U.S. standard clothing size explained

U.S. standard clothing sizes for women were originally developed from statistical data in the 1940s and 1950s. At that time, they were similar in concept to the EN 13402 European clothing size standard, although individual manufacturers have always deviated from them, sometimes significantly.

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 U.S. catalog sizes.

Body measurements below are given in inches.

History

Men's standard sizes were probably developed first during the American Revolutionary War, and they were in regular use by the American army during the War of 1812 for ready-made uniforms. These were based on the chest measurement, with other measurements being assumed to be either proportional (the circumference of the neck, waist, hips, and thighs) or easily altered (length of the inseam).

As this was largely successful in men, the same approach was attempted in the early 20th century for women using the bust as the sole measurement. However, this proved unsuccessful because women's bodies have far more variety in shape. The hourglass figure is frequently used as an industry standard, but only 8% of women have this body shape. A woman with an hourglass figure and a woman with an apple-shaped figure who have the same bust size will not have the same waist or hip sizes.

This was a significant problem for mail-order companies, and several attempts at predictable, standard sizing were made. In the 1940s, the statisticians Ruth O'Brien and William Shelton received a Works Progress Administration grant to conduct the most ambitious effort to solve this problem. Their team measured almost 15,000 women across the US. After discovering the complex diversity of women's actual sizes, which produced five to seven body shapes, they proposed a three-part sizing system. Each size would be the combination of a single number, representing an upper body measurement, plus an indicator for height (short, regular, and long) and an indication for girth (slim, regular, and stout). The various combinations of height and girth resulted in nine sizes for each numerical upper-body measurement, which was highly impractical for manufacturing.

As a result, O'Brien and Shelton's work was rejected. In 1958, the National Bureau of Standards invented a new sizing system, based on the hourglass figure and using only the bust size to create an arbitrary standard of sizes ranging from 8 to 38, with an indication for height (short, regular, and tall) and lower-body girth (plus or minus). The resulting commercial standard was not widely popular, and was declared voluntary in 1970 and withdrawn entirely in 1983. In 1995, ASTM International published its own voluntary standard, which has been revised since then. It has not been widely adopted.

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

There are multiple size types, designed to fit somewhat different body shapes. Variations include the height of the person's torso (known as back length), whether the bust, waist, and hips are straighter (characteristic of teenagers) or curvier (like many adult women), and whether the bust is higher or lower (characteristic of younger and older women, respectively). These categories include:

Misses sizes: The most common size category. For women of about average height (5 ft 4 in) with an average bust height and an hourglass figure. Dress sizes may be given as girth at the bust in inches (e.g., 36), but even-numbered sizes from 2 to 16 are more common. Categorical sizes range from XS (extra-small) to XL (extra-large).
  • Junior sizes: For short women with higher busts and fairly straight bodies. Junior sizes are commonly given as odd-numbered sizes from 1 to 15, which correspond to the next number up in misses' sizes.
  • Women's sizes or plus sizes: For larger women of average height, sometimes with lower bust lines. Like misses' sizes, the sizes may be given as a dress size based on the bust measurement, but they are usually given as even-numbered sizes from 18 up. Categorical sizes usually range from 1X (similar to extra-large, but with slightly different proportions compared to the misses' size) up.
  • Misses petite: Made For short women (Usually under 5 ft 4 in) with average busts and the same shaping characteristics as Regular Misses. Sizes follow the misses' standard and are marked with a P, as in 10P.
  • Junior petite: For very short women with average busts and fairly straight bodies. Size may be denoted as "5JP" or as "5P".
  • Women's petite: For larger, shorter women, sometimes with lower bust lines. Sizes are marked the same as women's with a P, as in 20P.
  • Young junior: For short women with high busts and fairly straight bodies.
  • Tall sizes: For taller women (usually 5 ft 8 in or above), usually with a proportionately average bust height and an hourglass figure. Sizes are usually written with the corresponding misses' size and a T to indicate tall, as in "10T".
  • Half sizes: For short women with lower busts and more hourglass body shapes. Sizes are written with a, as in "".

    • Details

    Please compare to your favorite fit charts. These measurements conflict with many other size charts. These charts are significantly smaller than many current US clothing companies.

    colspan="11"
    5 ft 3 in–5 ft 6 in tall, average: bust (3 in < hips), waist (9 in < hips)
    Dimension/size10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22
    Bust28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 40
    Waist23 23.5 24 25 26 27 28 30 32 34
    Hip31 32 33 34 35 36 37 39 41 43
    colspan="11"
    5'"–5'" tall, average bust, average back
    Dimension/size6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
    Bust35 38 40 42 44
    Waist26 29 31 33 35
    Hip37 40 42 44 46
    Back-waist length15 16
    colspan="11"
    5'" - 5 ft 8 in tall
    Dimension/size2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
    Bust32 33 34 35 36 39
    Waist 24 25 26 27 28 31
    Hip40 43 45 47
    colspan="13"
    5'" tall
    Dimension/size00 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
    Bust33 44 46
    Waist (Straight)34 36
    Waist (Curvy)27 28 29 39
    Hip (Straight)41 46 48
    Hip (Curvy)34 45
    colspan="11"
    5 ft 5 in–5 ft 9 in (165–175 cm) tall, average bust, average back
    Dimension/size4 6 8 10 12 14 16
    Bust32-34 34 38 41
    Waist22- 29 30 33
    Hip33- 38 39 41 44
    Back-waist length16
    [1]
    colspan="9"
    5 ft 1 in–5 ft 3 in (157.5–160 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back
    Dimension/size4mp 6mp8mp 10mp12mp14mp16mp
    Bust32-34 34 35 36 39
    Waist21- 29 32
    Hip34- 41 44
    Back-waist length14 15
    colspan="13"
    5 ft 4 in–5 ft 5 in (162.5–165 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back
    Dimension/size3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19
    Bust30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
    Waist22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
    Hips32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
    Back-waist length13.75 14 14.25 14.5 14.75 15 15.25 15.5 15.75
    colspan="7"
    5 ft 1 in (155 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back
    Dimension/size3jp 5jp 7jp 9jp 11jp 13jp
    Bust30.5 31 32 33 34 35
    Waist22.5 23 24 25 26 27
    Hip31.5 32 33 34 35 36
    Back-waist length14 14.25 14.5 14.75 15 15.25
    colspan="7"
    5 ft 1 in–5 ft 3 in (155–160 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back
    Dimension/size5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 15/16
    Bust28 29 30.5 32 33.5 35
    Waist22 23 24 25 26 27
    Hip31 32 33.5 35 36.5 38
    Back-waist length13.5 14 14.5 15 15.5 16
    colspan="10"
    5 ft 5 in–5 ft 6 in (165–168 cm) tall, average bust, average back
    Dimension/size34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
    Bust38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
    Waist30 32 34 35.5 37.5 39.5 41.5 43.5 45.5
    Hip39 41 43 46 48 50 52 54 56
    Back-waist length18
    colspan="9"
    5 ft 2 in–5 ft 3 in (157.5–160 cm) tall, lower bust, shorter back
    Dimension/size
    Bust33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47
    Waist27 29 31 33 35 40
    Hip35 37 39 41 43 48
    Back-waist length15 16

    Girls' sizes

    Dimension/size !! 7 !! 8 !! 10 !! 12 !! 14 !! 16
    Chest25.5 26 28 30 32 34
    Waist 22.5 23 24 25 26 27
    Hip26.5 27 29 31 33 35
    Height52 54 57 60 64 67

    Boys' sizes

    Dimension/size !! 7 !! 8 !! 10 !! 12 !! 14 !! 18 !! 20 !! 22
    Chest2627 28 30 32 35 40
    Waist 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
    Hip27 28 31 34 37
    Neckband12 13 14 15
    Height48 50 54 58 61 64 66 68

    Children's sizes

    Dimension/size !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 6X
    Chest18.5 20 20.5 21.5 22 23
    Waist17 18.5 19 20 20.5 21 21.5
    Hip19 20 21 22 23 24
    Height31 34 37 40 43 46 48
    Back-waist length9 10
    Finished dress length 17 18 19 20 22 24 25

    Baby sizes

    Dimension/size !! NB !! 0-3 mo !! 3-6 mo !! 6-9 mo !! 9-12 mo !! 18 mo !! 24 mo
    Weight5–8 lb 8– lb – lb - – lb – lb –30 lb
    Heightless than in –24 in 24– in – in – in – in –34 in.
    Dimension/size !! 1/2 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4
    Chest18.5 19 19.5 20 20.5
    Waist 17 17.5 18 19.5 20
    Height28 31 34 37 40
    Finished dress length 14 15 16 17 18

    Conversion from catalog sizes

    Companies who publish catalogs 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:

    Dimension/size !! 4 !! 6 !! 8 !! 10 !! 12 !! 14 !! 16 !! 18 !! 20
    Closest standard size10 12 14 16 18 20 22
    Est. height5 ft 4 in (162.5 cm) 5 ft 4 in (162.5 cm) 5 ft 4.5 in (164 cm) 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) 5 ft 4 in (162.5 cm) 5 ft 6.5 in (169 cm) 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) 5 ft 6.5 in (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)
    Bust34 35 36 37 38.5 40 41.5 43 44.5
    Waist 25 26 27 28 29.5 31 32.5 34 35.5
    Hip35.5 36.5 37.5 38.5 40 41.5 43 44.5 46
    Dimension/size !! !! !! !! !! 18W !! 20W !! 22W !! 24W !! 26W
    Closest standard size
    Est. height5 ft in (153 cm) 5 ft 1 in (155 cm) 5 ft 1.5 in (156 cm) 5 ft 2 in (157.5 cm) 5 ft 2.5 in (159 cm)5 ft 3 in (160 cm) 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) 5 ft 3.5 in (161 cm) 5 ft 4 in (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)
    Bust36 38 40 42 43.5 45.5 47.5 49.5 51.5
    Waist 28 30 32 34 35 37 39 41 43
    Hip38 40 42 44 45.5 47.5 49.5 52 53.5
    Dimension/size !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
    Closest standard size2 4 68 10 12 14 16 18
    Est. height5 ft 5 in (165 cm) 5 ft 5.5 in (166 cm) 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) 5 ft 6.5 in (169 cm) 5 ft 6.5 in (169 cm) 5 ft 6.5 in (169 cm) 5 ft 6.5 in (169 cm) 5 ft 6.5 in (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)
    Bust38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
    Waist 30 32 34 35.5 37.5 39.5 41.5 43.5 45.5
    Hip39 41 43 46 48 50 52 54 56

    With the average American woman's height (20 years and older) at about 5 ft 4 in (162.1 cm), both standard and catalog size ranges attempt to address a variety of weights or 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.

    Standards

    Current and former national standards:

    See also

    References

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Bob Johnstone . Video Games Industry Infographics . August 1, 2014 . ESRB Infographics . ESRB.
    2. Web site: Standard Tables of Body Measurements for Adult Female Misses Figure Type, Size Range 00–20 . September 14, 2014 . ASTM.org . ASTM.
    3. Web site: PS 42-70 Body measurement for the sizing of apparal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307190354/http://gsi.nist.gov/global/docs/stds/womens-ps42-70.pdf . March 7, 2016 . September 14, 2014.

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