How to choose an American clothing and shoe size

Shopping in American online stores means a wide selection, authentic brands, and truly attractive prices. Clothes and shoes from the USA can often be bought noticeably cheaper than in Russia, Belarus, and other CIS countries, especially during seasonal sales.

At the same time, many people have a logical question: how to choose the right American clothing and shoe size so that the purchase fits the first time. The American sizing system differs from the one we are used to, and at first glance it may seem complicated. In practice, everything is much simpler — it is enough to understand a few basic principles.

In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to determine your American size, what to pay attention to when buying, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

27.01.2026

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Why American sizes are different

The US uses its own clothing and shoe size system. It:

does not match the Russian and European ones;
may vary from brand to brand;
often depends on the style and fit of the item.

It is important to understand that there is no universal size equivalency. For example, the same size S or M may fit differently depending on the manufacturer. So it is not worth relying only on the familiar letter or number.

It is much more reliable to use your actual measurements and the size charts published by the stores themselves.

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How to take measurements correctly

The most reliable way to choose a size is to take your measurements in advance with a measuring tape. It will take only a few minutes, but it will save time and nerves when shopping.

For clothing, measure:

chest circumference - at the fullest part;
waist circumference - at the narrowest part;
hip circumference - at the widest part;
sleeve length - from shoulder to wrist;
garment length - from the shoulder down.

It is better to take measurements in light clothing or underwear, standing straight, without pulling the tape tight. It is recommended to write down all values in centimeters.

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American clothing sizes

Women's clothing

In the US, women's sizes are most often indicated by numbers. The approximate equivalency looks like this:

0–2 - XS
4–6 - S
8–10 - M
12–14 - L
16 and above - XL and up

At the same time, many brands use so-called vanity sizing - they deliberately mark a smaller size. Therefore, the number on the tag does not always reflect the actual parameters of the item.

The main rule is simple: always check the size chart of the specific store, not universal charts from the internet.