Kids Pants Size Chart: Boys, Girls & All Ages

Are you trying to buy some new pants for your niece or nephew? Perhaps a gift for your grandkid? Or maybe you’re feeling a little lost trying to find the perfect fit for your child?

I love shopping, but buying clothes for my children usually requires a lot of guessing, trying, and unfortunately, returning. Pants have to sit right — they can quickly get too tight and restrictive, or too loose and difficult to keep on.

Dressing room meltdowns are something we all want to avoid, so having a handy kids’ pants size chart is useful.

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, it’s much better to use your child’s height, weight, hip, waist, and inseam measurements.

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.

Baby Pants Size Chart (Boys and Girls)

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

Toddler Pants Size Chart (Boys and Girls)

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

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.

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 not only make your boy uncomfortable, but can also lead to complications over time. So when you fit pants, add an inch where you feel it’s necessary.

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 fast within the first weeks and months, so they will probably change sizes pretty quickly (source).

• Buy larger: Babies can easily rock pants that are a size or two bigger. 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: For babies, soft, stretchy materials are best. 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 the chances are that they’re 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: It’s best to stick with soft, stretchy materials.
• 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, it generally becomes easier to involve them in the process. 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 in the fitting room if possible. This way, you’re sure it’s the right fit.
• Buy one size up: Your child is likely to experience growth spurts up until age 14 for girls and 16 for boys (source). 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 doing the 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, some more than others. If you have a favorite brand, use them for as long as possible to make it a bit 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.

What Age Is Juniors Clothing For?

Juniors clothing is essentially for preteen to teenage girls; there’s no boys’ division. The sizing is a little 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:

That’s How Pants Should Fit

Finding the right pants size for your child can be a challenge. It’s not always possible to bring them with you. That’s why a good kids’ pants size chart is useful.

It’s important to keep in mind that sizes vary between brands and manufacturers. We recommend you bring the measurements of your child’s height, hips, waist, and inseam, as well as their weight. And remember, buy one size up when in doubt or near a growth spurt age.