Benetton Size Guide
United Colors of Benetton is an iconic Italian fashion brand established in 1965, renowned for its vibrant colours, timeless knitwear, and quality casualwear for the whole family. From fine merino jumpers and tailored shirts to sustainable denim and seasonal dresses, Benetton offers classic silhouettes with a contemporary edge. As an Italian brand, Benetton follows European and Italian sizing standards, which can differ notably from UK and US conventions. Their garments tend to have a tailored, semi-fitted cut — particularly in structured pieces like blazers, trousers, and button-down shirts. Knitwear and jersey basics typically run true to size with a comfortable fit, whilst tailored and woven items often run small, especially across the bust, waist, and hips. All Benetton garments carry the Italian size on the label, so if you select a local conversion online, the number on the physical label may differ. Understanding these nuances will help you find your perfect Benetton fit every time.
How to Measure
- Bust/Chest: Wear an unpadded bra (women) and measure around the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. For men, measure around the widest part of the chest under the arms.
- Waist: Measure around your natural waistline — the narrowest part of your torso, typically just above your belly button. Keep the tape comfortably snug but not tight.
- Hips: Stand with your feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips and bottom, approximately 20cm below your waist.
- Inside Leg: Measure from the top of your inner thigh down to your ankle bone. This is particularly important for trousers and jeans.
- Arm Length: With your arm slightly bent, measure from the centre back of your neck, across your shoulder, and down to your wrist.
- Height: Stand against a wall without shoes and measure from the floor to the top of your head. Benetton incorporates height into their fit calculations.
- Foot Length: Stand on a piece of paper and mark your heel and longest toe. Measure the distance in centimetres for accurate footwear sizing.
- Knuckle Height (for gloves): Measure around the widest part of your knuckles in inches, excluding your thumb.
- Head Circumference (for hats): Measure around the widest part of your head, just above the ears and across the mid-forehead.
Women's Clothing — Numeric (Italian) Sizes
| Italian Size | UK | US | EU (France) | DE (Germany) | ES (Spain) | AU | Bust (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hips (cm) | Height (cm) | Arm Length (cm) | Inner Leg (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 4 | 76 | 58 | 83 | 162 | 75.1 | 77 |
| 38 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 32 | 36 | 6 | 80 | 62 | 87 | 165 | 76.4 | 78 |
| 40 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 34 | 38 | 8 | 84 | 66 | 91 | 167.5 | 77.7 | 79 |
| 42 | 10 | 6 | 38 | 36 | 40 | 10 | 88 | 70 | 95 | 170 | 79 | 80 |
| 44 | 12 | 8 | 40 | 38 | 42 | 12 | 92 | 74 | 99 | 170.5 | 79.9 | 80.3 |
| 46 | 14 | 10 | 42 | 40 | 44 | 14 | 97 | 79 | 104 | 171 | 80.8 | 80.6 |
| 48 | 16 | 12 | 44 | 42 | 46 | 16 | 102 | 84 | 109 | 171.5 | 81.7 | 80.9 |
| 50 | 18 | 14 | 46 | 44 | 48 | 18 | 107 | 89 | 114 | 172 | 82.6 | 81.2 |
Women's Clothing — Alpha Sizes
| Alpha Size | Italian Size | UK | Bust (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hips (cm) | Height (cm) | Arm Length (cm) | Inner Leg (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 36/38 | 4–6 | 76 | 58–60 | 83 | 162 | 75 | 76 |
| XS | 38/40 | 6–8 | 82 | 64–65 | 89 | 166 | 77 | 78 |
| S | 42 | 10 | 88 | 70 | 95 | 170 | 79 | 80 |
| M | 44/46 | 12–14 | 94 | 75–76 | 101 | 170.5 | 80.2 | 80.4 |
| L | 46/48 | 14–16 | 100 | 80–82 | 107 | 171 | 81.4 | 80.8 |
| XL | 48/50 | 16–18 | 106 | 85–88 | 113 | 171.5 | 82.6 | 81.2 |
| XXL | 50/52 | 18–20 | 112 | 90–94 | 119 | 172 | 83.8 | 81.6 |
One Size: Benetton “One Size” items are designed to fit Italian sizes 36 to 50, or alpha sizes XXS to XL.
Women's Jeans Size Chart
| Jeans Size (Waist–Inches) | Italian Size | Alpha Size | Waist (cm) | Hips (cm) | Inside Leg (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 38 | XS | 62 | 88 | 78 |
| 26 | 40 | S | 65 | 91 | 78.5 |
| 27 | 40 | S | 67.5 | 93.5 | 79.5 |
| 28 | 42 | S | 70 | 96 | 80 |
| 29 | 42 | M | 72.5 | 98.6 | 80 |
| 30 | 44 | M | 75 | 101 | 80 |
| 31 | 44 | M | 78 | 104 | 80.5 |
| 32 | 46 | L | 80.5 | 106.5 | 80.5 |
| 33 | 46 | L | 83 | 109 | 80.5 |
| 34 | 48 | L | 85.5 | 111.5 | 81 |
| 35 | 48 | XL | 88 | 114 | 81 |
| 36 | 50 | XL | 91 | 117 | 81 |
Men's Clothing Size Chart
| Alpha Size | UK/EU Size | US Size | Chest (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hips (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 44 | 34 | 86–89 | 71–74 | 89–92 |
| S | 46–48 | 36–38 | 90–97 | 75–82 | 93–100 |
| M | 48–50 | 38–40 | 98–105 | 83–90 | 101–108 |
| L | 52–54 | 42–44 | 106–113 | 91–98 | 109–116 |
| XL | 54–56 | 44–46 | 114–121 | 99–106 | 117–124 |
| XXL | 58 | 48 | 122–129 | 107–114 | 125–132 |
Women's Footwear Size Chart
| EU Size | UK | US (Women's) | IT Size | Foot Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 2.5 | 5 | 35 | 22.5 |
| 36 | 3–3.5 | 5.5–6 | 36 | 23 |
| 37 | 4 | 6.5 | 37 | 23.5 |
| 38 | 4.5 | 7 | 38 | 24 |
| 39 | 5–5.5 | 7.5–8 | 39 | 24.5 |
| 40 | 6 | 8.5 | 40 | 25.5 |
| 41 | 6.5–7 | 9–9.5 | 41 | 26 |
Unisex Footwear Size Chart
| EU Size | UK | US | IT Size | Foot Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 3 | 4.5 | 35 | 22.5 |
| 36 | 3.5–4 | 5 | 36 | 23 |
| 37 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 37 | 23.5 |
| 38 | 5 | 6 | 38 | 24 |
| 39 | 5.5–6 | 6.5–7 | 39 | 24.5 |
| 40 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 40 | 25.5 |
| 41 | 7–7.5 | 8–8.5 | 41 | 26 |
| 42 | 8 | 9 | 42 | 26.5 |
| 43 | 8.5–9 | 9.5–10 | 43 | 27 |
| 44 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 44 | 28 |
| 45 | 10–10.5 | 11 | 45 | 28.5 |
| 46 | 11 | 11.5–12 | 46 | 29 |
Gloves Size Chart
Fabric Gloves — Women's
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knuckle Height (inches) | 6.7 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 8.3 |
Fabric Gloves — Unisex
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knuckle Height (inches) | 7.3 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
Wool Gloves — Women's
| Size | S | L |
|---|---|---|
| Knuckle Height (inches) | 6.7–7.1 | 7.5–8.3 |
Wool Gloves — Unisex
| Size | S | L |
|---|---|---|
| Knuckle Height (inches) | 7.3–8.1 | 8.5–9.3 |
Note: Glove measurements have a possible ±0.2 inch discrepancy.
Hats Size Chart
Fabric Hats
| Size | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Circumference (cm) | 56 | 58 | 60 |
Wool Hats
| Size | S | L |
|---|---|---|
| Head Circumference (cm) | 56 | 58–60 |
Note: Hat measurements have a possible ±0.5cm discrepancy.
Product-Specific Guidance
Knitwear & Jumpers
Benetton's knitwear — including their famous merino and lambswool jumpers — is one of the brand's most forgiving categories for sizing. These pieces typically run true to size with a comfortable, classic fit. Wool and cotton knits are usually designed with layering in mind, so you may find them slightly roomy. If you prefer a neater, more fitted look, consider sizing down. Oversized styles will naturally run larger than the standard chart suggests.
Tailored Shirts & Blouses
Benetton's cotton shirts and button-down blouses follow classic European tailoring with minimal stretch. These pieces frequently run small in the bust and shoulders. If you are between sizes or require extra room in the chest area, it is advisable to size up. Pay close attention to the bust measurement in the size chart rather than relying solely on your usual UK size.
Trousers & Chinos
Italian sizing typically means narrower waists and slimmer hips. Benetton's tailored trousers and chinos often run small, especially if they are unlined or non-stretch. Size up if you prefer a more relaxed fit around the waist or hips. The inside leg measurements in the charts above are essential for getting the correct trouser length.
Jeans
Benetton jeans use waist-inch sizing (25–36) that corresponds to Italian numeric sizes. Their denim tends to be slim across the hips and waist in women's cuts. Use the dedicated jeans chart above and measure your actual waist and hips rather than relying on your usual jeans size from other brands. The inside leg ranges from 78cm to 81cm depending on size.
Dresses
Fit depends heavily on the fabric and construction. Structured shift dresses and tailored styles can feel tight and may require sizing up, particularly if you are curvy. Jersey and relaxed-fit dresses are generally true to size and offer more flexibility.
Coats & Jackets
Wool coats and blazers are cut slim, particularly across the shoulders and arms. If you intend to layer a jumper underneath, consider sizing up. Outerwear is generally true to size when worn over a thin top, but broad-shouldered wearers should pay particular attention to the chest measurement.
Men's Polo Shirts & Shirts
Men's Benetton shirts are tailored and close-fitting across the shoulders and chest. Polo shirts tend to be true to size. For formal or button-down shirts, size up if you are between sizes or prefer a more relaxed fit.
Understanding “KL” Size Notation
Some Benetton labels may display combined size codes such as “KL” which typically denotes a size bridging between two alpha sizes (in this case, between a small and large range within kidswear or accessories). Always cross-reference with the measurement charts provided above or contact Benetton customer service for clarification on specific product labels.
Sizing Tips
- Italian labels: All Benetton garments carry the Italian size on the label. If you order using a UK or US conversion, the number printed on the garment tag will be the Italian equivalent (e.g., UK 10 = Italian 42), so don’t be alarmed if the label number differs from what you selected.
- Size up for tailored pieces: Fitted shirts, blazers, tailored trousers, and structured dresses frequently run small. If you are between sizes, opt for the larger size in these categories for a more comfortable fit.
- Trust measurements over size labels: Because Benetton uses Italian sizing, always compare your actual body measurements (bust, waist, hips) against the centimetre charts above rather than relying on your habitual UK or US size.
- Allow for ±0.5cm variation: Benetton acknowledges a possible ±0.5cm discrepancy on all clothing measurements and ±0.2 inches on gloves. Bear this tolerance in mind, especially when you fall at the boundary between two sizes.
- Knitwear is your safest bet: If you’re unsure about Benetton sizing, start with their knitwear and jersey basics, which are the most true-to-size category and offer a comfortable, forgiving fit.
- Jeans: measure, don’t guess: Benetton denim tends to run slim in the hips and waist. Measure your actual waist and hips with a tape measure, then match to the jeans chart. Do not assume your usual jeans size from other high-street brands will translate directly.
- Footwear follows EU sizing: Benetton shoes are labelled in EU sizes. Measure your foot length in centimetres and use the footwear chart above for the most accurate conversion. Half sizes are limited, so if you fall between sizes, consider going up.
- Consider fabric and stretch: Woven cotton and linen pieces will feel more structured and less forgiving than jersey, knit, or stretch-blend fabrics. Factor in the material composition when deciding whether to size up.
- Kidswear runs small: If purchasing Benetton children’s clothing, size up to allow for growing room, as their kids’ range also follows Italian sizing conventions that tend to be smaller than UK equivalents.