The Complete Military Clothing Size Chart: U.S., NATO & European Size Conversions

Pete Palazzolo

Aug 11

15 min read

Military surplus sizing can be confusing even if you have been buying surplus for years.

A U.S. jacket might say Medium Regular.

A British smock might say 180/104.

A German parka might simply be Größe 8.

An Austrian jacket could read 96-100 III/IV.

A Canadian coat might be marked 7044.

Then you find an older European jacket marked only 52 and wonder whether that means a 52-inch chest, a 52-centimeter measurement or something else entirely.

The good news is that most military sizing systems are much more logical than they initially appear. Military clothing is normally designed around actual body dimensions such as height, chest circumference, waist and inseam rather than arbitrary fashion sizing.

The bad news is that there has never been one universal military clothing system. Different countries, eras and even individual garments can use different methods. British military clothing catalogs, for example, include garments sized directly by metric measurements as well as simplified Small through XX Large systems. Product-specific sizing should therefore always override a general conversion chart when more precise information is available.

This guide is designed to decode the systems most commonly encountered when buying military surplus.

Before Using Any Military Clothing Size Chart

There are four measurements worth knowing before buying military apparel:

Measurement	How to Measure
Height	Stand barefoot and measure from the floor to the top of your head.
Chest	Measure around the fullest part of your chest with the tape passing underneath your arms.
Waist	Measure around the point where the military trousers will actually sit. Many field trousers sit higher than modern civilian jeans.
Inseam	Measure from the crotch down the inside of the leg to the desired trouser hem.

British/NATO sizing guidance similarly uses body height, chest, waist and inside-leg measurements rather than measurements taken from the outside of the garment.

Important: Body Size Is Not Garment Size

If a military jacket says 104 cm chest, that usually does not mean the jacket itself measures exactly 104 cm around.

It generally means the garment was designed for a wearer with approximately that chest measurement.

Military outer garments usually include additional room for movement, uniforms underneath or insulating layers. Austrian military sizing guidance specifically warns against deliberately ordering a larger chest size simply because the jacket will be layered; that allowance is already part of the garment design.

When Michigan Military Supply provides actual garment measurements on an individual listing, those measurements should take priority when determining how that particular piece will fit.

Quick Inches-to-Centimeters Chart

Most European military clothing is measured in centimeters.

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters.

Inches	Centimeters	Inches	Centimeters
28"	71 cm	40"	102 cm
30"	76 cm	42"	107 cm
32"	81 cm	44"	112 cm
34"	86 cm	46"	117 cm
36"	91 cm	48"	122 cm
38"	97 cm	50"	127 cm
40"	102 cm	52"	132 cm

These rounded conversions are useful when reading British and NATO labels, which commonly express body dimensions in centimeters.

U.S. Military Clothing Sizes

The modern U.S. system is one of the easiest once you understand that width and length are separate.

A label such as:

MEDIUM REGULAR

means:

Medium = the wearer's chest or waist range.

Regular = the wearer's height or inseam range.

U.S. military clothing specifications have long used this combination of width and length categories. Department of Defense specifications for combat coats include sizes from X-Small through multiple larger sizes and from very short through extra-long lengths.

U.S. Military Tops: Chest Size

Military Size	Intended Chest	Approx. Metric Chest
X-Small	29-33"	74-84 cm
Small	33-37"	84-94 cm
Medium	37-41"	94-104 cm
Large	41-45"	104-114 cm
X-Large	45-49"	114-124 cm
2X-Large	49-53"	124-135 cm
3X-Large	53-57"	135-145 cm
4X-Large	57-61"	145-155 cm
5X-Large	61-65"	155-165 cm

These ranges follow U.S. government-style military sizing tables; exact size availability depends on the particular garment specification.

U.S. Military Tops: Length

Length	Intended Height	Approx. Height
XX-Short	55-59"	4'7"-4'11"
X-Short	59-63"	4'11"-5'3"
Short	63-67"	5'3"-5'7"
Regular	67-71"	5'7"-5'11"
Long	71-75"	5'11"-6'3"
X-Long	75-79"	6'3"-6'7"
XX-Long	Over 79"	Over 6'7"

The exact combinations manufactured vary by width. For example, a particular military contract may offer Medium X-Long but not every conceivable combination of width and length.

Example

A Large Regular combat coat is generally intended for someone with approximately:

Chest: 41-45"

Height: 67-71", or about 5'7"-5'11".

U.S. Military Trouser Sizes

U.S. trousers use the same width/length idea, but width refers to the waist and length refers to the inseam.

U.S. Trouser Waist Chart

Military Size	Waist
X-Small	23-27"
Small	27-31"
Medium	31-35"
Large	35-39"
X-Large	39-43"
2X-Large	43-47"
3X-Large	47-51"
4X-Large	51-55"
5X-Large	55-59"

U.S. Trouser Length Chart

Length	Inseam
Short	26.5-29.5"
Regular	29.5-32.5"
Long	32.5-35.5"
X-Long	35.5-38.5"

U.S. military cross-reference charts use these waist and inseam ranges, although some specific garments have additional short or long variants.

Example: Medium Regular Pants

Waist: 31-35"

Inseam: 29.5-32.5"

This is why a person who normally buys civilian 34x32 pants will often fall into the Medium Regular range.

NATO Military Sizing

NATO sizing looks intimidating because older labels can resemble serial numbers.

An older NATO size might look like:

7080/9404

But it is really just a range of body measurements.

How the Older 8-Digit NATO System Works

For upper-body garments:

7080 / 9404

means approximately:

70-80 = 170-180 cm wearer height

94-04 = 94-104 cm chest

So:

7080/9404

= approximately 5'7"-5'11" tall

= approximately 37"-41" chest

= roughly comparable to a U.S. Medium Regular.

The NATO codification was designed to express ranges of body measurements directly rather than relying on names such as Small or Large.

Common NATO Height Codes

NATO Height Code	Wearer Height	Approx. U.S. Length
5060	150-160 cm	X-Short
6070	160-170 cm	Short
7080	170-180 cm	Regular
8090	180-190 cm	Long
9000	190-200 cm	X-Long

These range-style codes can be seen directly on U.S. military specifications alongside American width/length names.

Common NATO Chest Codes

NATO Code	Chest Range	Approx. U.S. Size
7484	74-84 cm	X-Small
8494	84-94 cm	Small
9404	94-104 cm	Medium
0414	104-114 cm	Large
1424	114-124 cm	X-Large

The unusual-looking codes occur because the range crosses from the 90s into the 100s. For example, 9404 means 94 through 104 cm, not nine thousand four hundred four.

Modern British Military / NATO Sizing

Modern British military garments often make things considerably easier by printing the relevant metric body measurements directly.

A British combat shirt or smock may read:

180/104

This means approximately:

180 cm wearer height

104 cm chest

A 104 cm chest is about 41 inches.

The UK Defence Clothing Catalogue contains similar metric size designations throughout its combat clothing listings.

British Tops Conversion Chart

British Size	Approx. Height	Chest	Approx. U.S.
170/88	5'5"-5'9"	35-37"	Small Short
170/96	5'5"-5'9"	38-40"	Medium Short
170/104	5'5"-5'9"	40-42"	Large Short
170/112	5'5"-5'9"	~44"	Large/XL Short
180/88	5'10"-6'0"	35-37"	Small Regular
180/96	5'10"-6'0"	38-40"	Medium Regular
180/104	5'10"-6'0"	40-42"	Large Regular
180/112	5'10"-6'0"	~44"	Large/XL Regular
190/96	6'0"+	38-40"	Medium Long
190/104	6'0"+	40-42"	Large Long
190/112	6'0"+	~44"	Large/XL Long
190/120	6'0"+	46-48"	XL Long

These U.S. equivalents are approximate; the metric height and chest values on the original label are more useful than the civilian-style name.

British Military Trouser Sizes

British trousers can be even more informative than the jackets.

A label such as:

80/88/104

generally identifies:

80 cm = inside leg

88 cm = waist

104 cm = seat

Another example:

90/88/104

means a roughly 90 cm inseam, 88 cm waist and 104 cm seat. British sizing guides and Defence Clothing Catalogue entries use these direct metric dimensions.

Common British Trouser Conversion

Metric Waist	Approx. Inches
72 cm	28"
76 cm	30"
80 cm	31.5"
84 cm	33"
88 cm	34.5"
92 cm	36"
96 cm	38"
100 cm	39.5"
104 cm	41"
108 cm	42.5"
112 cm	44"

For British trousers, the numbers on the tag are normally more valuable than trying to convert the garment into Small, Medium or Large.

Canadian Military Clothing Sizes

Canadian military clothing often uses one of the easiest numerical systems encountered in surplus.

A four-digit top size such as:

7044

means approximately:

70 inches wearer height

44 inches chest

For trousers:

7036

means approximately:

70 inches wearer height

36 inches waist.

Canadian Examples

Canadian Size	Meaning
6838	Approx. 68" tall / 38" chest
7040	Approx. 70" tall / 40" chest
7044	Approx. 70" tall / 44" chest
7346	Approx. 73" tall / 46" chest
7032 trousers	Approx. 70" tall / 32" waist
7036 trousers	Approx. 70" tall / 36" waist

Contract and garment variations exist, so treat the four-digit code as the intended wearer's dimensions rather than an exact measurement of the garment itself.

German Bundeswehr Sizing

Bundeswehr sizing is extremely precise but notoriously confusing when first encountered.

Classic Bundeswehr field clothing commonly uses sizes 1 through 20.

The number represents a combination of:

Height group + chest or waist measurement.

You therefore cannot say that a Bundeswehr size 8 is simply a civilian Medium without also understanding the intended height.

Bundeswehr surplus charts divide the standard system into four main height groups.

Bundeswehr Jacket Chart

Short: Approximately 160-170 cm / 5'3"-5'7"

BW Size	Chest	Approx. U.S.
1	90 cm / 35.4"	Small
2	95 cm / 37.4"	Small/Medium
3	100 cm / 39.4"	Medium
4	105 cm / 41.3"	Large
5	110 cm / 43.3"	Large

Regular: Approximately 170-180 cm / 5'7"-5'11"

BW Size	Chest	Approx. U.S.
6	90 cm / 35.4"	Small
7	95 cm / 37.4"	Small/Medium
8	100 cm / 39.4"	Medium
9	105 cm / 41.3"	Large
10	110 cm / 43.3"	Large
11	115 cm / 45.3"	X-Large

Long: Approximately 180-190 cm / 5'11"-6'3"

BW Size	Chest
12	95 cm / 37.4"
13	100 cm / 39.4"
14	105 cm / 41.3"
15	110 cm / 43.3"
16	115 cm / 45.3"

X-Long: Approximately 190-200 cm / 6'3"-6'7"

BW Size	Chest
17	100 cm / 39.4"
18	105 cm / 41.3"
19	110 cm / 43.3"
20	115 cm / 45.3"

These height/chest combinations are used on Bundeswehr size references for field jackets and other garments.

Example: Bundeswehr Size 8

A Bundeswehr Größe 8 is intended for approximately:

Height: 170-180 cm / 5'7"-5'11"

Chest: 100 cm / 39.4"

That puts it roughly in the U.S. Medium Regular neighborhood.

Bundeswehr Trouser Chart

The same Bundeswehr number changes meaning slightly for trousers because width now refers to the waist.

Regular-Length Bundeswehr Trousers

For wearers approximately 170-180 cm tall:

BW Size	Waist	Inseam
6	80 cm / 31.5"	80 cm / 31.5"
7	85 cm / 33.5"	80 cm / 31.5"
8	90 cm / 35.4"	80 cm / 31.5"
9	95 cm / 37.4"	80 cm / 31.5"
10	100 cm / 39.4"	80 cm / 31.5"
11	105 cm / 41.3"	80 cm / 31.5"

Short Bundeswehr trousers generally use sizes 1-5, long sizes 12-16 and very long sizes 17-20.

This is one reason you should never convert a Bundeswehr number into an American letter size without knowing whether the garment is a jacket or trousers.

Austrian Military Sizing

Austrian uniforms use one of the stranger-looking but ultimately logical systems.

You may encounter:

96-100 III/IV

The first portion represents chest width for jackets.

The Roman numeral portion represents height/length group.

Austrian Jacket Width Chart

Austrian Size	Chest	Approx. U.S.
80-84	31.5-33"	X-Small
88-92	34.5-36"	Small
96-100	38-39.5"	Medium
104-108	41-42.5"	Large
112-116	44-45.5"	X-Large
120-124	47-49"	2X-Large
128-132	50.5-52"	3X-Large

These figures refer to the wearer's chest rather than the measured circumference of the finished jacket.

Austrian Length Codes

Austrian Code	Wearer Height	Approx. Length
I-II	163-171 cm / 5'4"-5'7"	Short
III-IV	171-179 cm / 5'7"-5'10.5"	Regular
V-VI	179-187 cm / 5'10.5"-6'1.5"	Long
VII-VIII	187-195 cm / 6'1.5"-6'5"	X-Long

Example: Austrian 96-100 III/IV

That translates approximately to:

Chest: 38-39.5"

Height: 5'7"-5'10.5"

Approximate U.S. equivalent: Medium Regular

Austrian Trouser Sizes

Austrian trousers may still carry the same 88-92, 96-100, 104-108 style designation even though the corresponding body measurement you actually care about is the waist.

That can make the label look misleading.

A practical conversion is:

Austrian Marking	Approx. Wearer Waist
88-92	72-80 cm / 28-31.5"
96-100	80-88 cm / 31.5-34.5"
104-108	88-98 cm / 34.5-38.5"
112-116	98-108 cm / 38.5-42.5"
120-124	108-116 cm / 42.5-45.5"

Austrian trouser guides explicitly note that the numerical marking originates from the system's chest-size designation even when applied to trousers.

European Number Sizes: 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52...

A large amount of European military clothing uses traditional European men's clothing sizes.

This includes examples of Swiss surplus as well as garments from several continental European militaries.

For jackets, a useful rule is:

EU jacket size × 2 ≈ chest circumference in centimeters

So:

EU 48 ≈ 96 cm chest

EU 52 ≈ 104 cm chest

EU 56 ≈ 112 cm chest

This relationship appears directly in European military-surplus sizing charts.

European Jacket Size Conversion

EU Size	Chest	Approx. Inches	Approx. U.S.
42	84 cm	33"	XS
44	88 cm	34.5"	XS/S
46	92 cm	36"	Small
48	96 cm	38"	Small/Medium
50	100 cm	39.5"	Medium
52	104 cm	41"	Medium/Large
54	108 cm	42.5"	Large
56	112 cm	44"	Large/XL
58	116 cm	45.5"	XL
60	120 cm	47"	XL/2XL
62	124 cm	49"	2XL
64	128 cm	50.5"	2XL/3XL
66	132 cm	52"	3XL

Treat the U.S. column as a quick reference only. The centimeter chest measurement is more dependable.

Swiss Military Clothing Sizes

Swiss surplus frequently uses familiar European numerical sizes.

For example, Swiss M83 field jackets can be found in EU-style sizes such as 48, 50, 52 and 56, with surplus references describing them as normal European sizes.

Therefore:

Swiss Jacket 52

is approximately designed around a:

104 cm / 41" chest

or roughly a Medium-Large U.S. fit, depending on the cut.

Swiss Trouser Numbers

Swiss trousers can carry combinations such as:

50-80

On examples of Swiss M70 trousers, the first value follows the European width system while the second corresponds to an inseam measurement.

For example:

50-80 = approximately 100 cm body circumference reference / 80 cm inseam

52-80 = approximately 104 cm / 80 cm inseam

Actual Swiss trouser tags can include numerous inseam variations, so this is a system where the measured waist in an individual product listing is particularly valuable.

French Military Clothing Sizes

French military clothing varies significantly by period, but a common numerical jacket system follows chest circumference in centimeters.

A practical modern conversion is:

French Army Size	Body Chest	Approx. U.S.
80 / French 40	~80 cm / 31.5"	XS
88 / French 44	~88 cm / 34.5"	Small
96 / French 48	~96 cm / 38"	Medium
104 / French 52	~104 cm / 41"	Large
112 / French 56	~112 cm / 44"	XL
120 / French 60	~120 cm / 47"	2XL
128 / French 64	~128 cm / 50"	3XL

Older French uniforms, particularly mid-20th-century patterns, can use different size systems, so this chart should not be blindly applied to every French garment ever issued.

You may also encounter a size followed by a length letter on later French clothing. In those cases, the numerical measurement and the garment-specific length marking should be read together rather than converting from the number alone.

Italian Military Clothing Sizes

Many Italian military garments use standard Italian/European jacket numbers.

Common examples include:

Italian Size	Approx. Chest
46	~92 cm / 36"
48	~96 cm / 38"
50	~104 cm / 41"
52	~108 cm / 42.5"
54	~112 cm / 44"
56	~116 cm / 45.5"

Italian surplus references place sizes 50, 52, 54 and 56 at roughly 104, 108, 112 and 116 cm chest respectively.

As with other European uniforms, the exact cut may differ dramatically between an Italian service jacket, combat coat and overcoat even when all three have the same numerical label.

Swedish Military Sizing

Swedish sizing deserves special caution because several systems appear across different generations of equipment.

Older Swedish garments may use traditional European-style designations such as C48, C50, C52, while M90-era pieces can also appear with metric-style designations such as 170/65, 180/75 or 190/85. Surplus examples confirm that these different systems coexist, depending on the garment and era.

Because Swedish military sizing varies substantially across M59, M90, tanker clothing, service uniforms and specialist garments, do not treat one Swedish chart as universal.

For MMS listings, actual measured chest, waist and inseam should therefore be considered the deciding information whenever available.

Belgian, Dutch and Other NATO Surplus

Belgian, Dutch and other NATO-member surplus can use:

NATO range codes
Direct centimeter measurements
Standard European numerical sizes
Country-specific legacy systems

The era matters.

For example, Dutch surplus is commonly encountered with NATO-style sizing, while Belgian garments can also appear with ordinary European numerical sizes depending on the item. Because the NATO system itself was designed to standardize military clothing measurements across participating forces, recognizing the height + chest or inseam + waist structure is usually more useful than memorizing a country-specific letter equivalent.

When confronted with an unfamiliar label, look for numbers that resemble:

170 / 96

180 / 104

7080 / 9404

80 / 88 / 104

Those usually contain far more useful information than a seller simply calling the item a Medium.

Military Hat Size Chart

Military headwear is generally based on the actual circumference of the wearer's head.

Measure around the head just above the eyebrows and ears.

Head Circumference	U.S. Hat Size	Approx. Size
54 cm / 21.25"	6 3/4	XS
56 cm / 22"	7	Small
57 cm / 22.4"	7 1/8	Medium
58 cm / 22.8"	7 1/4	Medium
59 cm / 23.2"	7 3/8	Large
60 cm / 23.6"	7 1/2	Large
61 cm / 24"	7 5/8	XL
62 cm / 24.4"	7 3/4	XL

Military and NATO sizing references use these same centimeter-to-U.S.-hat-size relationships.

Common Military Boot Size Conversion

Footwear conversion is less exact than clothing conversion because different lasts, widths and manufacturers fit differently.

Still, the following is a useful starting point:

U.S. Men's	UK	EU
6	5	38-39
7	6	39-40
8	7	41
9	8	42
10	9	43
11	10	44-45
12	11	45-46
13	12	47

British military sizing references show approximately a one-size difference between U.S. and UK men's footwear, with corresponding European sizes.

Always check whether the military boot is marked Narrow, Regular, Wide or another width, because width can matter as much as numerical length.

The Master Quick-Reference Chart

If you just found a military garment and want to know where to start, use this:

Label Looks Like	System	What It Usually Means
Medium Regular	U.S.	Width + height/inseam group
7080/9404	NATO 8-digit	Height range + chest range
180/104	British/NATO metric	Wearer height + chest in cm
80/88/104	British trousers	Inseam + waist + seat in cm
7044	Canadian top	Height + chest in inches
7036	Canadian trousers	Height + waist in inches
Größe 8	Bundeswehr	German combined height/width group
96-100 III/IV	Austrian	Chest range + height group
52	European/Swiss/Italian	Usually European numerical jacket size
96 / 104 / 112	French/metric	Usually body circumference in cm
180/75	Swedish-style metric	Garment-specific metric military size; verify measurements

Why Two "Medium" Military Jackets Can Fit Completely Differently

One of the biggest mistakes when buying surplus is assuming the seller's translated letter size is the actual military size.

Imagine these two jackets:

U.S. Medium Regular

Chest range: roughly 37-41"

Height range: roughly 5'7"-5'11"

And:

British 180/104

Height: approximately 180 cm

Chest: approximately 104 cm, or about 41"

A retailer could reasonably call both of them "Medium" depending on its own chart, despite the British garment sitting at the upper edge of the U.S. Medium chest range.

That is why the original military measurement is more useful than the translated Small/Medium/Large name.

Military Clothing Is Often Designed for Layering

A military parka, shell or smock may measure several inches larger than the stated wearer's chest.

That is intentional.

A coat labeled for a 40-inch chest may need enough internal room for:

An undershirt
Field shirt
Fleece
Insulating liner
Body armor or load-bearing equipment

Likewise, an overtrouser may have a waist and seat considerably larger than an ordinary pair of pants because it is designed to be worn over other clothing.

Do not automatically compare the measured pit-to-pit dimension of a military overgarment with the pit-to-pit measurement of a fitted civilian dress shirt.

The intended use of the garment matters.

How Michigan Military Supply Measures Surplus Clothing

For used military clothing, actual garment measurements are extremely valuable because age, laundering, manufacturer tolerances and different military specifications can all affect fit.

When checking a surplus listing, the most useful measurements are:

Jackets and Shirts

Chest: Measure from armpit to armpit while the garment is lying flat, then multiply by two.

Length: Measure from the highest shoulder point down to the bottom hem.

Sleeve: Measure according to the method stated in the listing, because some military garments use shoulder seams while raglan garments may require a neck-to-cuff measurement.

Trousers

Waist: Lay the waistband flat, measure straight across and multiply by two.

Inseam: Measure from the crotch seam to the bottom of the leg.

If the original military tag and the actual measurements disagree, buy according to the measurements of the individual garment.

Should You Size Up Military Surplus?

Usually, no.

Do not automatically buy one size larger simply because the garment is military surplus.

Military uniforms are commonly designed with the necessary movement or layering allowance already incorporated into the pattern. Sizing guidance for Austrian surplus specifically warns that overcoats already account for clothing worn underneath.

You may want to size up when:

You fall directly between two official size ranges
You intentionally want a loose civilian fit
You plan to layer beyond the garment's original intended use
The individual listing states that the item runs small
Actual measured dimensions show that the tagged size will be too tight

Otherwise, start with your real body measurements.

Why Military Surplus Sizing Is Actually Better Than It Looks

At first glance, a code such as 7080/9404 looks considerably more confusing than a simple "Medium."

But the military system contains more information.

"Medium" tells you almost nothing about whether the wearer is:

5'5" or 6'3"

32" or 36" waist

38" or 42" chest

A code based on chest, height, waist and inseam can distinguish between a short and wide soldier, a tall and thin soldier and someone of average proportions.

That precision is especially useful with surplus clothing, because you may be buying a garment manufactured on another continent decades ago.

Once you know how to read the label, the strange numbers stop being a problem.

Quick FAQ

What does Medium Regular mean in military clothing?

For common U.S. combat clothing, Medium generally corresponds to a 37-41" chest on tops or 31-35" waist on trousers. Regular generally corresponds to a 67-71" wearer height for tops and roughly a 29.5-32.5" inseam for trousers.

What does 180/104 mean?

On a British or metric NATO-style upper garment, it generally means the garment is intended for a wearer approximately 180 cm tall with a 104 cm chest.

What does 7080/9404 mean?

It is an older NATO-style range code indicating approximately 170-180 cm wearer height and 94-104 cm chest circumference.

What is Bundeswehr size 8?

A Bundeswehr jacket size 8 is generally intended for a wearer about 170-180 cm tall with a 100 cm chest. Bundeswehr trousers in size 8 correspond to the same height group with roughly a 90 cm waist and 80 cm inseam.

What does Austrian 96-100 III/IV mean?

Approximately a 96-100 cm chest and 171-179 cm wearer height, roughly comparable to a U.S. Medium Regular.

What does Canadian military size 7044 mean?

Approximately a 70-inch wearer height and 44-inch chest.

What is European military size 52?

For many European jackets, size 52 corresponds to approximately a 104 cm / 41-inch chest. It should not automatically be interpreted as a 52-inch chest.