Shopping in the United States is one of the most exciting experiences for anyone visiting New York. However, anyone who has tried to buy clothes or shoes in the USA knows that American sizes are different from European and Italian sizes.

In the US, the sizing system follows different standards and can vary from brand to brand. This can lead to common mistakes, such as buying pants that are too loose or too tight, too short or too long, choosing the wrong shoe size, or getting a T-shirt that's larger than expected.
Why are American sizes different? 

• There is no universal sizing standard in the USA, as sizes vary by manufacturer.
• Measurements are often expressed in inches, while in Europe, centimeters are used.
• Men’s pants in the US indicate both waist size and inseam length, a system that does not exist in Italy.

In this guide, you'll learn how to convert American sizes to European and Italian sizes for clothing, shoes, and accessories so you can shop hassle-free during your trip to New York!

How to Convert American Sizes to European and Italian Sizes

In the United States, sizes differ significantly from those in Italy. The main differences include:

• Women's Clothing → American sizes are smaller than Italian sizes.
• Men’s Clothing → American sizes use lower numbers, especially for pants and jackets.
• Shoes → US shoe sizing varies for men and women and is different from European sizing.
• Accessories → Belts and hats are often measured in inches.

General rule:
✔️ To convert women’s American sizes to Italian sizes, add +38 to the US size.
✔️ To convert men’s American sizes to Italian sizes, add +16 for pants and +10 for jackets.
✔️ Shoe size conversion is more complex (see dedicated table).

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Women's Clothing Sizes: USA vs Europe vs Italy

Women’s clothing sizes in the USA follow a progressive numeric system, which is very different from the Italian one. To find your Italian size, simply add 38 to the American number.

SIZE: USA	SIZE: INTERNATIONAL (EU)	SIZE:  (IT)
0	32	36
2	34	38
4	36	40
6	38	42
8	40	44
10	42	46
12	44	48
14	46	50

Shopping Tips:
✔️ Watch out for brand variations → Some American brands run larger or smaller than standard sizes.
✔️ XS, S, M, L, XL → International sizes are easier to understand but may still vary.

SHOPPING IN NEW YORK CITY - PHOTO GALLERY 

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Men's Clothing Sizes: USA vs Europe vs Italy

Men's American sizes differ mainly for pants, which indicate waist (width) and inseam (leg length) in inches.

Example:
A pair of pants labeled **34x32** means:
34-inch waist → corresponds to an Italian size 50 32-inch inseam → corresponds to about 81 cm in leg length.

SIZE: USA	SIZE: INTERNATIONAL (EU)	SIZE: ITALIAN (IT)
30	46	46
32	48	48
34	50	50
36	52	52

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Men’s Shirt Sizes: USA Neck Measurement

In the United States, men’s shirt sizes are indicated using two numbers:

• Neck size in inches
• Sleeve length in inches
• In Italy and Europe, only the neck size is used, measured in centimeters (cm).

Rule to convert USA neck size to the Italian system: Multiply the inches by 2.54 to get the measurement in centimeters. Example: A **15” USA** neck size corresponds to **38 cm** in Italy.

SIZE: USA (inc)	SIZE: INTERNATIONAL (EU)	SIZE: ITALIAN (CM)
14	XS	36
14.5	S	37
15	S/M	38
15.5	M	39
16	L	41
16.5	L/XL	42
17	XL	43
17.5	XXL	44

Pay attention to sleeve length! In the US, in addition to neck size, the sleeve length is often indicated on shirt labels in inches. For example, a shirt labeled **15.5 - 34/35** means:
✔️ Neck: 15.5 inches (39 cm IT)
✔️ Sleeve length: 34-35 inches (86-89 cm IT)

SHOPPING IN NEW YORK CITY - PHOTO GALLERY 

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Shoe Sizes: Differences Between USA, Europe, and Italy

American shoe sizes are different for men and women. Additionally, the US system does not directly correspond to the European system.

Basic rule:
To convert **women’s US shoe sizes**, add approximately **31** to the US size.
To convert **men’s US shoe sizes**, add approximately **33** to the US size.

SIZE: USA - WOMAN	SIZE: INTERNATIONAL (EU)	SIZE: ITALIAN  (IT)
5	35	35
6	36	36
7	37	37
8	38	38
9	39	39
10	40	40

SIZE: USA - MAN	SIZE: INTERNATIONAL (EU)	SIZE: ITALIAN  (IT)
6	38	38
7	39	39
8	40	40
9	41	41
10	42	42
11	43	43
12	44	44

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US Kids' Sizes: Differences from Italy

Children’s clothing sizes in the United States are different from Italian sizes because they follow **age-based sizing rather than a specific number**. However, they do not always match the child’s actual age, as growth rates vary.

Main differences:
✔️ In the US, sizes are indicated by age (e.g., 2T, 3T, 4T for toddlers and XS, S, M for older children).
✔️ In Italy, sizes are numeric and based on height in centimeters (e.g., 98 cm, 104 cm, 110 cm).
✔️ American sizes tend to run wider than Italian sizes.

AGE	SIZE USA	SIZE IT/EU (CM)
12 Mesi	12M	84-80
2 anni	2T	86-92
3 anni	3T	92-98
4 anni	4T	98-104
5 anni	5T/XS	104-110
6/7 anni	S	116-122
8/9 anni	M	12-134
10/12 anni	L	140-152

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Useful Shopping Tips and Where to Shop in New York

• Fifth Avenue: Luxury boutiques.
• NoLiTa: Alternative fashion and independent stores.
• Woodbury Common Outlets: Great deals at premium outlets.
• Century 21: Exclusive designer deals in Manhattan.
• SoHo: Popular fashion brands, streetwear, and luxury stores.
• Empire Outlets: The only outlet mall in New York, just steps away from the Staten Island Ferry—a great chance to enjoy a free ferry ride.

3 Mistakes to Avoid:

• Buying without trying on → Sizes vary significantly!
• Forgetting the inseam measurement → Always check the leg length!
• Ignoring the currency exchange → In the US, prices are listed before tax, so the final price at checkout will be higher!

SHOPPING IN FIFTH AVE - PHOTO GALLERY 

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Returns and Exchanges in the United States: How Do They Work?

One of the great advantages of shopping in the United States, especially in New York, is the flexible return policy adopted by most stores. If you purchase clothing or shoes and realize the size isn’t right, you can easily return or exchange them.

General Return Rules in the USA:

✔️ Return period → Most stores accept returns within 30 days of purchase. Some luxury retailers and department stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s allow returns up to 90 days.
✔️ Product condition → Items must be new, unworn, and have all tags attached. Shoes must be returned in their original box.
✔️ Receipt or digital invoice → The original paper receipt or the digital receipt sent via email is always required.
✔️ Credit card refunds → If you paid by card, the refund will be processed back to the same card, usually within 3-10 business days.
✔️ Gift card or store credit → If you lost your receipt, some stores may still offer store credit for the last sale price of the item.
✔️ Returns without a receipt → Some brands accept returns without a receipt but may only offer an exchange or store credit.

Where Are Returns the Easiest?

Uniqlo, H&M, Zara → Accept returns at any store, as long as the purchase is recorded in their system. Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s → Very generous return policies, often allowing refunds even after several weeks.
Nike, Adidas, Foot Locker → Some stores accept returns up to 60 days, even if the item has been worn.

How to Get a Refund Quickly? Always use a credit card for purchases: credit card refunds are faster and safer than cash refunds.

Shopping Tip for New York: Before making a purchase, always ask about the store’s return policies and whether refunds are available on credit cards. This way, you can avoid issues if the size isn’t perfect!

Happy Shopping in New York!

What You Should Know Before Traveling to NYC