Children’s Clothing Size Chart by Age, Height and Weight

Buying clothes for a child is a guessing game. The label says 4 years, but the child is tall for four. The next brand says 4T, the next says 104, and a third says size 5. By the time the parcel arrives, it is too short in the sleeves or too big in the shoulders. A good children’s clothing size chart takes much of the guesswork out of this.

This guide gives you a size chart by age, with height, weight and waist, in metric and US units. It also shows how EU, UK and US sizes relate, how to measure a child at home, and how to choose between two sizes. You will see a worked example and the reasons why sizes differ from brand to brand. If you are curious about how garment makers measure clothes, see our guide on the measurement of top and bottom garments.

A note on accuracy. There is no single world standard for children’s sizes. Each brand sets its own chart, based on its own research and fit models. The figures below follow the published size chart of a large US children’s brand, plus the common European way of sizing by height. Use them as a guide and always check the chart of the shop you are buying from.

Why age is only a rough guide

Children of the same age can differ by 15 cm or more in height. Growth comes in spurts, and genes, nutrition and sleep all play a part. So brands set their sizes by body measurements, mostly height and weight, and show age only as a hint. If a child is between sizes, height is the best number to follow. The waist matters for trousers, and the chest matters for fitted tops and jackets.

Baby size chart (0 to 24 months)

Size	Approx. age	Height	Weight	Waist
Preemie	Premature	Up to 46 cm (18 in)	Up to 2.7 kg (6 lb)	about 36 cm
Newborn	0 to 1 month	46 to 55 cm	2.7 to 4 kg	about 41 cm
3 months	1 to 3 months	55 to 61 cm	4 to 5.7 kg	about 44.5 cm
6 months	3 to 6 months	61 to 69 cm	5.7 to 7.5 kg	about 47 cm
9 months	6 to 9 months	69 to 72 cm	7.5 to 9.3 kg	about 48 cm
12 months	9 to 12 months	72 to 76 cm	9.3 to 11.1 kg	about 50 cm
18 months	12 to 18 months	76 to 81 cm	11.1 to 12.5 kg	about 51.5 cm
24 months	18 to 24 months	81 to 86 cm	12.5 to 13.6 kg	about 53 cm

Babies grow quickly, so a size often fits for only two or three months. Many parents buy one size up for sleepwear and outer layers.

Toddler size chart (2T to 5T)

The letter T means toddler. These sizes have more room in the seat for a nappy and are made for children who are walking.

Size	Approx. age	Height	Weight	Waist
2T	2 years	88 to 93 cm (35 to 36.5 in)	13.2 to 14.1 kg	about 53 cm
3T	3 years	93 to 98 cm	14.1 to 15 kg	about 54.5 cm
4T	4 years	99 to 105 cm	15.4 to 17 kg	about 56 cm
5T	5 years	105 to 112 cm	17 to 19 kg	about 57 cm

Kids size chart (4 to 14)

US size	Approx. age	Height	Weight	Waist
4	4 years	102 to 108 cm	15 to 18 kg	about 56 cm
5	5 years	108 to 114 cm	18 to 20 kg	about 57 cm
6	6 years	114 to 121 cm	20 to 22 kg	about 58 cm
7	7 years	122 to 131 cm	23 to 27 kg	about 60 cm
8	8 years	128 to 136 cm	27 to 32 kg	about 62 cm
10	9 to 10 years	137 to 142 cm	32 to 40 kg	about 63.5 cm
12	11 to 12 years	142 to 152 cm	40 to 46 kg	about 66 cm
14	13 to 14 years	150 to 159 cm	44 to 51 kg	about 71 cm

Notice that the height ranges of neighbouring sizes overlap. A child of 108 cm could wear a size 4 or a size 5. Children’s sizes also come in slim, regular and husky or plus fits in many brands, which change the waist and hip but keep the height the same.

European sizing: by height in centimetres

Most European shops simply put the child’s height on the label. A child who is 110 cm tall wears size 110. This is easier than age sizing because you only need one measurement.

EU size (height in cm)	Typical age
62	2 to 3 months
68	4 to 6 months
74	6 to 9 months
80	9 to 12 months
86	12 to 18 months
92	18 to 24 months
98	2 to 3 years
104	3 to 4 years
110	4 to 5 years
116	5 to 6 years
122	6 to 7 years
128	7 to 8 years
134	8 to 9 years
140	9 to 10 years
146	10 to 11 years
152	11 to 12 years
158	12 to 13 years
164	13 to 14 years

Sizes come in steps of 6 cm, and each size covers a child whose height is within a few centimetres of the number. If a child is 107 cm, buy 110 for a roomy fit or 104 for a snug one.

UK sizes by age and height

UK retailers often label by age, for example “4 to 5 years”, and then give a height range. Typical ranges are below. Sizes are from common UK charts and differ by shop.

UK size (age)	Height range
3 to 4 years	about 97 to 105 cm
4 to 5 years	about 105 to 113 cm
5 to 6 years	about 112 to 118 cm
6 to 7 years	about 122 to 128 cm
7 to 8 years	about 127 to 135 cm
8 to 9 years	about 136 to 140 cm
9 to 10 years	about 141 to 146 cm
10 to 12 years	about 147 to 157 cm
12 to 13 years	about 152 to 163 cm
13 to 14 years	about 160 to 168 cm

How to measure your child

You need a soft tape measure, a pencil and a wall. Ask the child to wear thin clothes and stand relaxed.

1. Height. Stand the child barefoot against a wall with heels together. Put a flat book on the head, level with the wall, and make a pencil mark. Measure from the floor to the mark. For babies, lay them on their back, straighten the legs gently and measure from head to heel.
2. Chest. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits, with the tape level and snug but not tight.
3. Waist. Measure around the natural waist, which is the narrowest point above the belly button.
4. Hips. Measure around the fullest part of the hips.
5. Inseam. Measure from the crotch to the ankle bone along the inside of the leg.
6. Sleeve length. From the shoulder bone to the wrist with the arm slightly bent.

Write the numbers down. Then compare them with the chart of the shop or brand. If one number falls in a larger size, choose by the measurement that matters most for that garment: chest for tops, waist and inseam for trousers, height for dresses and all-in-ones.

How to choose between two sizes

• Between sizes, go up for children who are growing fast, and for trousers with an adjustable waist.
• Go down for fitted garments such as swimwear and sports tops, where a loose fit can be unsafe or uncomfortable.
• Check fabric. Stretch knits are forgiving. Stiff woven denim and cotton need more precise sizing.
• Check shrinkage. Cotton garments can shrink by a few percent in the first washes. See our guides on how to prevent clothes from shrinking and shrinkage control in garment factories.
• Read the reviews. Parents often say if a brand runs small or large.
• Check the return policy before you buy.

Worked example: choosing a size

A child is 4 years and 5 months old. She is 104 cm tall, weighs 16.5 kg and has a waist of 54 cm. You want a cotton dress and a pair of trousers for the next six months.

Step 1: find the size by height.

• US toddler chart: 4T covers 99 to 105 cm, so 104 cm fits at the top of the range.
• EU chart: size 104 is an exact match.
• UK chart: 4 to 5 years covers 105 to 113 cm. She is just below, so 3 to 4 years is the tighter fit and 4 to 5 years is the roomier one.

Step 2: check weight and waist. 16.5 kg falls inside 4T (15.4 to 17 kg). Her waist of 54 cm is a little under the 4T figure of about 56 cm, which is fine for trousers with an elastic waist.

Step 3: allow for growth. Children of this age grow roughly 5 to 7 cm a year on average, which is about 3 cm in six months. In six months she may be near 107 cm, which is at the top of 4T and the bottom of 5T.

Step 4: decide.

• For the dress, buy size 5T or EU 110. The extra length gives room to grow.
• For trousers, size 4T with a roll-up hem and adjustable waist would fit now. Size 5T would be better in three months.

Step 5: allow for shrinkage. If the cotton trousers may shrink 3 percent in length, a 55 cm inseam becomes 55 × 0.97 = 53.4 cm. That is a loss of 1.6 cm. A size up covers it.

Why sizes differ between brands

• Different fit models. Each brand uses its own set of body measurements.
• Different markets. Sizes made for Asia, Europe and North America reflect local body shapes.
• Vanity sizing. Some brands label items a size smaller to flatter buyers.
• Style. An oversized tee is meant to be loose. A fitted tee is cut close.
• Fabric. A stretch fabric needs less ease than a woven one.
• Tolerance in production. Garments are allowed to vary by a small amount, usually a centimetre or so, from the spec. Our guide on the garment spec sheet explains how that works.

For the way factories scale one pattern to a whole range of sizes, see our guide on pattern grading. For pants specifically, read our guide on pant measurements.

Safety and comfort points

• Sleepwear should fit snugly or be made of flame-resistant fabric in many countries, because loose cotton nightclothes can catch fire more easily. Check your local rules.
• Hoods and drawstrings near the neck are a risk for young children. Many safety rules limit them. Choose designs without long cords.
• Seams and tags should be soft. Look for flat seams, tagless labels and gentle fabrics for sensitive skin.
• Room for movement. A garment should let the child bend, sit and reach without pulling.
• Fastenings such as buttons and snaps should be firmly attached.

Final thoughts

A children’s clothing size chart is a helpful tool, but it is a guide, not a promise. Start with your child’s height, then check weight, waist and chest. Compare with the chart of the shop you buy from, think about growth and shrinkage, and choose the size that gives comfort now and a little room for later. When in doubt, a quick tape measure and a glance at the return policy will save time and money.

Frequently asked questions