Bust, waist, hip and inseam — how to measure for activewear that actually holds. Teen and adult size charts for leggings, sports bras and sets, in inches and cm.
Activewear is the hardest category to size from a label, because the fabric is doing something a normal garment never does: compressing, recovering and moving with you. A legging that feels perfect standing still can roll at the waist the moment you squat, and a sports bra that fits at rest can be far too loose at a run. This guide covers how to measure for leggings, sports bras and co-ord sets, in teen and adult sizing, with every figure in inches and centimetres.
For activewear you need bust, waist, hip and — for anything below the waist — inseam.
Measure in fitted clothing or bare skin, and measure standing normally. Activewear is designed with negative ease — it is meant to be slightly smaller than you and stretch to fit — so an inflated measurement compounds quickly.
For leggings, shorts and any bottom, use the hip row. For tops, jackets and long-sleeves, use the bust row. For a matching set, buy each piece to its own measurement rather than assuming one letter covers both.
| Size | UK | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 6–8 | 31–32″ / 79–81cm | 24–25″ / 61–64cm | 34–35″ / 86–89cm |
| S | 10 | 33–34″ / 84–86cm | 26–27″ / 66–69cm | 36–37″ / 91–94cm |
| M | 12–14 | 35–37″ / 89–94cm | 28–30″ / 71–76cm | 38–40″ / 97–102cm |
| L | 16–18 | 38–40″ / 97–102cm | 32–34″ / 81–86cm | 42–44″ / 107–112cm |
| XL | 20–22 | 41–43″ / 104–109cm | 36–38″ / 91–97cm | 46–48″ / 117–122cm |
| XXL | 24–26 | 44–46″ / 112–117cm | 40–42″ / 102–107cm | 50–52″ / 127–132cm |
For leggings and bottoms, let the hip measurement decide. For tops and jackets, follow the bust.
Pull-on sports bras are sold in letter sizes but built around a band and cup. The chart below shows which bra size each letter covers, so you can cross-check against the size you already wear. If you are not sure of your band and cup, our bra size chart for teens and adults walks through the measurement first.
| Size | Band | Cup range | Underbust | Bust |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 28–30 | A–B | 26–28″ / 66–71cm | 30–32″ / 76–81cm |
| S | 30–32 | A–C | 28–30″ / 71–76cm | 32–34″ / 81–86cm |
| M | 32–34 | B–C | 30–32″ / 76–81cm | 34–37″ / 86–94cm |
| L | 34–36 | C–D | 32–34″ / 81–86cm | 37–40″ / 94–102cm |
| XL | 36–38 | D–DD | 34–36″ / 86–91cm | 40–43″ / 102–109cm |
| XXL | 38–40 | DD–E | 36–38″ / 91–97cm | 43–46″ / 109–117cm |
Pull-on sports bras are sized S–XXL; the band and cup columns show which bra size each letter covers.
Two things to check once it is on. First, the band: it should sit level and firm, and you should be able to slide two fingers under it and no more. Second, the cup: no spillage at the top or under the arm, and no wrinkling of empty fabric. Then jump on the spot. If there is noticeable bounce, the band is too loose, not the cup too small.
Impact level changes the size you need. A high-impact bra for running is built with a firmer band than a low-impact yoga bra, so the same letter can feel a size tighter. That is intentional — do not size up to escape it.
Teen activewear is cut shorter in the rise and the inseam than adult sizing at the same letter, which is why a teen size and an adult size with similar hip measurements still fit differently.
| Teen size | Bust | Waist | Hip | Suggested inseam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen XS | 28–29″ / 71–74cm | 22–23″ / 56–58cm | 28–30″ / 71–76cm | 22–23″ / 56–58cm |
| Teen S | 30–31″ / 76–79cm | 24–25″ / 61–64cm | 31–33″ / 79–84cm | 23–24″ / 58–61cm |
| Teen M | 32–34″ / 81–86cm | 26–27″ / 66–69cm | 34–36″ / 86–91cm | 24–25″ / 61–64cm |
| Teen L | 35–36″ / 89–91cm | 28–29″ / 71–74cm | 37–39″ / 94–99cm | 25–26″ / 64–66cm |
| Teen XL | 37–38″ / 94–97cm | 30–31″ / 76–79cm | 40–41″ / 102–104cm | 26–27″ / 66–69cm |
Teen XL sits close to an adult XS. Above that, move to the adult chart.
For teen sports bras, start with a non-wired, pull-on style in a medium-support construction. It is the most forgiving of a size that is slightly off, and it is comfortable enough to actually be worn. Re-check the measurement every few months during growth.
Measure your waist at the narrowest point, your hip at the fullest point, and your inseam from crotch to the hem you want. Use the hip measurement to pick the size, and the inseam to pick the length.
Snug, yes — tight to the point of pinching, digging or going sheer, no. Compression fabric is meant to feel firm and then settle. If it is still uncomfortable after a few minutes of moving, it is the wrong size.
A 34C falls in the L row on the chart above, though a firmer high-impact style may fit closer to an M. Cross-check the underbust and bust columns against your own measurements before deciding.
Often, yes. Buy the top to your bust measurement and the bottom to your hip measurement. A set sold as one size assumes those two line up, and for most people they do not.
It depends on measurement, not age. Measure the bust, waist and hip and read the teen chart above. Once the hip measurement passes the Teen XL row, adult XS will fit better.