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girl’s clothing sizes

United States

Girls Regular Sizes
size	height (inches)	chest (inches)	waist (inches)	hip (inches)
4	39–42	23 (25)	(20) 21–21½	23–23½ (27½)
5	42–45	23½–24 (26)	21½–22	24–24½ (28½)
6	45–49	24½–25 (27)	22–23	25–26 (29½)
6X	48–50	25½–26 (27½)	22½–24	26 (30½)
7	49–53	26 (28)	23–24	27 (30½)
8	52–53	27 (29)	23–24½	28–29 (31½)
10	54–55	28–28½ (30)	24½–25½	30 (32½)
12	56–58	30 (31½)	25–26½	32 (33½)
14	58½–61	31–32 (33)	26–27 (28)	34 (35)
16	61–62½	32½–33½	27–28 (29½)	36–36½
18	63–65	34	28–29	37
20	66–67½	35½	30

Girls Half (Plus) Sizes
size	height (inches)	chest (inches)	waist (inches)	hip (inches)
7½	50–51	28½–32	25½–27½ (28½)	? (35)
8½	52–53	30–33	26½–28½ (29½)	? (36)
10½	54–55	31½–34	(25) 27½–29½ (30½)	33 (37)
12½	56–57½	33–35½	(26) 29–31 (32)	34½ (38½)
14½	58½–60	34½–37	(27) 30½–32½ (33½)	36½ (40)
16½	61–62½	36–38½	(28) 32–34 (35½)	38½ (41½)
18½	63–65	37½–40	(29½) 33½–35½ (36½)	41 (43)
20½	66–67½	39	(31) 35–37	43
22½	68–70

Like all generic sizing charts, the two tables above can give only a rough idea of the dimensions of a garment. A sizing chart from the garment maker, especially a chart made for that particular line, will be much more accurate. Even so, the only way to be sure a garment fits is to try it on.

Many values in the charts are ranges, like “35–36.” A range simply indicates that most garments this size are made to some value within the range. It does not mean a garment with this size will fit any girl whose dimensions fall within the range. For example, for size 10½ the chart gives a waist size of 27½–29½ inches. This does not mean that any size 10½ garment will fit a girl with a 29½-inch waist, as many size 10½ garments will have 27½-inch, 28-inch and so on waists. The red numbers in parentheses are examples of actual values adopted by some maker that fall way outside the usual range, and are offered as cautionary notes.

Many sources offer charts that suggest a size based on the girl's age. Children's growth patterns differ so much that such charts' suggestions are often wrong, and so we do not provide such a correlation.

A peculiarity of girls sizes is that the half sizes are not intermediate between two whole number sizes, but instead indicate a “plus” (i.e., plumper) version of the whole number size. Usually a half size garment will be bigger all over than its whole size counterpart, but in a few cases a manufacturer keeps the main dimension but changes the proportions. For example, shorts in size 10½ may be made with the same waist size as the size 10 but shorter legs, which may force a girl who usually takes a 10½ to go up to a size 16 in that particular line.

In theory, girls sizing assumes a more-or-less cylindrical body type. As a girl develops, she is expected to graduate to Juniors sizing, which is based on a bustier, more hourglass-shaped body type. It seems to us, however, that differences between manufacturers are greater than the differences between girls and juniors sizing. An older teen may find she gets a better fit — in a particular line — from girls sizes, and a juniors size may be a good fit for a young teen.

In particular, watch out for the waist. Skirts and pants with the same size from the same manufacturer may have waists that differ by as much as an inch and a half.