Clothing Size Charts
These tables show comparisons in sizing clothes so you can determine how to shop for clothing for your target gender.
Taking Your Measurements
Measurements operate differently from one gender to another, and from one clothing manufacturer to another. A size ten dress from one designer and a size sixteen from another could essentially be the same garment. For this reason, once you have your bodily measurements, it's important to always consult the manufacturer's size chart to see where you fall.Taking your measurements is easier if you have someone help with the process - it's more accurate this way - and if possible you should wear no more than your undergarments when measuring. If you are fully clothed, remember to account for the thickness of your clothing and adjust the final numbers to suit. A simple tailor's measuring tape can be acquired from any department store or variety retailer, most usually for under two dollars, and is the best tool to use for this purpose.
When measuring, the tape should always be held even with the floor. You should stand comfortably, but be sure you're standing straight up with correct posture during your measurement.
Measuring Your Chest and Bust
This is necessary for determining the size of your tops and any dresses you plan to wear, as well as for proper bra sizing. To measure your chest, the tape should be drawn - firmly against your body - just under your nipples. Remember, the tape should be absolutely parallel with the floor as it runs around your back.To find your bust size, put on a bra and fill it to the same extent you would normally wear, including the use of any aids or prostheses such as breast forms. Measure the same way you did for your chest, with the tape passing over the fullest part of your bra, just tight enough to keep it from sliding downward elsewhere around your body.
Your cup size measurement is the difference, in inches, between your chest and bust measurements. More information on this measurement can be found further below.
Measuring Your Waist
For the purposes of determining clothes sizes, the waist can be found at a different place on your body depending on the target gender for your clothing.For FtM (male clothing) measurements:
Keeping the measuring tape level with the floor, measure around your midsection immediately below your navel.
For MtF (female clothing) measurements:
Hold the tape at the narrowest part of your waist, which is about halfway between the topmost point on your hip bone and the lowest point on your rib cage.
Measuring Your Hips
To find this measurement, draw the tape firmly around the largest - that is, widest - part of your hips and buttocks.Bra Sizes
While it is helpful to know exactly how your bust measures when filled, you can also estimate sizes if you've not yet worn a bra. The numerical measurement for your bra is taken directly from your chest size. If, just under the nipples, you measure 38 inches, then your bra size is 38.A good guide can be found on The Breast Form Store which has both US and UK based websites among others.
Use this table to determine the appropriate cup size for your bra:
Inches between bust and chest: | |||||||
Appropriate cup size: |
Using the example from above, if your chest measures 38 inches and you want to wear a C cup bra - for a complete bra size of 38C - you should account for an extra three inches of space between your chest and bust measurements. Your total bust measurement, then, would be 41 inches.
Issues with Bra Fitting
- Breast spilling out of your bra? Your cup size is too small.
- Top of the bra cup pressing too hard on your breast? Your cup size is too small.
- Bra doesn't firmly hold breasts? Your cup size is too large.
- Bra band doesn't stay firmly in place? The bra itself is too large or you need to tighten the straps.
- Bra strap places too much pressure on your shoulders? Loosen the back strap.
- Bra straps won't stay on the shoulder? Tighten the back strap.
Measurements in Centimeters
International Bra Size Conversion
US | UK | France | Australia | International |
---|---|---|---|---|
32AA | 32A | 85A | 10AA | 70A |
32A | 32B | 85B | 10A | 70B |
32B | 32C | 85C | 10B | 70C |
32C | 32D | 85D | 10C | 70D |
32D | 32DD | 85DD | 10D | 70DD |
34AA | 34A | 90A | 12AA | 75A |
34A | 34B | 90B | 12A | 75B |
34B | 34C | 90C | 12B | 75C |
34C | 34D | 90D | 12C | 75D |
34D | 34DD | 90DD | 12D | 75E |
34DD | 34E | 90E | 12DD | 75E |
36AA | 36A | 95A | 14AA | 80A |
36A | 36B | 95B | 14A | 80B |
36B | 36C | 95C | 14B | 80C |
36C | 36C | 95D | 14C | 80D |
36D | 36DD | 95DD | 14D | 80DD |
36DD | 36E | 95E | 14DD | 80E |
38AA | 38A | 100A | 16AA | 85A |
38A | 38B | 100B | 16A | 85B |
38B | 38C | 100C | 16B | 85C |
38C | 38D | 100D | 16C | 85D |
38D | 38DD | 100DD | 16D | 85DD |
38DD | 38E | 100E | 16DD | 85E |
40A | 40B | 105B | 18A | 90B |
40B | 40C | 105C | 18B | 90C |
40C | 40D | 105D | 18C | 90D |
40D | 40DD | 105DD | 18D | 90DD |
40DD | 40E | 105E | 18DD | 90E |
Finding Your Dress and Clothing Sizes
Determining the right dress or clothing size for a traditionally masculine body can be difficult. Using the table below, find the size that correlates to your measurements for your bust, waist, and hips, based on your height. You'll probably find that each of these three measurements tells you you should wear a different dress size, but don't let that alarm you - many people with traditionally feminine bodies have the same issue. In most cases, you'll want to choose the largest of the sizes indicated.As an example, let's say your bust is 42 inches, your waist is 32 inches, and your hips are 38 inches.
- A 42 inch bust points to a size 20 dress.
- A 32 inch waist calls for a size 16 dress.
- Hips measuring 38 inches suggest a size 14 dress.
In the vast majority of cases, you would want to shop for a size 20 dress. Anything smaller would seriously constrict - and possibly distort - your bustline. Remember to consult the dressmaker's size chart. All sizes are not created equal. If these are your measurements, you may fit well into a few size 20 dresses, only to find one manufacturer whose size 20 compares to what you would be used to seeing as a size 26. Always be sure to compare your actual measurements to the manufacturer's charts before making a purchase.
Height Chart | |
---|---|
Your Height | Your Size Category |
5'4" or under | Petite Misses or Petite Juniors |
5'4 1/2" to 5'8" | Misses or Juniors |
5'9" to 5'11" | Tall Misses or Tall Juniors |
When consulting this chart, remember that other measurements may get in the way. Generally speaking, your body will conform to these guidelines. But they are only guidelines. If you have broader shoulders than others of your height, you may need to shop for clothing in the next category above what's recommended. Don't be afraid to try things on - this is the only way you'll learn how your body fits the clothing that's available.
Blouses and Sweaters
These articles of clothing are generally sized by bust measurement, but you should be prepared to account for the span of your shoulders when shopping. Traditionally feminine bodies tend to be slimmer in the shoulders than traditionally masculine bodies, so you may have to choose a size up to account for this. Also, if you have a choice between "standard" and "Raglan" shoulder types, you should generally choose the Raglan. Raglan shoulders have no seams around the shoulder, so you may be able to take a smaller size.Sleeve length is an afterthought in sizing for these articles of clothing, but one trans women must be mindful of. All other things being equal, you may find that an "appropriately" sized blouse or sweater has sleeves that end closer to your elbow than your wrist. If you find this to be the case, try the next size up.
Below you'll find tables that show you how clothes measure up to traditionally named sizes. All numerical sizes are in inches.
Petite Tops | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | ||||
- - | 2P | 4P | 6P | 8P | 10P | 12P | 14P | 16P | 18P |
Bust | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 1/2 | 39 | 40 1/2 | 42 1/2 |
Petite Bottoms | |||||||||
Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | ||||
- - | 2P | 4P | 6P | 8P | 10P | 12P | 14P | 16P | 18P |
Waist | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 1/2 | 31 | 32 1/2 | 34 1/2 |
Hip | 34 1/2 | 35 1/2 | 36 1/2 | 37 1/2 | 38 1/2 | 40 | 41 1/2 | 43 | 45 |
Inseam | |||||||||
Short | 27 | Average | 29 | ||||||
Regular Tops | |||||||||
Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | ||||
- - | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
Bust | 32 1/2 | 33 1/2 | 34 1/2 | 35 1/2 | 36 1/2 | 38 | 39 1/2 | 41 | 43 |
Regular Bottoms | |||||||||
Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | ||||
- - | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
Waist | 24 1/2 | 25 1/2 | 26 1/2 | 27 1/2 | 28 1/2 | 30 | 31 1/2 | 33 | 35 |
Hip | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 1/2 | 42 | 43 1/2 | 45 1/2 |
Inseam | |||||||||
Short | 29 | Average | 31 | Tall | 33 |
Plus Tops | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Size | 1X | 2X | 3X | |||
- - | 16W | 18W | 20W | 22W | 24W | 26W |
Bust | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 44 |
Plus Bottoms | ||||||
Size | 1X | 2X | 3X | |||
- - | 16W | 18W | 20W | 22W | 24W | 26W |
Waist | 39 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 47 | 49 |
Hip | 47 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 55 | 57 |
Inseam for all sizes: 30 |
Panties
Panties | |
---|---|
Hips (Inches) | Panty Size |
32 - 34 | 5 |
35 - 37 | 6 |
38 - 40 | 7 |
41 - 42 | 8 |
43 - 44 | 9 |
45 - 46 | 10 |
Briefs | |
Hips (Centimeters) | Brief Size |
67 - 72 | 10 |
72 - 77 | 12 |
77 - 82 | 14 |
82 - 87 | 16 |
87 - 92 | 18 |
92 - 97 | 20 |
A note about undergarments: women's undergarments are designed for traditionally female bodies. This means they don't account for physically external genitalia. Especially if you are at the larger end of the range for your undergarment size, you may want to consider buying the next size up to avoid physical discomfort.
Shoes
Shoe sizing is generally straightforward regardless of the gender for which you're shopping. As a basic rule, if you are transitioning from male to female, shop for shoes one-and-a-half to two numerical sizes larger than you would normally wear. For those transitioning from female to male, the reverse is true; simply shop one-and-a-half to two sizes lower than the number you usually wear.For either gender, you can determine a roughly accurate shoe size based on the length of your feet in inches. To do this, get a piece of paper, a pen, and a ruler or tape measure.
- Place your foot in its normal standing position on the piece of paper.
- Mark the back of your heel, with the pen vertically resting against the back of your foot.
- Mark the tip of your longest toe.
- Measure the distance between the two marks, in inches.
Foot Length | Women's Size | Men's Size |
---|---|---|
8 | 3 | 1 |
8 3/16 | 3 1/2 | 1 1/2 |
8 3/8 | 4 | 2 |
8 1/2 | 4 1/2 | 2 1/2 |
8 11/16 | 5 | 3 |
8 13/16 | 5 1/2 | 3 1/2 |
9 | 6 | 4 |
9 3/16 | 6 1/2 | 4 1/2 |
9 3/8 | 7 | 5 |
9 1/2 | 7 1/2 | 5 1/2 |
9 11/16 | 8 | 6 |
9 13/16 | 8 1/2 | 6 1/2 |
10 | 9 | 7 |
10 3/16 | 9 1/2 | 7 1/2 |
10 3/8 | 10 | 8 |
10 1/2 | 10 1/2 | 8 1/2 |
10 11/16 | 11 | 9 |
10 13/16 | 11 1/2 | 9 1/2 |
11 | 12 | 10 |
11 3/16 | 12 1/2 | 10 1/2 |
11 3/8 | 13 | 11 |
For sizes outside the above guide, have a look at the Lane Bryant Website, also Macy's Website