UK / European Clothing Sizing Guide
UK / EUROPEAN MILITARY SIZING TO APPROXIMATE US SIZING
How to Choose Your Size
British and European military clothing commonly uses metric body measurements or NATO-style sizing. Select the exact original size shown in the product’s size menu. Letter sizes in this guide are approximate MPO equivalents and may differ from the manufacturer’s own letter size. Military-surplus fit varies by country, manufacturer and garment; review the product description and fit notes before ordering.
Jackets, Smocks, Shirts and Upper-Body Garments
Measure around the fullest part of your chest while wearing light clothing. These are wearer body measurements, not the garment’s flat width. Letter sizes are approximate MPO equivalents; use the original military size and product fit notes first. Inch values are converted from centimetres and rounded to one decimal place. If your measurement falls between the listed ranges, check the product’s exact size and fit notes.
| Approx. size | Chest (in) | Chest (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 34.6–37.4 | 88–95 |
| Medium | 37.8–40.6 | 96–103 |
| Large | 40.9–43.7 | 104–111 |
| X-Large | 44.1–46.9 | 112–119 |
| 2X-Large | 47.2–50.0 | 120–127 |
| 3X-Large | 50.4–53.1 | 128–135 |
| 4X-Large | 53.5–56.7 | 136–144 |
Choose height separately from chest size
Military upper-body size = wearer height / wearer chest, in centimetres. Small, Medium, Large and XL describe approximate chest size only. They do not specify height. Two jackets can both be Medium but have different lengths for different wearer heights.
| Height code (cm) | Approx. wearer height (ft/in) |
|---|---|
| 150 | 4 ft 11 in |
| 160 | 5 ft 3 in |
| 170 | 5 ft 7 in |
| 180 | 5 ft 11 in |
| 190 | 6 ft 3 in |
| 200 | 6 ft 7 in |
Feet/inches are rounded to the nearest inch. These are label height codes, not fixed height ranges. Check both your height and chest against the selected garment, and follow its fit notes.
Example: 160/96 and 170/96 both indicate a 96 cm (37.8 in) wearer chest — approximately Medium in this guide. The 160/96 is for a 160 cm wearer (about 5 ft 3 in); the 170/96 is for a 170 cm wearer (about 5 ft 7 in).
Reading a military size: On an upper-body label such as 190/110, 190 is wearer height in centimetres (about 6 ft 3 in) and 110 is wearer chest circumference (43.3 in; approximately Large in this guide). For garment measurements, pit-to-pit is the flat width across the chest; twice that width gives the garment circumference, not the wearer’s chest size.
Combat Trousers / Pants and Lower-Body Garments
Measure around your natural waist while wearing light clothing. These are wearer body measurements, not the garment’s flat width. Letter sizes are approximate MPO equivalents; use the original military size, leg measurement and product fit notes first. Inch values are converted from centimetres and rounded to one decimal place. If your measurement falls between the listed ranges, check the product’s exact size and fit notes.
| Approx. size | Waist (in) | Waist (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 29.9–32.7 | 76–83 |
| Medium | 33.1–35.8 | 84–91 |
| Large | 36.2–39.0 | 92–99 |
| X-Large | 39.4–42.1 | 100–107 |
| 2X-Large | 42.5–45.3 | 108–115 |
| 3X-Large | 45.7–48.4 | 116–123 |
Body Size and Garment Measurements
A body chest or waist measurement is the circumference around the wearer. A pit-to-pit or laid-flat waist measurement is the garment’s flat width; doubling it gives garment circumference. Garment circumference can differ from body size because of cut, stretch and room for layers. Do not treat the two as interchangeable.
Where a military label has several numbers, follow the measurement order explained on that product. Check height or leg length as well as chest or waist. For substantial layering, consult the individual product’s fit notes before choosing a larger size. Surplus grading describes condition; it does not describe fit.
