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Metric Sizing

October 1, 2025 - October 1, 2025   


 

METRIC SIZING

Size codes – numerical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Size codes ”“ chest size 46 48 50 52

54

56 58 60
Chest size – centimetres 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120
Approx. imperial conversion – inches 36.5″ 38″ 39.5″ 41 42.5″ 44″ 45.5″

47″

 

Size Labelling

The Clothing Manufacturers Association in 1980 recommended that, in the short term, manufacturers should show a metric conversion of their imperial measurements on their garment labels eg.


Chest 38” 40” 42” 46” 48” 50”

Sizes 97 102 107 112 117 127

but that they should move towards a metric system of sizing. The Association recommended that the following continental system should be adopted. Men’s outerwear (suits, jackets, coats-jackets) ”“ 4cm size intervals (inclusion of the 100 cm chest size). Trousers ”“ 4cm waist interval between neck sizes. Shirt ”“ 1cm interval between neck sizes.

Many European manufactures also use a numeric size coding. The chart above shows continental codes with chest sizes in 4cm intervals and imperial conversions. Additional information such as leg lengths on shirts may be included as additional information by the manufacturer.

The British Standards Institution has established a size designation system, BS 6185: 1982 (1988), that indicates (in a simple, direct and meaningful manner) the body size of the man that a garment is intended to fit. The size designation of the system is based on body and not garment measurements.

The size designation of each garment should comprise the control dimensions in centimetres of the intended wearer of the garment. Where practical, the standard pictogram should be used as a means of indicating the size designation. Where it is not practicable to use the standard pictogram, the numerical value of the control dimensions should be given, together with the descriptive words such as chest girth, waist girth, ect.



Examples of labels for men’s outerwear

Chest Girth 96 Waist Girth 84

Height        170-176

Inside Leg Length 80



Man’s suit

Comments on sizing 1996

If you examine men’s clothing on the high street you will find that whilst many of the fashion outlets (aimed at younger men) have changed to metric sizing, most British Manufacturers producing conventional clothing have retained imperial sizing and are showing approximate metric conversion. Some manufacturers who adopted metric sizing (4cm intervals) had to revert to imperial sizing on the demands of their retail customers. One has to accept that there are problems for manufacturers: using 4cm trouser waist or jacket chest intervals produces sizes that customers are unused to.



The introduction of numeric codes for SMALL, MEDIUM. LARGE has caused further confusion; it is not necessary in line with the numeric coding system used by many European manufacturers. However, the amount of information on the labels has increased. Most manufacturers do include the metric equivalent if they are still sizing in imperial measurements; some also give a roughly equivalent coded Euro-size. In fact some labels have so many alternatives that the customer is confused.



The British Standards Institution is aware of the confusion and is about to establish committees to investigate men’s sizing in Europe as well as British and it is hoped that they will make some recommendations for a coherent method of sizing and labelling.



SIZE CHARTS

Any of the chart construction is determined by two main factors: the type of garment and the target market.

(a) Type of garment  Different size charts are required for different types of garments e.g.: suits ”“ based on chest size; trousers ”“ based on waist size; shirts ”“ based on neck size.

(b) Market  The actual measurements in the chart are determined by the type of market at which the design is aimed. The sample size of suits and casual wear is usually based on the 100cm chest size and the 39 cm or 40 cm neck (collar) size for shirts.



SAMPLE SIZES

Manufactures produce sample garments which are used to show buyers. The sample size will depend on the type of market at which the design is aimed. The sample size of suits and casual wear is usually based on the 100 cm chest size and the 39cm or 40 cm neck (collar) size for shirts.

Small – Medium – Large -XL Sizes

The actual measurements applied under the labels SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, XLARGE ect. depend on the breadth and the type of market that is targeted.  Manufacturers targeting the mature man will usually offer sizing that fits the man of average height.  Intervals of 8cm between the size labels give good divisions and many manufacturers are now using them.

Where the ’MEDIUM’ size is placed is often a marketing decision.  Some manufacturers have responded to retail demands that the size ’SMALL’ is removed from the range or numeric codes are introduced because customers dislike being labelled small. 

SMALL

(92-96)

MEDIUM

(100 – 104)

LARGE

(108-112)

XLARGE

(116-120)

chest 96 104 112 120
or      
SMALL MEDIUM LARGE XLARGE
(88-92) (96-100) (104-108) (112-116)
chest 92 100 108 116

 

Body Measurements Chart for Small-Medium-Large-XLarge Sizes

The size chart offered below uses the range of Example 2 shown above.  It is for the younger unisex (athletic) market and has some height differtial included in the larger sizes.

CHEST SIZES BETWEEN SMALL MED LARGE XLARGE

A                             CHEST

92

100 108

116

B                                SEAT 94 102 110 118
C          NATURAL WAIST 75 83 91 99

D          TROUSER WAIST

(4cm below natural waist)

78 86 94 102
E-F                HALF BACK 19 20 21 22
G-H  NATURAL WAIST LENGTH 44 44.8 45.6 46.4
G-I               SCYE DEPTH 23 24.6 26.2 27.8
J                     NECK SIZE 39 41 43 45
K-L  SLEEVE LENGTH, ONE -PIECE SLEEVE 64 65 66 67
E-M  SLEEVE LENGHT, TWO-PIECE SLEEVE 80 82 84 86
N-O              INSIDE LEG 79 81 83 85
P-Q                BODY RISE 27.5 28.5 29.5 30.5
R   CLOSE WRIST MEASUREMENT 16.8 17.6 18.4 19.2
         

EXTRA MEASUREMENTS GARMENT LENGTH

TROUSER BOTTOM MEASUREMENT

JEANS BOTTOM MEASUREMENT.



24

21



25

22



26

23

27

24

 

Standard Body Measurements – Mature Figure (Regular Men’s Sizing)

Height 170cm-178cm (5 ft 7 in-5 ft 10 in)

A SIZE CHART FOR OVERGARMENTS, TROUSERS .

A

CHEST

88

92

96

100

104

108

112

116

120

B

SEAT

92

96

100

104

108

114

118

122

126

C

NATURAL WAIST

74

78

82

86

90

98

102

106

110

D

TROUSER WAIST (4cms below natural waist)

77

81

85

89

93

100

104

108

112

E-F

HALF BACK

18.5

19

19.5

20

20.5

21

21.5

22

22.5

G-H

NATURAL WAIST LENGTH

43.4

22

22.8

23.6

24.4

25.2

26

26.8

17.2

G-I

SCYE DEPTH

22

22.8

23.6

24.4

25.2

26

26.4

26.8

17.2

J

NECK SIZE

17

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

K-L

SLEEVE LENGTH, ONE-PIECE SLEEVE

63.6

64.2

64.8

65.4

66

66

66

66

66

E-M

SLEEVE LENGTH, TWO-PIECE SLEEVE

79

80

81

82

83

83.5

84

84.5

85

N-O

INSIDE LEG

78

79

80

81

82

82

82

82

82

P-Q

BODY RISE

26.8

27.2

27.6

28

28.4

28.8

29.2

29.6

30

R

CLOSE WRIST MEASUREMENT

16.4

16.8

17.2

17.6

18

18.4

18.8

19.2

19.6

 

EXTRA MEASUREMENTS

                 

 

GARMENT LENGTH

Varies with type of garment and with fashion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUFF SIZE, TWO PIECE SLEEVE

27

28

29

30

31

31.6

32.2

32.8

33.4

 

TROUSER BOTTOM MEASUREMENT

23.5

24

24.5

25

25.5

26

26

26

26

 

JEANS BOTTOM MEASUREMNTS

20.5

21

21.5

22

22.5

23

23

23

23

                     

 

A size Chart for Shirts – Mature and Athletic Figures

 

NECK (COLLAR SIZE)

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

A

 CHEST

 88

92

96

100

104

108

112

116

120

G-1

 SCYCE DEPTH

 22

22.8 

23.6 

24.4 

25.2 

26 

26.4 

26.8 

 27.2

G-H

 NATURAL WAIST LENGTH

 43.4

 43.8

 44.2

 44.6

 45

 45

 45

 45

 45

E-F

 HALF BACK

 18.5

 19

 19.5

 20

 20.5

 21

 21.5

 22

 22.5

G-M

 SLEEVE LENGTH FOR SHIRTS

 84

 84

 85

 85

 85

 87

 87

 87

 87

 

 SHIRT LENGTH

 76

 78

 80

 81

 81

 82

 82

 82

 82

 

 CUFF SIZE FOR SHIRTS

 22

 22.5

 22.5

 23

 23

 23.5

 23.5

 24

 24


Standard Body Measurements – Athletic Figure

Height 170cm – 178cm (5 ft 7 in-5 ft 10 in)

A

CHEST

88

92

96

100

104

108

112

B

SEAT

 90

94 

98 

102 

106 

110 

114 

C

NATURAL WAIST 

 71

 75

 79

 83

 87

 91

 95

D

 TROUSER WAIST(4cm below natural waist)

 74

 78

 82

 86

 90

 94

 98

E-F

 HALF BACK

 18.5

 19

 19.5

 20

 20.5

 24

 21.5

G-H

 NATURAL WAIST LENGTH

 43.4

 43.8

 44.2

 44.6

 45

 45.4

 45.8

G-I

 SCYCE DEPTH

 22

 22.8

 23.6

 24.4

 25.2

 25.6

 26

J

 NECK SIZE

 37

 38

 39

 40

 41

 42

 43

K-L

SLEEVE LENGTH, ONE-PIECE SLEEVE

 63.6

 64.2  64.8  65.4  66  66  66

E-M

 SLEEVE LENGTH, TWO-PIECE SLEEVE

 79

 80

 81

 82

 83

 83.5

 84

N-O

 INSIDE LEG

 78

 79

 80

 81

 82

 82.5

83 

P-Q

 BODY RISE

 26.8

 27.2

 27.6

 28

 28.4

 28.8

 29.2

R

 CLOSE WRIST MEASUREMENT

 16.4

 16.8

 17.2

 17.6

 18

 18.4

 18.8

 

EXTRA MEASUREMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GARMENT LENGTH

varies with type of garment and fashion 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 CUFF SIZE, TWO-PIECE SLEEVE

 26

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

 

 TROUSER BOTTOM MEASUREMENT

 23.5

24 

24.5 

25 

25.5 

26 

26 

 

JEANS BOTTOM

 20.5

21  21.5  22  22.5  23  23 



Adjustments for short or tall figures

Size charts for tall or short men have ach vertical measurement adjusted as follows

 

SHORT 162 cm – 170 cm

(5ft 4 in – 5 ft 7 in)

TALL 178 cm – 186 cm

NATURAL WAIST LENGTH

 -2cm +2cm 

SCYCE DEPTH 

 -1cm  +1cm

 SLEEVE LENGTH

 -2.5cm  +2.5cm

 GARMENT LENGTH

 -4cm  +4cm

 INSIDE LEG

 -4cm  +4cm

 BODY RISE

 no change  +1cm





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