Japan kids' clothing size chart
In Japan, children's clothes are sized by height in centimeters. A size 100 is for a child about 100 cm tall. Enter a height or a US size to find the matching Japanese size.
How kids' sizes work in Japan
Japanese sizes for children are labelled with a height in centimeters, not an age. Baby sizes start at 50, and kids' sizes run from about 100 to 160. Each size covers about 5 cm either side of its number, so a size 100 fits children from 95 to 105 cm tall. The Japanese standards for boys' and girls' clothing (JIS L 4002 and L 4003) also build sizes on body measurements: height, chest and waist, plus hip for girls.
Because the size follows height, a tall four-year-old may wear a size 110 and a smaller one a size 100. The ages in the chart are what Japanese retailers print as a guide.
Japan kids' size chart: height and age
| Japan size | Height covered (cm) | Height covered (in) | Typical age in Japan | Overlapping Carter's sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 45–55 | 17.7–21.7 | Newborn | Baby NB |
| 60 | 55–65 | 21.7–25.6 | About 3 months | Baby 3M, Baby 6M |
| 70 | 65–75 | 25.6–29.5 | About 6 months | Baby 6M, Baby 9M, Baby 12M |
| 80 | 75–85 | 29.5–33.5 | 1 to 1½ years | Baby 12M, Baby 18M, Baby 24M |
| 90 | 85–95 | 33.5–37.4 | 1½ to 2½ years | Toddler 2T, Toddler 3T |
| 100 | 95–105 | 37.4–41.3 | 3 to 4 years | Toddler 3T, Toddler 4T, Girls 4 |
| 110 | 105–115 | 41.3–45.3 | 4 to 6 years | Toddler 5T, Girls 4, Girls 5 |
| 120 | 115–125 | 45.3–49.2 | 6 to 7 years | Girls 6, Girls 6X |
| 130 | 125–135 | 49.2–53.1 | 8 to 9 years | Girls 7, Girls 8 |
| 140 | 135–145 | 53.1–57.1 | 10 to 12 years | Girls 8, Girls 10, Girls 12 |
| 150 | 145–155 | 57.1–61 | 13 to 14 years | Girls 12, Girls 14 |
| 160 | 155–165 | 61–65 | — | — |
Ages for sizes 80 to 150 come from MUJI's size guide. Ages for 50 to 70 come from a Nishimatsuya guide. Retailers differ a little, and children grow at their own pace.
Japan size to US size
US children's sizes are set by each brand and are not covered by a single standard. The chart below uses Carter's published sizes as one example. It lists each Carter's size with its height range and the Japanese sizes that overlap it.
| Carter's size | Height (in) | Height (cm) | Japan size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby NB | up to 21.5 | up to 55 | 50 |
| Baby 3M | 21.5–24 | 55–61 | 60 |
| Baby 6M | 24–26.5 | 61–67 | 60 or 70 |
| Baby 9M | 26.5–28.5 | 67–72 | 70 |
| Baby 12M | 28.5–30.5 | 72–77 | 70 or 80 |
| Baby 18M | 30.5–32.5 | 77–83 | 80 |
| Baby 24M | 32.5–34 | 83–86 | 80 |
| Toddler 2T | 34.5–36.5 | 88–93 | 90 |
| Toddler 3T | 36.5–38.5 | 93–98 | 90 or 100 |
| Toddler 4T | 38.5–41.5 | 98–105 | 100 |
| Toddler 5T | 41.5–43.5 | 105–110 | 110 |
| Girls 4 | 40–42.5 | 102–108 | 100 or 110 |
| Girls 5 | 42.5–45 | 108–114 | 110 |
| Girls 6 | 45–48 | 114–122 | 120 |
| Girls 6X | 48–49 | 122–124 | 120 |
| Girls 7 | 49–51 | 124–130 | 130 |
| Girls 8 | 51–54 | 130–137 | 130 or 140 |
| Girls 10 | 54–56 | 137–142 | 140 |
| Girls 12 | 56–59 | 142–150 | 140 or 150 |
| Girls 14 | 59–61.5 | 150–156 | 150 |
Some heights fit two Carter's sizes, since the baby and toddler sizes and the girls' sizes overlap. Other brands use their own ranges. Use height as your guide, and then check the brand's chart.
How to measure a child
- Height: have the child stand with feet together and back to a wall, and measure from the floor to the top of the head.
- Chest: wrap a tape around the fullest part of the chest, level and snug.
- Waist: measure where the waist bends naturally, with the tape level and comfortably loose.
- Inseam: measure a pair of pants that already fit, from the crotch seam to the bottom of the leg.
These steps follow Carter's measuring guide. Japanese product pages list garment measurements such as 着丈 (garment length) and 身幅 (chest width, laid flat). Our clothing size converter explains these words.
Tips for buying kids' clothes in Japan
- Choose by height first, and then compare the garment measurements on the product page with a piece of clothing the child already wears.
- The sizes on sale differ from item to item. UNIQLO notes that the sizes sold vary by product, so check each product page.
- Outerwear can be a size larger than everyday clothes, because children wear layers under it. This is advice from the Nishimatsuya guide.
Shopping for yourself as well? See the shoe size converter and the ring size converter.
Frequently asked questions
What size is 100 in Japan?
A Japanese size 100 is for children about 95 to 105 cm tall (37 to 41 in). MUJI gives 3 to 4 years as a typical age. In Carter's sizes, it overlaps with 3T and 4T.
Are Japanese kids' sizes based on age?
No. The number is the child's height in centimeters. Shops print an age as a guide, but a child who is tall or small for their age should be sized by height.
What if my child is between two Japanese sizes?
A height on the border, such as 95 cm, fits both 90 and 100. Compare the garment measurements on the product page, and choose the size that gives room for growth without being too long in the sleeves or legs.
Is there one standard for US kids' sizes?
No. Brands set their own, so a US 4T from one maker is not identical to another. The chart here uses Carter's as an example, so check the maker's own chart for other brands.
What size is a baby in Japan?
Baby sizes start at 50 for newborns, and 60 and 70 follow at about 3 and 6 months. Size 80 fits many children from about one year, and 90 from about a year and a half.
Sources
- JIS L 4002:1997 Sizes of boys' clothes
- JIS L 4003:1997 Sizes of girls' clothes
- MUJI (Japan): size guide for children's wear (FAQ)
- Nishimatsuya: how to choose baby clothes by size (Japanese)
- UNIQLO (Japan): sizes we carry (FAQ, Japanese)
- Carter's baby and toddler size chart and measuring guide (as published at Target)
- Carter's girls size chart (as published at Target)
Related pages
Last updated: 2026-10-04