12 4 2014 EN 13402 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EN 13402
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EN 13402 is a European standard for labelling clothes sizes. It is

based on body dimensions, measured in centimetres. It replaces many
older national dress-size systems in popular use before the year 2007.
Acceptance of this form of standardisation varies from country to
country. For example, the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer
Affairs has commissioned a study[1] to categorise female body types
with a view to harmonising Spanish clothing sizes with EN-13402.
Few other countries are known to have followed suit.

Contents
Clothes-size label with EN 13402-1
1 Background pictogram and body dimensions in
2 EN 13402-1: Terms, definitions and body measurement centimetres (found on a high-visibility
procedure jacket sold in the United Kingdom).
3 EN 13402-2: Primary and secondary dimensions
4 EN 13402–3: Measurements and intervals
4.1 Men
4.2 Women
4.2.1 Dress sizes
4.2.2 Bra sizes
4.3 Letter codes
5 EN 13402-4: Coding system
6 Related links
7 References
8 External links

Background
There are three approaches for size-labelling of clothes:

Body dimensions
The label states the range of body measurements for which the product was designed. (For example: bike
helmet label stating "head girth: 56–60 cm")
Product dimensions
The label states characteristic dimensions of the product. (For example: jeans label stating inner leg length
of the jeans in centimetres or inches (not inner leg measurement of the intended wearer))
Ad hoc size
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:

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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
is often portrayed in media as vanity sizing.
Scalar ad hoc sizes based on 1950s anthropometric studies are no longer adequate, as changes in
nutrition and life style 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, the European standards committee CEN/TC 248/WG 10 started in 1996 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 part of the standard defines the list of body dimensions to be
used for designating clothes sizes, together with an anatomical
explanation and measurement guidelines. All body dimensions are
measured, preferably without or as few as possible clothes, in
centimetres, except for the body mass.

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 EN 13402-1 pictogram example
below the Adam's apple and at the level of the 7th cervical
vertebra
chest girth
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
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 shall not deform the breast in an unnatural way and
shall not displace its volume)
underbust girth
horizontal girth of the body measured just below the breasts
waist girth
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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
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 part 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 and secondary dimensions listed in the standard, leaving out the
redundant words girth, length and size for better overview. Primary dimensions are shown in bold type.

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Garment Men Women Boys Girls

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

EN 13402–3: Measurements and intervals

The third part 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.").

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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 …
154– 158– 162– 166– 170– 174– 178– 182– 186– 190– 194– 198–
Range … …
158 162 166 170 174 178 182 186 190 194 198 202

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
84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 126 132 138 144
girth
82– 86– 90– 94– 98– 102– 106– 110– 114– 118– 123– 129– 135– 141–
Range
86 90 94 98 102 106 110 114 118 123 129 135 141 147
Waist
72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 114 120 126 132
girth
70– 74– 78– 82– 86– 98– 102– 106– 111– 117– 123– 129–
Range 90–94 94–98
74 78 82 86 90 102 106 111 117 123 129 135

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
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46.5 48 49.5 51
girth
36.5– 37.5– 38.5– 39.5– 40.5– 41.5– 42.5– 43.5– 44.5– 45.8– 47.3– 48.8– 50.3–
Range
37.5 38.5 39.5 40.5 41.5 42.5 43.5 44.5 45.8 47.3 48.8 50.3 51.1
Chest
88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 126 132 138 144
girth

The standard further suggests that arm length can be associated with height:

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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):

EN 13402–1 pictogram example for

dress size 88–72–96

Women’s standard sizes for drop = −16 cm

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

Bra sizes

See also: Brassiere measurements

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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:

EN 13402–1 pictogram for bra size

70B

Underbust
60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125
girth
58– 63– 68– 73– 78– 83– 88– 93– 98– 103– 108– 113– 118– 123–
Range
62 67 72 77 82 87 92 97 102 107 112 117 122 127

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:

Code AA A B C D E F G H
Cup size range 10–12 12–14 14–16 16–18 18–20 20–22 22–24 24–26 26–28

Example 1
Bra size 70B is suitable for women with underbust girth 68–72 cm and bust girth from 82–84 cm to
86–88 cm.
Example 2
A woman with an underbust girth of 89 cm and a bust girth of 108 cm has cup size 19 cm (= 108 cm
– 89 cm) or "D". Her underbust girth rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 cm is 90 cm. Therefore, her bra
size according to the standard is 90D.

Letter codes

For clothes where a larger step size is sufficient, the standard also defines a letter code. This code represents the
bust girth for women and the chest girth for men. The standard does not define such a code for children. Each
range combines two adjacent size steps. The ranges could be extended below XXS or above 3XL if necessary.

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Meaning Code Chest girth (men) Bust girth (women)

extra extra small XXS 70–78 66–74
extra small XS 78–86 74–82
small S 86–94 82–90
medium M 94–102 90–98
large L 102–110 98–107
extra large XL 110–118 107–119
extra extra large XXL 118–129 119–131
extra extra extra large 3XL 129–141 131–143
4XL 141–154 143–155
5XL 154–166 155–167

EN 13402-4: Coding system

The fourth part of the standard is still under review. It will define a compact coding system for clothes sizes. This
was originally intended primarily for industry use in databases and as a part of stock-keeping identifiers and
catalogue ordering numbers, but later users have also expressed a desire to use compact codes for customer
communication. Writing out all the centimetre figures of all the primary and secondary measures from EN
13402-2 can – in some cases – require up to 12 digits. The full list of centimetre figures on the pictogram
contains a lot of redundancy and the same information can be squeezed into fewer characters with lookup
tables. EN 13402-4 will define such tables.

Dismissed 2005 draft: women's clothes, 3-digit codes

Bust 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 110 116 122 128 134 140 146 152
Waist 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 94 100 106 112 118 124 130 136
Label XXS XS S M L XL XXL 3XL 4XL
Code 0__ 1__ 2__ 3__ 4__ 5__ 6__ 7__ 8__
_0_ 68 76 84 92 100 112 122 132 142
_1_ _5_ 72 80 88 96 106 117 127 137 147
_2_ _6_ 76 84 92 100 112 122 132 142 152
_3_ _7_ 80 88 96 106 117 127 137 147 157
_4_ _8_ 84 92 100 112 122 132 142 152 162
_9_ 88 96 106 117 127 137 147 157 167

Height 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180 184 188
Code __0 __1 __2 __3 __4 __5 __6 __7 __8 __9

An earlier draft of this part of the standard attempted to list all in-use combinations of EN 13402-3 measures
and assigned a short 2- or 3-digit code to each. Some of the industry representatives involved in the
standardization process considered this approach too restrictive. Others argued that the primary dimension in
centimetres should be a prominent part of the code. Therefore this proposal, originally expected to be adopted
in 2005, was rejected.
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Dismissed 2006 AEDT proposal: women's clothes

Bust 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 110 116 122 128 134 140 146 152
Primary
Waist 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 94 100 106 112 118 124 130 136
Code A B C D E F G H I J
Hip-Bust 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36
Secondary
Hip-Waist 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52
Height 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180 184 188

Since then, several new proposals have been presented to the CEN working group. One of these, tabled by the
European Association of National Organisations of Textile Traders (AEDT) (http://www.aedt.org/), proposes a
5-character alphanumeric code, consisting of the 3-digit centimetre figure of the primary body dimension,
followed by one or two letters that code a secondary dimension, somewhat like the system already defined for
bra sizes.[2] For example, an item designed for 100 cm bust girth, 104 cm hip girth and 176 cm height could
bear the compact size code "100BG". This proposal was agreed upon in 2006, but later disregarded.[3] A
paper by Bogusławska-Bączek published in 2010 showed that there were still significant difficulties in identifying
clothing sizes.[4]

Related links
Clothing sizes
Shoe size
US standard clothing size
Vanity sizing

References
1. ^ "The anthropometric study of the female population has revealed the existence of three generalised body
types, which should serve as a more accurate basis for sizing" (http://www.consumo-
inc.es/Noticias/Notasdeprensa/2008/tallasIngles.htm). Consumo-inc.es. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
2. ^ CEN/TC 248/WG 10 N 285
3. ^ "Study on labelling of textile products" (http://www.aedt.org/resources/aedt-publications/doc_download/108-
study-on-labelling-of-textile-products#page=39). AEDT. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
4. ^ Bogusławska-Bączek, Monika (September 2010). "Analysis of the contemporary problem of garment sizing
sizes" (http://wjoe.hebeu.edu.cn/sup.2010/Clothing%20Science%20and%20Technology/7_p_baczek.pdf). 7th
International Conference - TEXSCI 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2011.

External links
All change for clothes sizes (http://www.bsi-global.com/en/About-BSI/News-Room/BSI-News-
Content/Sectors/Manufacturing-Processing--Goods/All-change-for-clothes-sizes/?recid=2858) – press
release by the British Standards Institution (11 March 2002)
Dress size harmonization (http://www.bsi-global.com/en/About-BSI/News-Room/BSI-News-
Content/Sectors/Manufacturing-Processing--Goods/Dress-Size-Harmonisation-/?recid=838) – press
release by the British Standards Institution (24 October 2003)
John Scrimshaw: One size really might fit all (http://www.inteletex.com/FeatureDetail.asp?
PubID=&NewsId=2715). Fashion Business International, March 2004.
Karryn Miller: Sizing a headache for globalising apparel industry (http://www.just-style.com/management-
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briefing/sizing-a-headache-for-globalising-apparel-industry_id108359.aspx). just-style, 27 July 2010.

BodyDim: program for calculating out EN13402 values
(http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/download/bodydim.pdf)

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Categories: Sizes in clothing EN standards Metrication Fashion design

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