Guides / Activewear / Regional fit
Asia fit and regional sizing: the same letter, a different garment
Updated . 7 minute read.
The short answer
Several global brands publish a separate, smaller size chart for Asian markets, so the letter on the tag depends on where the garment was sold. On Nike's own charts a women's Asian sizing L is a 35 to 37.5 inch bust, close to a standard M. Uniqlo says a Japan S is a US XS. The North Face's Japan M is cut for an 88 to 96 cm chest; its US M for about 99 to 104 cm.
Buying in Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai or Hong Kong to wear in North America: start one size up, two for The North Face Japan in larger sizes, and decide on centimetres, not letters.
What regional sizing means
Two different things get called “Asia fit”. One is a brand keeping the same letters but attaching them to smaller body measurements in its Asian markets: an M there is built for a smaller chest and waist, and usually a shorter frame. The other is a local company selling the brand under its own size chart, as Goldwin does for The North Face in Japan. Either way, the letter stops being portable across borders.
This guide only lists brands whose regional chart we could open on an official page on the day we checked. Other brands are widely reported to do the same; we have left them out until we can point to their own page.
Nike: two charts on the same site
Nike's US site hosts a standard women's tops chart and a second one titled Asian Sizing. At XS the two nearly coincide. From M upward the Asian chart is roughly one size smaller, and each size covers a narrower range: Asian M ends at 35 inches, just below where standard M begins.
| Size | Standard chart | Asian sizing chart |
|---|---|---|
| XXS | 27.5–29.5 | 28.5–30 |
| XS | 29.5–32.5 | 30–32 |
| S | 32.5–35.5 | 32–33.5 |
| M | 35.5–38 | 33.5–35 |
| L | 38–41 | 35–37.5 |
| XL | 41–44.5 | 37.5–40 |
| XXL | 44.5–48.5 | 40–42.5 |
When a Nike product's size guide says Asian Sizing, use that table and ignore the size you normally take in Nike.
Under Armour: Asia Fit is sized by height as well as waist
Under Armour's Australian site carries an Asia Fit chart beside its standard one. For men's bottoms the Asia Fit waist ranges are smaller at every letter, and the gap grows with size: Asia Fit XL is an 85 to 89 cm waist, which falls at the top of standard M and the bottom of standard L. The Asia Fit chart also assigns each size a height band.
| Size | Standard waist | Asia Fit waist | Asia Fit height |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 74–79 | 72–75 | 163–167 |
| M | 79–86 | 76–79 | 168–172 |
| L | 86–94 | 80–84 | 173–177 |
| XL | 94–104 | 85–89 | 178–182 |
| XXL | 104–116 | 90–94 | 183–187 |
Uniqlo: Japan S is US XS
Uniqlo states it outright. Its US customer service page says sizes differ from market to market, gives the example that a size S bought in Japan corresponds to an XS on the US site, and asks anyone who has shopped with Uniqlo in another country to check the size guide before ordering. So a Uniqlo M bought in Tokyo is closest to a US S.
The North Face in Japan: a different chart altogether
In Japan, The North Face is sold by Goldwin, which publishes its own body measurement chart. Set beside the US chart for men's jackets and tops, the Japan sizes run well over one size smaller, and closer to two in the larger sizes: a Japan XL is built for a 96 to 104 cm chest, the same chest as a US M.
| Size | Japan chest (cm) | Japan height (cm) | US chest |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 84–92 | 160–170 | 36–38 in (91–97) |
| M | 88–96 | 165–175 | 39–41 in (99–104) |
| L | 92–100 | 170–180 | 42–44 in (107–112) |
| XL | 96–104 | 175–185 | 45–48 in (114–122) |
| XXL | 100–108 | 180–190 | 49–52 in (124–132) |
The Japan women's chart pairs every size with a height band, starting at 150 to 160 cm for S, so check height as well as bust.
| Size | Height | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 150–160 | 76–84 | 56–64 | 82–90 |
| M | 155–165 | 80–88 | 60–68 | 86–94 |
| L | 160–170 | 84–92 | 64–72 | 90–98 |
| XL | 165–175 | 88–96 | 68–76 | 94–102 |
Labels you will meet in East Asia
- LL and 3L (Japan). LL is XL and 3L is XXL. On Freya's international chart for its letter-sized pieces, a UK or US M is a Japan L, a UK or US L is a Japan LL, and XL is 3L: one step up throughout.
- Odd numbers 5, 7, 9, 11 (Japan, womenswear). On Self-Portrait's chart JP 7 is US 4 and JP 9 is US 6.
- 44, 55, 66, 77 (Korea, womenswear). On the same chart KR 55 is US 4 and KR 66 is US 6.
- Shoes in centimetres. Japan, Korea and China size shoes by foot length. That is good news: see US to EU shoe size by brand for why centimetres travel better than any other shoe size.
- Bra cups one letter higher (Japan). On Freya's chart a UK B is a Japan C. The details are in UK vs US bra sizes.
Buying in Asia, wearing it in North America
- Find out which chart the garment follows before you look at the letter. A local-market tag, a size guide titled Asian Sizing or Asia Fit, or a Japanese licensee's site all mean the North American chart does not apply.
- Start one letter up from your North American size for Nike Asian sizing (M and above) and for Uniqlo. For The North Face Japan, start one up in small sizes and two up in L and XL. Then check the centimetres.
- Read the height band. Japanese and Asia Fit charts pair each size with a height range. If you are taller than the band for the size that fits your chest, sleeves and hems may run short, so try it on.
- Try it on in the shop. Once you have flown home, returning it is rarely practical.
Buying in North America, for someone sized in Asia
- Reverse the rule: someone who wears a Japan or Asian sizing L is usually nearer a North American M. For Uniqlo, go down one letter from the Japan size, as Uniqlo itself advises.
- For The North Face, someone in a Japan L (92 to 100 cm chest) sits in the US S range (36 to 38 inches).
- Ask for a chest, waist and height in centimetres. It is the only size that survives the trip in both directions.
What to do
- Identify the chart: look for Asian Sizing, Asia Fit, or a local licensee's site in the size guide link.
- Compare body measurements, not letters. Put your chest or bust, waist and height against the chart that belongs to the garment in your hand.
- No chart available? Start one size up from your North American size and try it on before paying.
- Convert Japanese LL to XL and 3L to XXL before comparing anything.
- Save your own measurements in centimetres on your phone. Most charts in East Asia are metric only.
Common questions
Is Asian sizing one size smaller than US sizing?
Often about one size, but it depends on the brand and the size. On Nike's charts a women's Asian sizing L is for a 35 to 37.5 inch bust, close to a standard M at 35.5 to 38 inches, while XS is nearly the same on both charts. The North Face's Japan chart runs closer to two sizes smaller than its US chart in L and XL. Compare the body measurements on the two charts instead of assuming one size.
Are Uniqlo sizes in Japan the same as in the US?
No. Uniqlo's US customer service page says sizes differ from market to market and gives the example that a Japan S corresponds to an XS on the US site. It asks shoppers who have bought in another country to check the size guide before ordering.
What does LL mean on a Japanese size label?
LL is the Japanese way of writing XL, and 3L is XXL. The North Face's Japan size chart prints them together as XL (LL) and XXL (3L).
Is The North Face sold in Japan the same as in North America?
It has its own size chart. In Japan the brand is sold by Goldwin, whose chart puts a men's M at an 88 to 96 cm chest and 165 to 175 cm height. The North Face's US chart puts a men's M jacket at a 39 to 41 inch chest, about 99 to 104 cm. A US M is closer to a Japan XL.
Sources
Checked on 18 September 2026. Brand charts change: the linked page is the authority, not this one.
- Nike: women's tops size chart (standard)Used for: bust, waist and hip by size.
- Nike: women's tops size chart (Asian sizing)Used for: bust, waist and hip by size.
- Nike: men's tops size chart (Asian sizing)Used for: chest by size.
- Under Armour Australia: men's bottoms, Asia FitUsed for: height and waist by size.
- Under Armour Australia: men's bottoms, standardUsed for: waist by size.
- Uniqlo US customer service: Does sizing differ online and in-store?Used for: sizes differ by market; Japan S is US XS.
- Goldwin: The North Face size chart (Japan)Used for: men's and women's body measurements by size, LL and 3L labels.
- The North Face US: size chartsUsed for: men's jackets and tops, chest by size.
- Freya: international size guideUsed for: letter sizes UK and US against Japan; cup letters.
- Self-Portrait: size conversion chartUsed for: JP and KR numbers against US and UK.
- Wikipedia: Shoe sizeUsed for: foot length sizing in Japan, Korea and China.
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