definition for the Clothing Industry presented by Apparel Search
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Apparel Search does NOT guarantee the accuracy of information on this page.  All bodies are different ...  This is simply a clothing size reference that should be utilized at your own risk.  The standards may have been updated after we posted this page.  Again, this clothing sizing information is just for reference only.  Don't blame us if your garments do not fit properly ... Unfortunately, body types and sizes are continuously changing.  Good luck with your sewing projects.

US standard clothing sizes were developed from statistical data in the 1940's-1950's. They are similar in principle to the EN 13402 European clothing size standard. However, these sizes are no longer used by U.S. clothing companies.

Women's sizes

Women's sizes are divided into various types, depending on the overall height and the relative heights of the bust and waistlines.

Misses' Sizes: 5 ft 5 in-5'6" tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/Size 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Bust 30.5 31.5 32.5 34 36 38 40 42
Waist 23 24 25 26.5 28 30 32 34
Hip 32.5 33.5 34.5 36 38 40 42 44
Back-waist length 15.5 15.75 16 16.25 16.5 16.75 17 17.25

Miss Petite: 5 ft 2 in-5'3" tall, average bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 6mp 8mp 10mp 12mp 14mp 16mp
Bust 30.5 31.5 32.5 34 36 38
Waist 23.5 24.5 25.5 27 28.5 30.5
Hip 32.5 33.5 34.5 36 38 40
Back-waist length 14.5 14.75 15 15.25 15.5 15.75

Junior Sizes: 5 ft 4 in-5'5" tall, higher bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 5 7 9 11 13 15
Bust 30 31 32 33.5 35 37
Waist 22.5 23.5 24.5 25.5 27 29
Hip 32 33 34 35.5 37 39
Back-waist length 15 15.25 15.5 15.75 16 16.25

Junior Petite: 5 ft 1 in tall, average bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 3jp 5jp 7jp 9jp 11jp 13jp
Bust 30.5 31 32 33 34 35
Waist 22.5 23 24 25 26 27
Hip 31.5 32 33 34 35 36
Back-waist length 14 14.25 14.5 14.75 15 15.25

Young Junior Sizes: 5 ft 1 in-5'3" tall, higher bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 15/16
Bust 28 29 30.5 32 33.5 35
Waist 22 23 24 25 26 27
Hip 31 32 33.5 35 36.5 38
Back-waist length 13.5 14 14.5 15 15.375 15.75

Women's Sizes: 5 ft 5 in-5'6" 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 41.5 44 46.5 49
Hip 44 46 48 50 52 54 56
Back-waist length 17.25 17.375 17.5 17.625 17.75 17.875 18

Half Sizes: 5 ft 2 in-5'3" tall, lower bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 10 1/2 12 1/2 14 1/2 16 1/2 18 1/2 20 1/2 22 1/2 24 1/2
Bust 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47
Waist 27 29 31 33 35 37.5 40 42.5
Hip 35 37 39 41 43 45.5 48 50.5
Back-waist length 15 15.25 15.5 15.75 15.875 16 16.125 16.25

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Men's sizes

Men's Sizes
Dimension/Size 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Chest 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Waist 28 30 32 34 36 39 42 44
Hip 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
Neckband 14 14.5 15 15.5 16 16.5 17 17.5
Shirt sleeve 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35
 

Girls' sizes

Girls' Sizes
Dimension/Size 7 8 10 12 14
Chest 26 27 28.5 30 32
Waist 23 23.5 24.5 25.5 26.5
Hip 27 28 30 32 34
Height 50 52 56 58.5 61
Back-waist length 11.5 12 12.75 13.5 14.25

Chubbie Sizes
Dimension/Size 8 1/2c 10 1/2c 12 1/2c 14 1/2c
Chest 30 31.5 33 34.5
Waist 28 29 30 31
Hip 33 34.5 36 37.5
Height 52 56 58.5 61
Back-waist length 12.5 13.25 14 14.75

 

Boys' sizes

Boys' Sizes
Dimension/Size 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Chest 26 27 28 30 32 33.5 35 36.5
Waist 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Hip 27 28 29.5 31 32.5 34 35.5 37
Neckband 11.75 12 12.5 13 13.5 14 14.5 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 25.5
Waist 19.5 20 20.5 21 21.5 22 22.5
Hip       24 25 26 26.5
Height 31 34 37 40 43 46 48
Back-waist length 8.25 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 10.75
Finished dress length 17 18 19 20 22 24 25

Baby sizes

Toddlers' Sizes
Dimension/Size 1/2 1 2 3 4
Chest 19 20 21 22 23
Waist 19 19.5 20 20.5 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 1980's. 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 ft 5 in-5'6" 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 ft 4 in 5 ft 4 in 5'4.5" 5 ft 5 in 5 ft 4 in 5'6.5" 5 ft 6 in 5 ft 6 in 5'6.5"
Est. weight (lbs.) 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 180 195
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" tall, lower bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size         18W 20W 22W 24W 26W
Closest standard size 12 1/2 14 1/2 16 1/2 18 1/2 20 1/2 22 1/2 24 1/2 26 1/2 28 1/2
Est. height 5' 1/2" 5 ft 1 in 5'1.5" 5 ft 2 in 5'2.5" 5 ft 3 in 5 ft 3 in 5'3.5" 5 ft 4 in
Est. weight (lbs.) 125 140 155 170 180 190 215 225 235
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 ft 5 in-5'6.5" tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/Size                  
Closest standard size 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Est. height 5 ft 5 in 5'5.5" 5 ft 6 in 5 ft 6 in 5'6.5" 5'6.5" 5'6.5" 5'6.5" 5'6.5"
Est. weight (lbs.) 145 160 175 190 205 220 235 250 265
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

See also

  • Armstrong HJ. (1999) Pattern Making for Fashion Design, 3rd ed., Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-321-03423-6

Hemline Definition

Color Standards

Waistline Definition

Neckline Definition

Dress Maker Definition

Tailor Definition

Clothing Definitions

 

The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_standard_clothing_size   ).  10/8/06  Above article modified by Apparel Search

 
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