At a glance: Australian size, age and height
Australian baby sizes run from 00000 (premature or small newborn) to 0 (6–12 months), then 1, 2, 3 and on up to 16. Brands give each size a reference height — a 2 is 92 cm, a 3 is 100 cm and a 4 is 108 cm. If your child falls between two sizes, choose the closer one, or the bigger one if you want it to last.
| AU size | Approximate age | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 00000 | Premature / small newborn | 50 cm |
| 0000 | Newborn | 55–58 cm |
| 000 | 0–3 months | 62 cm |
| 00 | 3–6 months | 68 cm |
| 0 | 6–12 months | 76 cm |
| 1 | 12–18 months | 84 cm |
| 2 | 18 months–2 years | 92 cm |
| 3 | About 2–3 years | 100 cm |
| 4 | About 3–4 years | 108 cm |
| 5 | About 4–5 years | 115 cm |
| 6 | About 5–6 years | 120 cm |
| 7 | About 6–7 years | 125 cm |
| 8 | About 7–8 years | 130 cm |
| 10 | About 9–10 years | 140 cm |
| 12 | About 11–12 years | 150 cm |
| 14 | About 13–14 years | 160 cm |
| 16 | About 15–16 years | 163–165 cm |
Heights and ages come from the official Bonds, Country Road, Cotton On and Seed Heritage size charts, which almost all agree; only 0000 varies (55–58 cm) and 16 (163–165 cm). Ages from size 3 up follow Cotton On's labels. Some brands also make sizes 9 and 11.
Three things to remember
- 1For babies, more zeros means smaller: 0000 is newborn, 000 about 0–3 months, 00 about 3–6 months and 0 about 6–12 months.
- 2From size 3, the number is roughly the top of the age range: a 3 is about 2–3 years (100 cm) and a 4 about 3–4 years (108 cm).
- 3Four major Australian brands give almost identical heights for each size, so height is the most reliable way to convert to other systems.
How Australian sizes work
Australia has a national standard for children's size coding, AS 1182-1997 (reconfirmed in 2020 and currently marked as pending revision), and retailers' charts give a set of body measurements for each size.
For babies, 00000, 0000, 000, 00 and 0 get smaller the more zeros there are; from size 1 the numbers go up as children grow. Country Road, Bonds, Cotton On and Seed Heritage each list one reference height per size — 84 cm for a 1, 92 cm for a 2 — and their figures almost always match.
From size 3, the number is roughly the top of the age range: Cotton On labels a 3 as 2–3 years and a 4 as 3–4 years, and Seed Heritage writes "2–3 yrs / 3 yrs" for a 3. The heights are body measurements, not garment lengths; if your child is between sizes, choose by the cut and how long you want it to last.
| AU size | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 00000 | 50 cm | 2–3 kg |
| 0000 | 55–58 cm | 3–4 kg |
| 000 | 62 cm | 6 kg |
| 00 | 68 cm | 8 kg |
| 0 | 76 cm | 10 kg |
| 1 | 84 cm | 12 kg |
| 2 | 92 cm | 13.5–14 kg |
Australian sizes next to Japanese, European and US sizes
The table uses the reference height Australian brands give for each size and lines it up with the height ranges of Japanese sizes and the European and US sizes on H&M's chart.
| Australia | Height | Japan | EU | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000 | 55–58 cm | 60 | 56 | NB |
| 000 | 62 cm | 60 | 62 | 3M |
| 00 | 68 cm | 70 | 68 | 6M |
| 0 | 76 cm | 80 | 74–80 | 9M–12M |
| 1 | 84 cm | 80 | 80–86 | 12M–18M |
| 2 | 92 cm | 90 | 92 | 2T |
| 3 | 100 cm | 100 | 98–104 | 3T–4T |
| 4 | 108 cm | 110 | 104–110 | 4T–5T |
| 5 | 115 cm | 110–120 | 110–116 | 5T–6 |
| 6 | 120 cm | 120 | 116–122 | 6–6X |
| 7 | 125 cm | 120–130 | 122–128 | 6X–7 |
| 8 | 130 cm | 130 | 128–134 | 7–8 |
| 10 | 140 cm | 140 | 140 | 10 |
| 12 | 150 cm | 150 | 146–152 | 12–14 |
| 14 | 160 cm | 160 | 158–164 | 16–18 |
Choosing sizes from Australian boutique labels
Major retailers agree closely on heights, but small boutique labels don't necessarily follow the same chart, and some don't publish one at all.
Check three things before you buy
- Ask the seller for measurements such as body length and chest width, and compare them with a similar garment that fits your child.
- Check whether the label is an Australian size (such as 3) or an age (such as 2–3Y) — they can be almost a year apart.
- When you record the piece, keep the original size and note your child's height when it fit in a tag or note.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What size is 00 in months?
A 00 is 3–6 months, with a reference height of 68 cm and a weight of about 8 kg (per the Bonds, Country Road, Cotton On and Seed Heritage charts).
What's the difference between 0000, 000, 00 and 0?
The more zeros, the smaller the size: 0000 is newborn (about 55–58 cm), 000 is 0–3 months (62 cm), 00 is 3–6 months (68 cm) and 0 is 6–12 months (76 cm). The even smaller 00000 is for premature or small newborns (50 cm).
What height is an Australian size 4?
About 108 cm. All four brands list 108 cm, and Cotton On labels a 4 as 3–4 years. That's roughly a Japanese 110.
Is an Australian 2 the same as a US 2T?
Very close. An Australian 2 has a reference height of 92 cm; H&M's chart puts 92 cm at US 2T, and Carter's lists 2T as 34.5–36.5 in (about 88–93 cm). The cut still varies by brand.
How do Australian sizes convert to Japanese sizes?
Height is the most reliable bridge: an Australian 2 (92 cm) is about a Japanese 90, a 3 (100 cm) about a 100, a 4 (108 cm) about a 110 and a 6 (120 cm) about a 120.
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