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Kids Pants Size Chart & Conversion: Boys, Girls & All Ages

Medically Reviewed by Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BC
Updated
Decode kids' pants size charts with this easy-to-understand guide.

Navigating the world of children’s clothing sizes can be daunting, and trying to decode a kids’ pants size chart is sometimes a guessing game. But it doesn’t have to be.

Pants must sit right, or they can quickly become too tight and restrictive or too loose and difficult to wear.

This article will guide you on effectively utilizing a kids’ pants size chart, ensuring your little ones always have the right fit. We’ll help take the guessing, trying, dressing room meltdowns, and returns out of the picture.

Key Takeaways

  • Baby and toddler pants sizes are based on age, height, weight, waist, hips, and inseam measurements.
  • For older kids, sizes transition to labels like XS, S, M, L, and XL; consider purchasing a size larger for potential growth spurts.
  • Accurate measurements of height, hips, waist, and inseam help in finding the perfect fit for your child.
  • Keep in mind that sizes vary between brands and manufacturers, so always have your child’s measurements handy.


Baby Pants Size Chart (Boys and Girls)

Baby pants are measured in age, height, weight, and waist. Use our chart as a general guide.

Size Age Height Weight Waist
Up to 7 pounds Up to 7 pounds Up to 20.5 inches Up to 7 pounds 16.125 inches
0 to 3 M 0 to 3 months 20.5 to 24 inches 7 to 14 pounds 16.125 to 17.375 inches
3 to 6 M 3 to 6 months 24 to 27 inches 14 to 18 pounds 17.375 to 18.5 inches
6 to 9 M 6 to 9 months 27 to 29 inches 18 to 22 pounds 18.5 to 19 inches
9 to 12 M 9 to 12 months 29 to 30.5 inches 22 to 26 pounds 19 to 19.5 inches
12 to 18 M 12 to 18 months 30.5 to 31 inches 26 to 28 pounds 19.5 to 20.25 inches
18 to 24 M 18 to 24 months 32 to 33.5 inches 28 to 30 pounds 20.25 to 20.5 inches.

Toddler Pants Size Chart (Boys and Girls)

When you move up to toddler sizes, measuring the hips and inseam is essential. Toddler pant sizes usually range from two to five years. Here’s our general guide:

Size Age Height Weight Hips Waist Inseam
2T 2 years 33.5 to 35 inches 30 to 32 pounds 20.5 to 21 inches 20.5 to 21 inches 14 to 14.75 inches
3 T 3 years 35 to 38 inches 32 to 35 pounds 21 to 22 inches 21 to 21.5 inches 14.75 to 15.5 inches
4T 4 years 38 to 41 inches 35 to 39 pounds 22 to 23 inches 21.5 to 22 inches 15.5 to 17 inches
5T 5 years 41 to 44 inches 39 to 45 pounds 23 to 24 inches 22 to 22.5 inches 17 to 18.75 inches
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Girls’ Pants Size Chart (Five to 13 Years)

When your girl reaches 5 years of age, brands move up to labels such as XS, S, M, L, and XL.

Size Age Height Weight Hips Waist Inseam
6 / S 5 to 6 years 44 to 46.5 inches 45 to 50 pounds 24 to 25 inches 22.5 to 23 inches 18.75 to 20.25 inches
7 / M 6 to 7 years 46.5 to 50.5 inches 50 to 57 pounds 25 to 27.5 inches 23 to 23.5 inches 20.5 to 23 inches
8 / M 7 to 8 years 50.5 to 52.5 inches 57 to 65 pounds 27.5 to 28.5 inches 23.5 to 24.25 inches 23 to 24.25 inches
10 / L 8 to 9 years 52.5 to 55 inches 65 to 75 pounds 28.5 to 30 inches 24.25 to 25 inches 24.25 to 26 inches
12 / L 9 to 10 years 55 to 58 inches 75 to 86 pounds 30 to 32 inches 25 to 26 inches 26 to 27.5 inches
14 / XL 10 to 11 years 58 to 61 inches 86 to 100 pounds 32 to 34 inches 26 to 28 inches 27.5 to 29 inches
16 / XXL 11 to 12 years 61 to 62.5 inches 100 to 108 pounds 34 to 36 inches 28 to 30 inches 29 to 29.5 inches
18 / XXXL 12 to 13 years 62.5 to 64 inches 108 to 115 pounds 36 to 38 inches 30 to 32 inches 29.5 to 30 inches

Boys’ Pants Size Chart (Five to 13 years)

For boys, you should always ensure there’s enough room in the crotch area. Restrictive clothing in that area can make your boy uncomfortable and lead to complications over time. So when you fit pants, add an inch if you feel it’s necessary.

Size Age Height Weight Hips Waist Inseam
6 / S 5 to 6 years 44 to 46.5 inches 45 to 50 pounds 24 to 25 inches 22.5 to 23 inches 18.75 to 20.25 inches
7 / M 6 to 7 years 46.5 to 49.5 inches 50 to 58 pounds 25 to 26.5 inches 23 to 23.5 inches 20.25 to 23.25 inches
8 / M 7 to 8 years 49.5 to 52 inches 58 to 68 pounds 26.5 to 27.75 inches 23.5 to 24.5 inches 23.25 to 24.25 inches
10 / L 8 to 9 years 52 to 55.5 inches 68 to 87 pounds 27.75 to 29 inches 24.5 to 25.5 inches 24.25 to 25.5 inches
12 / XL 9 to 10 years 55.5 to 58.5 inches 87 to 100 pounds 29 to 30.5 inches 25.5 to 26.5 inches 25.5 to 27.25 inches
14 / XL 10 to 11 years 58.5 to 61.5 inches 100 to 110 pounds 30.5 to 32 inches 26.5 to 28 inches 27.25 to 29.75 inches
16 / XXL 11 to 12 years 61.5 to 64 inches 110 to 120 pounds 32 to 33.5 inches 28 to 29.5 inches 29.75 to 31 inches
18 / XXXL 12 to 13 years 64 to 65.5 inches 120 to 125 pounds 33.5 to 35 inches 29.5 to 31 inches 31 to 31.5 inches

How to Measure a Kid’s Pant Size

Children’s apparel sizes are usually specified according to age. However, if you want to find the perfect fit, using your child’s height, weight, hip, waist, and inseam measurements is much better.

Let your child wear skin-tight pants or only underwear — there should be as little padding as possible for an accurate reading. Using a cloth measuring tape, here’s what you do:

  • Hips: Begin by measuring your child’s hips. Ensure you place the measuring tape around the fullest part.
  • Waist: Measure the waist by going around the lower belly, near the belly button.
  • Inseam: Measure from the center of the crotch, on the inside of the leg, down to the foot.
  • Height: Let your child stand against a wall, with the feet aligned and back straight. Then measure their height from the top of the head to the floor.

Once you’ve got the measurements, match them with the clothing brand you’re buying.

Pants Fitting

When your child is trying on pants, verify that materials aren’t gathering in the inseam area, especially for boys. There should also be room to breathe around the waist.

Tips for Buying Pants/Bottoms

To prevent as many frustrations as possible, we’ve gathered some additional tips for buying pants/bottoms for the above age groups. Let’s start with babies:

Tips for Babies

When buying pants or bottoms for babies, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Avoid buying in bulk for your newborn. Babies grow quickly within the first weeks and months, so they will probably change sizes quickly (1).

  • Buy larger: Babies can easily rock a size or two bigger pants. Your little one will likely soon enter a growth spurt, and the bottoms will fit just right.
  • Ensure it’s simple: You must consider how easy the pants are to put on and off for diaper changes. Buttons and tiny zippers aren’t ideal when changing a wiggly baby.
  • Go for soft and stretchy: Soft, stretchy materials are best for babies. This ensures optimal comfort as well as easy changing.
  • Opt for elastics: Look for an elastic waistband, even on jeans. Non-elastics may appear cute, but they’re likely uncomfortable for your baby.

Tips for Toddlers

As a toddler, your little one suddenly becomes much more independent. Here are some tips:

  • Easy to pull on and off: Opt for pants that are easy to pull on and off. This way, tots can do it themselves if they prefer.
  • Consider the diaper: Not all toddlers have mastered the art of toilet training yet. If so, consider how much room the diaper takes up and ensure you can close the zipper with one on. My little one went down a pant size once the diaper was off.
  • Opt for comfort: Sticking soft, stretchy materials is best.
  • Involve your toddler: If you can, bring your toddler along with you when shopping. Pick out two or three pairs and let them choose. You might even get them into the fitting room to try them on.
  • Look for sturdiness: Toddler pants need to be of durable material because of how active the wearers are.

Tips for Older Kids

Once your child is out of the toddler years, involving them in the process generally becomes easier. Here are some tips:

  • Bring your child: If you can, bring your child with you to the shop. Perhaps let them pick out what they like and have them try it on in the fitting room. This way, you’ll be sure it’s the right fit.
  • Buy one size up: Your child is likely to experience growth spurts until age 14 for girls and 16 for boys (2). Hence, we recommend buying one size up to avoid having to buy new pants too often. You can always buy a belt for them until the pants fit correctly.
  • Bring a pair of pants: If you’re shopping alone, bring a pair of pants that fit your child. Then, use them as a guide for the new ones.
  • Keep measurements with you: You can keep them on your phone or a small piece of paper in your wallet or purse. Make sure to update them as your child grows.
  • Stick to the same brands: Sizes vary between brands. If you have a favorite brand, use it for as long as possible to make it easier for yourself.

International Conversion Chart

Various countries and continents use different measurements for clothing sizes. If you’re shopping online or even abroad, you will need a size conversion chart. We’ve made one for you below.

U.S. U.K. Australia Europe
2 2 to 3 3 92 to 98 cm
3 3 to 4 4 98 to 104 cm
4 4 to 5 5 104 to 110 cm
5 5 to 6 6 110 to 116 cm
6 6 to 7 7 116 to 122 cm
7 7 to 8 8 122 to 128 cm
8 8 to 9 9 128 to 134 cm
10 10 to 11 11 134 to 140 cm
12 12 to 13 13 140 to 146 cm
14 14 to 15 15 146 to 152 cm

What Age Is Juniors Clothing For?

Junior clothing is essentially for preteen to teenage girls; there’s no boys’ division. The sizing is slightly different, but your daughter could easily upgrade to juniors when she’s in a U.S. kids’ size 14 or 16.

The sizes go like this:

Size Height Weight Hips Waist Inseam
Junior 3 to 5 65 inches Up to 110 pounds 34 inches 27 inches 29 inches
Junior 7 to 9 67 inches Up to 120 pounds 36 inches 27.5 inches 30 inches
Junior 11 to 13 68 inches Up to 135 pounds 38 inches 28 inches 31 inches

Kids Pants Size FAQs

How Do Kids’ Sizes Work?

Kids’ sizes are usually determined by age, height, and weight. The size corresponds to the average measurements for age groups, but it’s always best to measure as kids grow at different rates.

How Do You Measure a Child For a School Uniform?

Measure their height, chest, waist, and hip sizes. For length, measure from the waist down for pants, and for tops, measure shoulder to waist. Always check the specific sizing guide for the uniform.

How Do You Convert to Kids’ Size?

Kids’ size conversions can vary by brand, but typically you’ll convert using age, height, and weight as a guide. Some brands also offer a conversion chart based on international sizing standards.


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Headshot of Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BC

Medically Reviewed by

Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BC

Katelyn Holt RN, BSN, BC is a cardiology nurse and freelance medical writer. Katelyn has 8 years of nursing experience inpatient and outpatient, primarily medical-surgical and cardiac. After having two children she has a passion for Women’s Health and Lactation teaching and support.