On European and international baby and kids' clothing labels, the size number is the child's height in centimeters, not an age. So size 80 fits a child about 80 cm tall (roughly 12-18 months) and size 140 fits one about 140 cm tall (roughly 9-10 years). Measure height, round up, and match the chart to the closest US label.
For a deep dive on the biggest kids number, see what size 140 is (age, height, and US size).
For the US equivalents of the bigger numbers, see our kids and youth size chart (4 to 16).
Key takeaways
- The European size number equals the child's height in centimeters (size 92 = about 92 cm tall). That is more precise than a US age label.
- Two number systems exist and both are height in cm: the classic 6 cm steps (50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86, 92, 98, 104, 110, 116, 122, 128, 134, 140) and the rounded 10 cm steps some brands use (50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140).
- The age column is only a rough average. A tall or petite child can wear a size above or below their age, so fit by measured height and weight.
- Converting to a US label reintroduces variation: across 30 US brands, the same "3-6M" label alone runs from 14.5 to 20 lb.
- Measure once, round up, then confirm with weight using our free Size Finder.
What does the number on a European baby clothing label mean?
It is the child's height in centimeters. On European and most international labels, the size is cut to fit a child up to that height, so size 74 is made for a child up to about 74 cm tall, and size 110 for a child up to about 110 cm. This is why the numbers climb in even steps instead of jumping by age like the US "0-3M, 3-6M, 2T, 3T" system. If you know your child's height, you can read a European label directly and skip the guesswork. We link this to weight below because height alone does not capture a chunky or slim build.
What is the European size conversion chart from 50 to 140?
Here is the full master chart for the classic (6 cm step) European system, with the approximate age and the closest US label. Treat the age and US columns as approximate, since brands cut differently.
| EU size (cm) | Fits height | Approx. age | Closest US label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | up to 50 cm | preemie to ~1 mo | Preemie / Newborn |
| 56 | 51-56 cm | newborn to 3 mo | Newborn (NB) / 0-3M |
| 62 | 57-62 cm | ~3-6 mo | 3M / 3-6M |
| 68 | 63-68 cm | ~6-9 mo | 6M / 6-9M |
| 74 | 69-74 cm | ~9-12 mo | 9M / 9-12M |
| 80 | 75-80 cm | ~12-18 mo | 12M / 12-18M |
| 86 | 81-86 cm | ~18-24 mo | 18M / 18-24M |
| 92 | 87-92 cm | ~2 yr | 24M / 2T |
| 98 | 93-98 cm | ~2-3 yr | 3T |
| 104 | 99-104 cm | ~3-4 yr | 4T |
| 110 | 105-110 cm | ~4-5 yr | 5 |
| 116 | 111-116 cm | ~5-6 yr | 6 |
| 122 | 117-122 cm | ~6-7 yr | 6X / 7 |
| 128 | 123-128 cm | ~7-8 yr | 8 |
| 134 | 129-134 cm | ~8-9 yr | 10 |
| 140 | 135-140 cm | ~9-10 yr | 10-12 |
Ages here are rough averages for a typically growing child and vary widely, so fit by your child's measured height and weight, not the number on their last birthday cake. Babbez covers clothing sizing only. For any question about your child's growth or development, talk to your pediatrician and see our medical disclaimer.
What size is 70, 74, 80, and 86?
These are the busiest baby numbers, so here is the quick read:
- Size 70 = about 70 cm tall, roughly 6-9 months, closest to US 6-9M. The 70 comes from brands that round to the nearest 10 cm.
- Size 74 = about 74 cm tall, roughly 9-12 months, closest to US 9-12M (often labeled 9M or 12M).
- Size 80 = about 80 cm tall, roughly 12-18 months, closest to US 12-18M. Size 80 is the single most searched number, so we built a dedicated guide: see what size is 80 in baby clothes for the full weight and brand breakdown.
- Size 86 = about 86 cm tall, roughly 18-24 months, closest to US 18M or 18-24M.
What age is size 90, 98, 104, and 110?
Once your child is walking, the numbers map to toddler and preschool ages:
- Size 90 = about 90 cm tall, roughly 18-24 months, closest to US 2T. Like 70, this belongs to the rounded 10 cm system.
- Size 98 = about 98 cm tall, roughly 2-3 years, closest to US 3T.
- Size 104 = about 104 cm tall, roughly 3-4 years, closest to US 4T.
- Size 110 = about 110 cm tall, roughly 4-5 years, closest to US 5.
What about the bigger kids' sizes, 116 to 140?
Big-kid European sizes keep the same logic, one number per roughly 6 cm of height. Size 116 is about a US 6, size 122 lands near a US 6X or 7, size 128 is a US 8, size 134 is a US 10, and size 140 is a US 10-12. Because US kids' sizing skips some numbers (there is no 9 or 11), one European size can span two US numbers at the top of the range. Always go by your child's measured height first.
What about sizes 60, 70, 100, 120, and 130? (the round-number system)
Some brands, common in Asia and in many international online shops, round to the nearest 10 cm instead of stepping by 6. The number is still the child's height in centimeters, just spaced differently. Here is that version:
| Size (cm) | Fits height | Approx. age | Closest US label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | up to 50 cm | newborn | Newborn |
| 60 | 51-60 cm | ~1-3 mo | 0-3M |
| 70 | 61-70 cm | ~6-9 mo | 6-9M |
| 80 | 71-80 cm | ~12-18 mo | 12-18M |
| 90 | 81-90 cm | ~18-24 mo | 2T |
| 100 | 91-100 cm | ~3 yr | 3T |
| 110 | 101-110 cm | ~4-5 yr | 5 |
| 120 | 111-120 cm | ~6 yr | 6 |
| 130 | 121-130 cm | ~8 yr | 8 |
| 140 | 131-140 cm | ~9-10 yr | 10-12 |
How do I convert a European size to a US size?
Three steps: measure, round, confirm.
- Measure height. Stand your child against a wall (or lay a baby flat) and measure heel to head in centimeters.
- Round up. Match to the next European number at or above that height. A child measuring 78 cm wears size 80, not 74.
- Confirm with weight. Read the closest US label from the chart, then sanity-check it against weight, because that is where US labels drift.
Here is the honest part most charts skip: the European number is precise, but the US label you convert into is not. In our Baby Clothing Size Index of 30 US brands, the same "3-6M" label alone tops out anywhere from 14.5 to 20 lb, and the "18-24M" label runs from about 26 to 32 lb. So two shirts both marked 12M can fit very differently. That is exactly why we built the free Baby Clothes Size Finder: enter your child's weight and it returns the right size across 30 brands, so you are not guessing after the conversion.
Does the European system work for shoes too?
No, shoe sizing is a separate scale (EU shoe sizes like 20, 22, 24 are not heights). For that, use our baby and toddler shoe size chart, which maps EU, US, and UK foot sizes by length.
Sources: European clothing size-labeling convention (garment size = body height in centimeters, per the EN 13402 body-dimension standard); Babbez Baby Clothing Size Index, 30 US brands (September 2026); Babbez Baby Clothes Size Finder. Age ranges are approximate and for clothing fit only; growth questions belong with your pediatrician.
