The joint European standard for size labelling of clothes, formally known as the EN 13402 Size designation of clothes, is a European standard for labelling clothes sizes. The standard is based on body dimensions measured in centimetres and its aim is to make it easier for people to find clothes in sizes that fit them.

The standard aims to replace older clothing size systems that were in popular use before the year 2007, but the degree of its adoption has varied between countries. For bras, gloves and children's clothing it is already the de facto standard in most of Europe. Few countries are known to have followed suit.

The Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs has commissioned a study to categorize female body types with a view to harmonising Spanish clothing sizes with EN-13402.

Background There are three approaches towards size-based labelling of clothes:

Body dimensions The label states the range of body measurements for which the product was designed. (For example: a bike helmet label stating "head girth: 56–60 cm" or shoes labeled "foot length: 280 mm") Product dimensions The label states characteristic dimensions of the product. (For example: a jeans label stating the inner leg length of the jeans in centimeters or inches, but not the inner leg measurement of the intended wearer) Ad hoc sizes or vanity sizes The label states a size number or code with no obvious relationship to any measurement. (For example: Size 12, XL)

Traditionally, clothes have been labelled using many different ad hoc size systems. This approach has led to a number of problems: For many types of garments, size cannot be adequately described by a single number, because a good fit requires a match between two (or sometimes three) independent body dimensions. This is a common issue in sizing jeans. Ad hoc sizes have changed with time, due to changing demographics and increasing rates of obesity. This has been characterised in media as vanity sizing. Scalar ad hoc sizes based on 1950s anthropometric studies are no longer adequate, as changes in nutrition and lifestyle have shifted the distribution of body dimensions. Mail order requires accurate methods for predicting the best-fitting size. Country-specific and vendor-specific labels incur additional costs.

Therefore, in 1996, the European standards committee CEN/TC 248/WG 10 started the process of designing a new, modern system of labelling clothes sizes, resulting in the standard EN 13402 "Size designation of clothes".

It is based on: body dimensions the metric system (SI) data from new anthropometric studies of the European population performed in the late 1990s similar existing international standards (ISO 3635, etc.)

EN 13402-1: Terms, definitions and body measurement procedure

The first partBSI, 2001. BS EN 13402-1:2001, Size Designation of Clothes - Part 1: Terms, definitions and body measurement procedure, London, UK: British Standards Institute. of the standard defines the list of body dimensions to be used for designating clothing sizes, together with an anatomical explanations and measurement guidelines. All body dimensions (excluding one's body mass) are measured in centimetres, preferably without clothes on, or with the underwear the wearer expects to be wearing underneath the garment.

The standard also defines a pictogram that can be used in language-neutral labels to indicate one or several of the following body dimensions.

Head girth Maximum horizontal girth (circumference) of the head, measured above the ears Neck girth Girth of the neck measured with the tape measure passed 2 cm below the Adam's apple, and at the level of the 7th cervical vertebra

Chest girth (♂ men) Maximum horizontal girth measured during normal breathing, with the subject standing erect and the tape measure passed over the shoulder blades (scapulae), under the armpits (axillae), and across the chest Bust girth (♀ women) Maximum horizontal girth measured during normal breathing with the subject standing erect and the tape measure passed horizontally under the armpits (axillae) and across the bust prominence (preferably measured with moderate tension over a brassiere that is expected to be worn underneath) Underbust girth (♀ women) Horizontal girth of the body measured just below the breasts Waist girth Girth of the natural waistline between the top of the hip bones (iliac crests) and the lower ribs, measured with the subject breathing normally and standing erect with the abdomen relaxed Hip girth (♀ women) Horizontal girth measured round the buttocks at the level of maximum circumference Height Vertical distance between the crown of the head and the soles of the feet, measured with the subject standing erect, without shoes and with the feet together (for infants not yet able to stand upright: length of the body measured in a straight line from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet) Inside leg length Distance between the crotch and the soles of the feet, measured in a straight vertical line with the subject erect, feet slightly apart, and the weight of the body equally distributed on both legs Arm length Distance, measured using the tape measure, from the armscye/shoulder line intersection (acromion), over the elbow, to the far end of the prominent wrist bone (ulna), with the subject's right fist clenched and placed on the hip, and with the arm bent at 90° Hand girth Maximum girth measured over the knuckles (metacarpals) of the open right hand, fingers together and thumb excluded Foot length Horizontal distance between perpendiculars, in contact, with the end of the most prominent toe and the most prominent part of the heel, measured with the subject standing barefoot and the weight of the body equally distributed on both feet Body mass Measured with a suitable balance in kilograms.

EN 13402-2: Primary and secondary dimensions

The second partBSI, 2002. BS EN 13402-2:2002, Size Designation of Clothes - Part 2: Primary and secondary dimensions, London, UK: British Standards Institute. of the standard defines for each type of garment one "primary dimension". This is the body measure according to which the product must be labelled. Where men's garments use the chest girth, women's clothes are designed for a certain bust girth.

For some types of garment, a single measure may not be sufficient to select the right product. In these cases, one or two "secondary dimensions" can be added to the label.

The following table shows the primary (in bold) and secondary dimensions listed in the standard, leaving out the redundant words girth, length and size for better overview.

Garment Men Women Boys Girls Jackets chest, height, waist bust, height, hip height, chest height, bust Suits chest, waist, height, inside leg bust, height, hip height, chest height, bust Overcoats chest, height bust, height height, chest height, bust Trousers/shorts waist, height, inside leg waist, height, hip, inside leg height, waist height, waist Skirts— waist, height, hip — height, waist Dresses— bust, height, hip, waist — height, bust Knits: cardigans, sweaters, T-shirts chest, height bust, height height, chest height, bust Shirts (m), Blouses (f) neck, height, arm bust, height height, neck height, bust Underpants waist, height waist, height, hip height, waist height, waist Vest chest, height bust, height height, chest height, bust Pyjamas, Ladies' nightdresses chest, height, waist bust, height, waist, hip height, chest height, bust Swim-suits/wear and bodies waist, height, chest bust, height, hip, underbust height, chest, waist height, underbust, bust Bras— underbust, bust, cup — underbust, bust, cup Corsetry/upper and full body— underbust, bust, height, hip, waist — — Corsetry/lower body— waist, hip, height — — Pantyhose— height, waist, weight — height Stockings— foot Socks foot Gloves hand Headwear head

EN 13402–3: Measurements and intervals

The third partBSI, 2004. BS EN 13402-3:2004, Size Designation of Clothes - Part 3: Measurements and Intervals. of the standard defines preferred numbers of primary and secondary body dimensions.

The product should not be labelled with the average body dimension for which the garment was designed (i.e., not "height: 176 cm."). Instead, the label should show the range of body dimensions from half the step size below to half the step size above the design size (e.g., "height: 172–180 cm.").

For heights, for example, the standard recommends generally to use the following design dimensions, with a step size of 8 cm:

Height ... 160 168 176 184 192 200 ... Range ... 156–164 164–172 172–180 180–188 188–196 196–204 ...

For trousers, the recommended step size for height is 4 cm:

Height ... 156 160 164 168 172 176 180 184 188 192 196 200 ... Range ... 154–158 158–162 162–166 166–170 170–174 174–178 178–182 182–186 186–190 190–194 194–198 198–202 ...

The standard defines similar tables for other dimensions and garments, only some of which are shown here.

Men

The standard sizes and ranges for chest and waist girth are defined in steps of 4 cm: + Men's standard sizes for drop = −12 cm Chest girth 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 126 132 138 144 Range 82–86 86–90 90–94 94–98 98–102 102–106 106–110 110–114 114–118 118–123 123–129 129–135 135–141 141–147 Waist girth 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 114 120 126 132 Range 70–74 74–78 78–82 82–86 86–90 90–94 94–98 98–102 102–106 106–111 111–117 117–123 123–129 129–135

drop = waist girth − chest girth. Example: While manufacturers will typically design clothes for chest girth = 100 cm such that it fits waist girth = 88 cm, they may also want to combine that chest girth with neighbouring waist girth step sizes 84 cm or 92 cm, to cover these drop types (−16 cm and −8 cm) as well.

The standard also suggests that neck girth can be associated with chest girth: + Association of neck and chest girth Neck girth 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46.5 48 49.5 51 Range 36.5–37.5 37.5–38.5 38.5–39.5 39.5–40.5 40.5–41.5 41.5–42.5 42.5–43.5 43.5–44.5 44.5–45.8 45.8–47.3 47.3–48.8 48.8–50.3 50.3–51.1 Chest girth 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 126 132 138 144

The standard further suggests that arm length can be associated with height: + Association of arm length and body height Height 156 160 164 168 172 176 180 184 188 192 196 200 Arm length 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 Range 59–60 60–61 61–62 62–63 63–64 64–65 65–66 66–67 67–68 68–69 69–70 70–71

Women

Dress sizes The standard sizes and ranges for bust, waist and hip girth are mostly based on a step of 4 cm, for larger sizes 5 cm (hip) or 6 cm (bust and waist):

+ Women's standard sizes for drop = −16 cm Bust girth 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 110 116 122 128 134 140 146 152 Range 74–78 78–82 82–86 86–90 90–94 94–98 98–102 102–107 107–113 113–119 119–125 125–131 131–137 137–143 143–149 149–155 Waist girth 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 94 100 106 112 118 124 130 136 Range 58–62 62–66 66–70 70–74 74–78 78–82 82–86 86–91 91–97 97–103 103–109 109–115 115–121 121–127 127–133 133–139 Hip girth 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 117 122 127 132 137 142 147 152 Range 82–86 86–90 90–94 94–98 98–102 102–106 106–110 110–115 115–120 120–125 125–130 130–135 135–140 140–145 145–150 150–155

Bra sizes

The European standard EN 13402 also defines bra sizes based on the "bust girth" and the "underbust girth". Bras are labeled with the under bust girth (rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 cm), followed by a letter code that indicates the "cup size" defined below, according to this table defined by the standard.

The standard sizes for brassiere are based on a step of 5 cm: Underbust girth 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 Range 58–62 63–67 68–72 73–77 78–82 83–87 88–92 93–97 98–102 103–107 108–112 113–117 118–122 123–127

The secondary dimension cup size can be expressed in terms of the difference cup size = bust girth − underbust girth and can be labelled compactly using a letter code appended to the underbust girth: