At a glance: Japanese size, height and age
In Japanese sizing the number is the child's height in cm. A 90 fits a child about 85–95 cm tall, roughly 1½ to 3 years old; a 110 fits about 105–115 cm, roughly 4–6 years. Brands give different ages, so go by your child's actual height when you order.
| Size | Height | Approximate age |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 45–55 cm | Newborn to about 3 months |
| 60 | 55–65 cm | About 3–6 months |
| 70 | 65–75 cm | About 6–12 months |
| 80 | 75–85 cm | About 1–2 years |
| 90 | 85–95 cm | About 1½–3 years |
| 95 | About 95 cm | About 3 years |
| 100 | 95–105 cm | About 3–4 years |
| 110 | 105–115 cm | About 4–6 years |
| 120 | 115–125 cm | About 5–7 years |
| 130 | 125–135 cm | About 7–9 years |
| 140 | 135–145 cm | About 9–12 years |
| 150 | 145–155 cm | About 13–14 years |
| 160 | 155–165 cm | Not given by brands |
Height ranges come from the MUJI and mont-bell size charts; ages combine what MUJI, Nishimatsuya and Miki House publish, which differ by about a year. The 95 row comes from Nishimatsuya. These are brand reference values, not the text of the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS).
Three things to remember
- 1The size number is the child's height in cm, and each size covers about 5 cm either side.
- 2Ages are only a guide: brands can disagree by about a year for the same size.
- 3Baby sizes 50–90 go up in 10 cm steps, and some brands add a 95 between 90 and 100.
What does the number on a Japanese size mean?
Japanese kids' sizes are labelled by the child's height in cm, and baby size charts also list a weight.
Japan has industrial standards for infants', boys' and girls' clothing sizes (JIS L 4001, L 4002 and L 4003; the current editions are from 2023), and the size charts of major brands are built around height. Each size covers roughly 5 cm either side of its number: a 100 fits 95–105 cm and a 110 fits 105–115 cm.
If your child sits right on a boundary — say 105 cm — choose by the cut and how long you want it to last: 100 to wear right now, 110 to get another season out of it. Nishimatsuya's babywear guide makes the same point: choose by height and weight rather than by months.
| Size | Height | Weight | Approximate age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 45–55 cm | 3 kg | Newborn |
| 60 | 55–65 cm | 6 kg | About 3 months |
| 70 | 65–75 cm | 9 kg | About 6 months |
| 80 | 75–85 cm | 11 kg | About 1 year |
| 90 | 85–95 cm | 13 kg | About 2 years |
| 95 | About 95 cm | 14 kg | About 3 years |
| 100 | 95–105 cm | 16 kg | About 3–4 years |
When do Japanese parents actually size up?
In 2023 the research team at the Japanese baby retailer Akachan Honpo asked 2,633 members which size of baby underwear their child was wearing. The answers are a useful guide to when to size up.
What the survey found (baby underwear)
- 0–2 months: 84% wore 50–60.
- 3–5 months: 60% wore 70.
- 6–8 months: half had moved to 80, while 44% still wore 70.
- From 1 year 6 months, 90 was the most common size.
- From 2 years 6 months, about 30% each wore 90, 95 and 100.
Japanese sizes next to European and US sizes
European sizes are also labelled by height in cm, but in 6 cm steps; US sizes use months and T sizes. The table places the sizes from H&M's published chart within the height range of each Japanese size.
| Japan | Height | EU | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 55–65 cm | 56–62 | NB–3M |
| 70 | 65–75 cm | 68–74 | 6M–9M |
| 80 | 75–85 cm | 80 | 12M |
| 90 | 85–95 cm | 86–92 | 18M–2T |
| 100 | 95–105 cm | 98–104 | 3T–4T |
| 110 | 105–115 cm | 110 | 5T |
| 120 | 115–125 cm | 116–122 | 6–6X |
| 130 | 125–135 cm | 128–134 | 7–8 |
| 140 | 135–145 cm | 140 | 10 |
| 150 | 145–155 cm | 146–152 | 12–14 |
| 160 | 155–165 cm | 158–164 | 16–18 |
Bigger kids: check chest as well as height
As children get older, chest size varies more between children of the same height. mont-bell's kids' chart lists both height and chest, which you can compare with your child's measurements.
| Size | Height | Chest |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 85–95 cm | 45–51 cm |
| 100 | 95–105 cm | 49–55 cm |
| 110 | 105–115 cm | 53–59 cm |
| 120 | 115–125 cm | 57–63 cm |
| 130 | 125–135 cm | 61–67 cm |
| 140 | 135–145 cm | 64–72 cm |
| 150 | 145–155 cm | 70–78 cm |
| 160 | 155–165 cm | 76–84 cm |
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What age is a Japanese size 100?
About 3–4 years, for a child roughly 95–105 cm tall (per the MUJI and mont-bell size charts). Children of the same age vary a lot in height, so go by your child's height today.
What is a Japanese size 95?
A size between 90 and 100. Nishimatsuya lists a 95 as about 95 cm, 14 kg and around 3 years old. In Akachan Honpo's 2023 survey, from two and a half about a third of children each wore 90, 95 and 100.
Is a Japanese 90 the same as a US 2T?
Close, but not the same. A Japanese 90 fits 85–95 cm, while H&M's chart puts a US 2T at 92 cm. US brands cut a 2T differently, especially in the rise, so check the brand's chart too.
Should I buy 50 or 60 for a newborn?
A 50 fits about 45–55 cm, from birth to around 3 months; a 60 fits about 55–65 cm. In the survey, 84% of babies aged 0–2 months wore 50–60 and most moved up within about three months, so you don't need many 50s.
What age is a Japanese size 160?
The brand charts we checked don't give an age for 160; mont-bell lists it for a height of 155–165 cm. Children vary a lot at this stage, so choose by height.
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