Petite vs. regular size chart that is accurate can be hard to come by.
So, shopping for petite-sized clothing can be tricky unless you know your body extremely well or work in the retail/fashion industry. Besides, even if the clothes are labeled and sold as petite, the actual size varies from one brand to the other.
Not sure what is the difference between petite and regular sizes?
Petite clothing is ideally for women who stand 162 cm or 5’3” and under while barefoot. Generally, petite-sized clothing comes with shorter torso lengths and sleeves, so they fit individuals with smaller frames.
However, the level of garment reduction can vary from one brand to the other. In addition, petite sizes also vary between sizing systems. For instance, a UK petite can be different from a US petite, and so on.
If you have trouble figuring out a petite vs. regular size chart, below you will find all the answers.
A Petite Vs Regular Size Chart
Brands using the same standard petite sizing chart may also have differences because of the differences in tailoring. Regular vs. petite size chart can also vary according to the item of clothing, such as dresses, bras, and jeans.
So, I will stick with petite to regular size conversion for dresses for this post, to give you the most accurate answer.
Note: The dress measurements provided in these charts are in cm – centimeters. These dress measurements are by no means absolute, but most clothing brands fall within these ranges.
Comparison table for petite sizes vs regular sizes
| Petite Sizes | Reg Sizes | Petite Bust | Reg Bust | Petite Waist | Reg Waist | Petite Hip | Reg Hip |
| XXXS | 74 | 61 | 81 | ||||
| XXS | 76-79 | 63 | 84-87 | ||||
| XS | S | 81-84 | 82 | 66 | 64 | 89-92 | 90 |
| S | S | 87-89 | 85 | 68 | 67 | 94-97 | 93 |
| M | M | 92-94 | 90 | 71 | 69-72 | 99-102 | 98 |
| L | L | 97-102 | 92 | 73 | 74-78 | 106-109 | 101-106 |
| XL | XL | 106-111 | 100-104 | 78 | 82 | 114-118 | 108 |
| XXL | 116-121 | 83 | 86 | 123-128 | 112 |
Comparison table for petite sizes vs regular sizes in UK, US and international measurements.
| Petite Size | Reg Size | Petite US | Reg US | Petite UK | Reg UK | Petite EU | Reg EU |
| XXXS | 0000P | 26 | 0 | ||||
| XXS | 000P-00P | 28-30 | 0-2 | ||||
| XS | S | 0P-2P | 2 | 32-34 | 6 | 4-6 | 32 |
| S | S | 4P-6P | 4 | 36-38 | 8 | 8-10 | 34 |
| M | M | 8P-10P | 6-8 | 40-42 | 10-12 | 12-14 | 36-38 |
| L | L | 12P-14P | 10-12 | 44-46 | 14-16 | 16-18 | 40-42 |
| XL | XL | 16P-18P | 14-16 | 48-50 | 18-20 | 20-22 | 44-46 |
| XXL | 20P-22P | 50-54 | 24-26 |
Clothing brands provide their sizing charts based on three primary measurements – bust, waist, and hips. Having a good understanding of your body’s measurements is a good strategy to get the sizing correct.
To get the most accurate measurements of your body, stand straight with a good posture and use a measuring tape to take down the measurements. If doing the petite to regular size conversion manually does not excite you, online converters can be a great help.
What Size Are 8, 10, 12, And 16 Petite In Regular Size?
The above petite vs. regular size chart should give a good idea about what clothing sizing you want, regardless of whether you are shopping with a retailer based in the US, UK, or overseas.
However, if you want specific information about petite sizes 8, 10, 12, and 16 in regular sizes, the measurements are below.
- 8 petite in US and most international regular sizes is S
- 10 petite in regular is S or M, depending on the brand
- 12 petite in regular is M or L, again depending on the brand
- 16 petite in regular is usually an L from most brands, but some brands also carry XL with similar measurements.
How To Know If You Are A Petite Size?
Although the consensus for petite clothing is for women and men under 5’3″, when it comes to the actual sizing, it can be difficult to determine if you are one or not. As mentioned earlier, petite sizing can differ among brands because of tailoring.
In addition, you could also be petite and plus size. These and other factors can make it confusing to know whether you are petite or not.
If you often wonder, ‘how do I know if I need petite sizes’ while shopping, these tips should help you out.
Understand that the term petite in the retail and fashion industry refers to individuals who are 5’3″ or 163 cm and under. If you fall under the height mentioned above, when you stand barefoot, you are a petite size.
Another consideration where you might need petite-sized clothing is if you have a shorter torso or a shorter leg. Petite clothing comes in shortened lengths and some brands carry sizes for women that are petite above the waist and those petite below the waist.
Usually, women who measure 37 cm or less from shoulder to waist fall under petite above the waist. On the other hand, if your leg measures 76 cm or less, you might be considered petite below the waist. Petite clothing is usually a great choice for you if you have the body type I have mentioned above.
In addition, if you have a narrow shoulder relative to the standard proportions of your body, top wear from the petite category might just fit you perfectly.
However, it’s worth mentioning that buying separates, whether it is jeans, trousers, tops, or dresses, works best so you can mix and match them with your regular clothing to create perfectly proportioned outfits.
Wrapping Up
Petite vs regular size chart can be confusing if you browse casually over them and if you don’t know your size. However, a couple of measurements with a measuring tape will give you a good idea about whether you are petite or not.
After you nail down your body measurements, you can easily determine the perfect sized clothing for you, regardless of the brand you shop with. If you know you are petite but still find it difficult to consult the sizing recommendations from brands, the comprehensive regular vs. petite size chart I have shared above should give you a head start.
References
Photo by Thom Bradley on Unsplash